Ipomoea pandurata (eep-oh-MEE-uh pand-yoor-RAY-tuh, shaped like a fiddle) is native to Florida and the eastern half of North America. It has a large root that can be eaten if cubed and boiled in at least two changes of water. Never eat it raw.
These are also known as Indian Potato, Man-of-the-Earth, Manroot, Morning Glory, Wild Potato Vine, Wild Sweet potato, Wild Sweet potato Vine.
Dale of The Cosmic Photo Challenge prompt is Freestyle this week.
Since this is freestyle week I decided to let you visit with me on one of the hikes Coleman and I took this past week. This hike was a little bit different in that we had my daughter, Coleman’s mom, along with us. On Tuesday we needed to be out of the home for awhile because a pest control company was going to come in and spray per the Complex management.
Therefore, we decided to go hiking in one of Coleman’s favorite places. The place we chose was Anne Springs Close Greenway about twenty minutes or so from our residence. Mind you now my daughter is not fond of hiking at all. When we arrived, we should them my membership card and proceeded to park. We thought Trisha, my daughter, was just gonna sit and relax near the canteen while Coleman and I hiked. It didn’t exactly go like we had thought. You see, Trisha brought her dog along with on our adventure ( he had to be out of the home as well).
Lake Haigler
Chewbacca, Trisha’s dog, decided he wanted to hike with us, therefore she had to tag along. We walked down to the lake and proceeded along the trail, Lake Haigler Loop, around the lake.
Haigler Loop
Coleman loves to run along the trail. I prefer a slower pace since I normally take many photos along the trail of the various sites we see. Often we observe different angles around the lake, seeing flowers, butterflies, sometimes turtles, bees, and even dragonflies.
Brazilian Vervain (Verbena brasiliensis)
At other times we see amazing reflections in the water.
Reflections in Lake Haigler
I love seeing various creatures feasting on the nectar of wildflowers her at the Greenway.
Black Swallowtail, Eastern Bumblebee, and Delta Flower Scarab Beetle feasting on Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis.
Further down the trail as we hike around the lake I notice what appears to be a shape of a triangle formed with the reflections in the lake.
Triangle formation from the water reflections. Surrounding Tree Reflections plus water shimmering
As we keep going I slow down observing butterflies flittering to and fro. Naturally I stop to snap a photograph. Meanwhile, my daughter’s trying to convince me to stop taking pictures. Guess what? She didn’t convince me, not one single solitary moment.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Pearl Crescent Butterfly
Next on our hike we come across a dragonfly and several turtles along the edge of the lake.
Widow Skimmer Dragonfly Turtles sunbathing on a log
By this time my daughter is tired and wants to get this hike over with. Naturally, Coleman and Chewbacca want to keep going. They’re enjoying the outdoors adventure. Hence, we keep chugging along.
Water Reflections Water Ripples
After awhile we decide to pull up a seat and relax a bit before finishing our hike. But first there’s more to observe as we near the picnic tables along the backside of the lake.
Trisha, Chewbacca, with Coleman leading the way. [He knows the trails better than most adults]. Ngaro Wīwi Priocnemis monachus delighting on Angelica genuflexa
Finally to a spot to snack relax near the water’s edge.
I hope you enjoyed trekking along with us on our hike around Lake Haigler. God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.
Venus Fly TrapThe Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorousplant native to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States in North Carolina and South Carolina.The English botanist John Ellis, who gave the plant its scientific name in 1768, wrote that the plant name tippitywichit was an indigenous word from either Cherokee or Catawba.
These particular Venus Fly Trap plants are on display in an aquarium in The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina.
This type of plants are DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. Their typical butter yellow autumn leaves fall leaving the flowers exposed on this later flowering selection with slightly larger flowers than the species.
These particular witch-hazels were located near the Lake Trail at Crowders Mountain State Park in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
Gaillardia pulchella AKA: firewheel, Indian blanket, Indian blanketflower, or sundance It is a North American species of short-lived perennial or annual flowering plants in the sunflower family.The common name, Indian Blanket, may refer to the resemblance of the inflorescence to the brightly patterned blankets made by Native Americans, or to the ability of wild taxa to blanket the ground with colonies.
Trifolium pratense, red clover, is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa, but planted and naturalized in many other regions.
Interesting Facts:
Red clover is a good pollen and nectar source for bumblebees.
Red clover’s flowers and leaves are edible, and can be added as garnishes to any dish.They can be ground into a flour.
The flowers often are used to make jelly and tisanes, and are used in essiac recipes. Their essential oil may be extracted and its unique scent used in aromatherapy.
It is widely grown as a fodder crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation, which increases soil fertility. For these reasons, it is used as a green manure crop.
Slender Vervain is a perennial that spreads by rhizomes and is native to South America. Is an annual north of zone 7 but needs winter protection in that zone. It has naturalized from southeastern North Carolina to Florida and is very tolerant of heat and drought.
These Verbena rigida are in the garden in front of The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Petunia axillaris, the large white petunia, AKA: wild white petunia or white moon petunia, is an annual herbaceous plant in the family Solanaceae, genus Petunia.
