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.
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Is it growing wild there??? Glory be!
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.
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.)
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
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.