The spring flowering plants tend to get way more of the attention than those in any other season. And there is no great surprise in this.
In spring we have waited across the dull, dreary monochrome months from November to April for some sign of life and color. Bloodroot, Hepatica, Trout Lily and all the usual early spring emergings are the stuff for which Wildflower Pilgrimages and Naturalist Rallies are convened for eager botanists.
Fall wildflowers, not so much. They are the swan song of the season that precedes Winter. We don’t care so much to acknowledge them as their transience hints of our own, perhaps, and why bother fawning over less dainty blooms after a lush summer’s overgrowth?
So I offer a couple of currently blooming lesser players in the wildflower gallery of the Southern Appalachians, just to remind you to keep your eyes open —AND as another reminder to tell your friends about the Goose Creek Afield nature walk here just out our front door–on September 13.
I am ashamed to say that I have never explored the cause of the common name for this plant but will do so today–to observe the seeds exploding several feet from a ripe seed pod. This plant (also called Virginia Knotweed) is everywhere along our pasture margin now. Have you seen it where you live?
It’s a thrill to me to spot tiny flowers like the jumpseed.