The solution to finding the spring we missed while out West: go HIGH young man, go HIGH. (Well, forget the young part.)
The Blue Ridge Parkway is lush with spring wildflowers along its 3000 foot plus ridges, and it took great will power (I caved a couple of times) to keep my appointment at Mabry Mill and Chateau Morrisette yesterday afternoon. Oooh! Black Cohosh, Fire Pink, Pink Geranium. Interrupted Fern–so much more a blur as I sped along to my appointed tasks.
I did pull off a couple of times and wandered down into the woods. I caught myself just before I got down on my knees in my dress pants to get a better view of this patch of Lily of the Valley. I intend to go back right away. The Flame Azalea is almost in full bloom.
Stumble it!
6 responses so far ↓
1 kenju // May 12, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Is it growing wild there??? Glory be!
2 Kathy // May 13, 2007 at 12:00 am
My favorite flower, because of the scent, and the fact that I remeber it from my childhood back yard in Milwaukee, WI that I left when I was 5 years old.
3 fred // May 13, 2007 at 3:49 am
Apparently, this species is introduced (from Europe with early settlers) and is actually considered invasive, though it won’t grow just anywhere, but does well in some rich Appalachian valleys. Note also that it is poisonous in high does (but was used medicinally as a treatment for mustard gas in WW1.)
4 bluemountainmama // May 14, 2007 at 6:24 pm
i miss my lilly of the vallies in my old flower bed…i loved how they perfumed the air while in bloom. but they did spread quite fast……
i didn’t realize they grew in the wild, either
5 Anonymous // May 16, 2007 at 9:20 am
Got the lilly of the valley around my yard - it grows like weeds and it has deep roots making it annoying to pull out if desired. also, flowers are dwarfed by the size of its green leaves. I’m thinking I don’t like it, but it will be hard to get rid of.
6 Wild Lily of the Valley | Fragments From Floyd // Jun 15, 2008 at 5:40 am
[...] plant with a similar name should be distinguished from Lily of the Valley. Both species are lilies, I’m guessing the “wild” variety is native and the [...]
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