Rubus idaeus ‘Caroline’ (Everbearing Raspberry) is a fall-fruit big cultivar producing high yields of large, highly flavored, red raspberries which are perfect for eating or preserves.
Raspberry plants can fruit on different types of canes, and these are categorized into primocane and floricane. Both primocane (first year) fruiting and floricane (second year) fruiting raspberries have both primocanes and floricanes growing from the plant after the first year.
Primocane fruiting raspberries, commonly called Everbearing raspberries, produce flowers and fruit on first year canes. Primocane varieties will produce a moderate crop in June and a much larger crop from late August until frost.
Erigeron annuus (formerly Aster annuus), AKA the annual fleabane, daisy fleabaneEastern Daisy fleabane is a species of herbaceous, annual or biennial floweringplant in the family Asteraceae.
Crocosmia aurea, common names falling stars, Valentine flower, or montbretia, is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the family Iridaceae. Crocosmia’s flowers are brilliantly colored and showy, making them a wonderful choice for flower arrangements. Sometimes called Montbretia, the tubular-shaped flowers are extremely attractive to hummingbirds. The brilliant red yellow or orange blooms appear in May or June with sword-shaped foliage.
It is also known by African Arrowroot, Arrowroot, Canna, Edible Canna, and Wild Canna Lily among a few other names.
The rhizomes of cannas are rich in starch, and have many uses in agriculture. All of the plant material has commercial value, rhizomes for starch (consumption by humans and livestock), stems and foliage for animal fodder, young shoots as a vegetable, and young seeds as an addition to tortillas.
Other interesting usesincludethe hard black seeds of the Arrowroot having been used in the 19th century as bullets when ammunition was limited. The seeds are also used for making jewelry and musical instruments such as rattles.
(Calopogon tuberosus var. simpsonii) This gorgeous wildflower is called grass pink and it is in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name “Calopogon” is Greek and means “beautiful beard.” It refers to the hairlike structures on the upper petal. It has a bulb-like corm that resembles a tuber, hence the name “tuberosus.” The slender grass-like leaves give rise to the name “grass pink.” It is a stunning wildflower.
The Scilla Peruviana is also known as the Portuguese Squill. It is a spring-blooming bulb with striking, lavender-blue flowers. The flower heads can be as large as a softball, with star-like florets that open gradually over a period of 3 weeks or more. The plants have long, strappy leaves similar to a hyacinth, and grow 12-20” tall.
Phalaenopsis – Moth Orchid – Double Spike Orchid (Cymbidium) Neoregelia carolinae, the blushing bromeliad, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Neoregelia.Orchid Cambria Odontoglossum ‘Francine’ Pink
Eastern Tree Caterpillar nests are commonly found on wild cherry, apple, and crab apple, but may be found on hawthorn, maple, cherry, peach, pear and plum as well. There is one generation of the Eastern tent caterpillar per year. The insects overwinter as egg masses on twigs, and they hatch in April. They turn into moths which are reddish-brown with two pale stripes running diagonally across each forewing. Photinia ‘ Red Robin ‘ P x fraseri also known as the Christmas Berry makes an attractive hedging plant with its glossy red new growth. Wisteria sinensis ‘Cooke’s Purple’Hally Jolivette Cherry (Prunus) is one of the best flower ornamental cherry trees available.
Cordyline Fruticosa Ti Plant Cordyline fruticosa is an evergreen flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is identified by a wide variety of common names, including ti plant, palm lily, cabbage palm.
My grandson and myself saw many beautiful plant and flowers while we had a short visit (short due to rain) to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont, North Carolina. This photo was taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max at f/1.8 •1/57 • 6.86mm • ISO 250.
Pink Carnations Loropetalum chinense is commonly known loropetalum, Chinese Fringe Flower and Strap FlowerFlowers on an Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Pink RosePink for Breast Cancer No one should FIGHT ALONE Til Valhalla Project No Hero Left Behind
These were take at Glencairn Gardens in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Most of the plants and flowers are not in bloom. It appeared as if the had been trimmed way down for winter. Best time to visit the Gardens is in the springtime.
The next entry isn’t a flower and is added just for kicks. The photo was taken with my iPhone by my three year old grandson. All other photos were taken by me with my Canon Rebel EOS T3i.
Floral Arrangements Arthel “Doc” Watson Statue Boone, North Carolina
Arthel “Doc” Watson (1923-2012), an 8-time Grammy winner, was born down the road in Deep Gap and always remained “Just One of The People,” as this sculpture states. [As a side note: “Doc” is my maternal 4th cousin.]
Doc became part of the Folk Revival and is known worldwide for his flat-picking style of guitar playing. The Town of Boone celebrates Doc Watson Day every year with a concert at the Jones House. This bronze statue of Doc Watson was dedicated on June 24, 2011, and sculpted by Alexander M. Hallmark.
Sitting by my cousin, Arthel “Doc” Watson’s Bronze Statue Boone, North Carolina