Josef BeeryFlora Appalachee
03.27.20 Violet Buttercups
Liverwort, Hepatica nobilis, offers us such delightful beauty in spite of a name appropriate to a medieval herbal. Hepatica is in the buttercup family and doesn’t really qualify as a Spring ephemeral, since its leaves last year round. But these leathery, three-lobed leaves with a vague semblance to the human liver are responsible for its […]
03.26.20 Wild Peaches
Years ago folks mentioned to me that there had once been wild peaches in our forests. I didn’t quite believe them, but then every now and then I would see a small pink-colored tree blooming in early Spring before any leaves had come out. I found one the other day, and by my reckoning it […]
03.25.20 Elfin Laundry Lines
One of my favorite Spring ephemerals is Dutchman’s Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria. Such an unusually-shaped flower! It really just doesn’t make any sense at first glance. Described by most folks as looking like a pair of pantaloons hanging on the line. Its four petals hide two stamens and a pistil. They are difficult to access, designed […]
03.22.20 Spring Beauties!
Definitely a big favorite around here. Spring Beauties, Claytonia virginica, are one of the very earliest flowers to bloom on our mountainsides. I have seen it blooming in sunny spots in February. A tiny, fairy-like flower held aloft on a fragile stem which belies picking. It is a true spring ephemeral, the plant dies back […]
03.21.20 Club Moss “Blossoms”
Keeping my eyes open for interesting new blossoms on my walks I stumbled upon these. (The skull was a surprise as well…not sure of the identification, but maybe a dog since the jaw is so wide?) My first thought was this plant must be sending up some sort of primitive blossom. (Part of the joy […]
03.18.20 Understory Treasure
One of the first flowers I noticed on my walks this month was Lindera benzoin, Spicebush. This is a small bush, never more than ten feet tall, yet it fills the understory of our woods. These few photos taken in the forest just behind our home inspired the revival of this blog during our Covid […]
03.17.20 Golden Streamers
Drippy catkins, over three inches long, dangle in the light breeze above the chill water of our mountain stream. They slowly release their pollen which will drift along searching for the tiny red female flowers hiding on this shrub’s stem. I believe this is Corylus americana or American Hazelnut. I have seen its unusual young […]
03.15.20 Waves of White Herald Spring!
Thrilled to discover breaking waves of white along the main road leading to our home in the hollow! This huge colony of Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis has proven remarkably durable being close to a busy paved road and subject to heavy logging equipment along its edges. Our forests are filled with these star-like sparkles of white […]
Southern Catalpa
The southern catalpa tree puts on a glorious show with its bloom in early summer. It displays masses of orchid-shaped flowers. When these finish, it leaves behind tough 14-inch long beans, a popular toy amongst country children who call it the “cigar tree.” This first print in the woodcut series Flora Appalachee is available from […]
Great Mullein
The great mullein is an ubiquitous wildflower of roadsides and wastelands. But this tough character earns our respect from its stature — often six-feet tall! This second print in the woodcut series Flora Appalachee is available from my Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/floraappalachee.
