Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Native Plant “Indian Pipe”

 

In the hills here in the  summer as you are walking along the deep shady woodlands you may run across a strange and unusual white plant growing in the fertile soil.

EJC_Indian_Pipe

Monotropa uniflora,  Indian Pipe, Ghost Plant or Corpse Plant is a herbaceous perennial. Unlike other plants it contains no chlorophyll and needs no sunlight to grow. It likes the dark fertile forest.

Indian_pipe

In reality it is parasite plant  that thrives on certain fungi of trees from where it receives its energy. Single stems grow that range from 3 to 4 inched in height.

Indian_Pipe2 
The waxy looking stems only produce one single flower.
Sometimes the stems may have some black spotting or even a pinkish cast to them.
It is quite an impressive plant to see and is getting rare here in the parks area. When I run across one that some hikers have mangled it always saddens me because they either do not respect or realize how rare and beautiful a plant it is. And also the plants here in the parks is off limits to picking or destroying.
So if you run across this plant in your walks or hikes please let it grow undisturbed.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Signs of Spring on Wing

 

I was glad to see some familiar signs of spring wining their way into the Hocking Hills and around the house this week.

Spring_Robin
I always watch for signs of the first Robins to appear each year and I saw my first one out in the yard this week.

 

Buzzard
The Turkey Buzzards returned this week and were circling around the field nearby.

 

Bluebird_House
I spotted a pair of Eastern Bluebirds checking out the boxes in the yard where I hope they take up residence. With three around in the yard to choose from I hope they find one they like.

 

Bluebird

 

Dove2


The sound of the Mourning Doves could also be heard this morning as they scratched around for something to eat under the birdfeeders.

 

Doves

 

Grackle5
Although I did not get a picture of them a small flock of Grackles were feeding at the birdfeeders. They are not my favorite bird but that metallic blue head is very pretty.

 

Grackle

So there are signs of Spring winging their way into the Hocking Hills now.

 

Friday, March 8, 2013

Flowering Buckeye Trees

 

DA_Aesculus_pavia_Koehenii_FloweringBuckeye2
Aesculus pavia  Koehenii Flowering Buckeye tree

DA_Aesculus_pavia_Koehenii_FloweringBuckeye4

DA_Aesculus_pavia_Koehenii_FloweringBuckeye_SM

DA_Aesculus_pavia_Koehenii_FloweringBuckeye6

DA_Aesculus_pavia_RedBuckeye
Aesculus pavia Red Flowering Buckeye tree

DA_Aesculus_splendens_pavia_RedBuckeye3

DA_Aesculus_splendens_pavia_RedBuckeye2