Last night was a Blue Moon. I am sure many of you were able to get fantastic photos of the moon as it rose in the sky. We saw it on our way home from dinner, but because of our location, it wasn't until it was higher in the sky that we were able to see it from our property. A grainy but interesting photo of said Blue Moon. I do like the jet trails in the sky.
That photo was taken at the top of the driveway, some of the neighbors had a much better view of the rising moon. Their views over the lake face east....ours is north. I am glad I don't have the rising sun shining in my bedroom windows.
At the top of our yard, by the street is pretty untamed. I find interesting plant material up there. The newest find is a Liatris, probably possibly Liatris graminifolia or perhaps something else. My books say the Liatris in SC are difficult to distinguish. I thought it might be a Carphephorus bellidifolius, but don't think so. There are two plants at the edge of the woods. I haven't seen this anywhere else in my woods, yard, garden, or along the street as I walk the dogs. Hope it reseeds and there are more next summer!
Everywhere in the woods, I find this little Euphorbia. This one was previously IDed for me by Daricia. E. corollata or E. pubentissima. Either way, it is cute scattered among the other wild things.
Curiously, I have two Helianthus sp. in the woods outside my dining room window. I see it blooming along the roadways all through the area, except in our neighborhood. These two are the only ones I have seen. Curious. I love the bright yellow in the woods, the color just pops.
When I take the dogs for a walk I keep my eyes open for something other than chinese lespedesa or blackberry brambles....the two most commonly growing things on vacant lots.
Both last year and this year I have seen this plant in the photo below, in ONE location. To me it looks like Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides. This is as close as I got to it, about 6- 8 feet away. Perhaps in the later fall, if there is still some vegetation left, I might venture in to see if I can find a squared stem or leaf arrangement. Currently I am in my fifth consecutive day since May without a bug bite needing 'After Bite' or Cortisone Cream or Benedryl Cream. I would like to make at least make it a week!! I have had more bug bites this year, mostly chiggers, though some might be spider bites.
Funny this is nowhere else in the wooden lots along our street. Believe me, I am always on the lookout!!
The Passiflora incarnata mentioned in past posts, growing near my tiny Sassafras tree is another mystery. For those who know this vine, it has amazing underground rhizomes that travel great distances. There should be a lot of these vines in my location, if there is one, there must be a lot. I have many other vines that fill the woods, surely there must be some other Passion vines. Haven't seen any, zero, nada. Maybe this one is the pioneer seedling, dropped by a bird, left to germinate and grow in my yard along the driveway. Again, very interesting.
Finally, I leave you with a picture of the sunset last night. If we go down to the water, out on the dock, we get beautiful evening skies. I suppose it all comes down to location, location, location....and we sure love ours!! Happy Labor Day weekend to all!
©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford.
words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.
Happy Labor Day Janet! Hope you have a great weekend. That is a beautiful sunset, and a beautiful spot to watch it from. You have such interesting wildflowers near your property. Can you save seeds from that Liatris and try growing some yourself?
ReplyDeleteAlison, I didn't think of trying to save the seeds.... I was just thrilled to find it. Will keep my eyes open for when it turns to seed.
DeleteThe pix you think is mountain mint IS mountain mint. :o) I have it in my garden. I've never seen such a tiny euphorbia. It's really cute! Liatris is great for attracting pollinators. Plus, it's super tough. It's a great plant to have show up. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteTammy, thanks for the confirmation on my ID of the mountain mint. Might try to gather some of those seeds.
DeleteLovely photos and flowers, and your dock is fabulous. It looks like a place of peace and I think it would be nice to sleep out there on a warm night. Do you ever do that?
ReplyDeleteTerra, thanks so much for stopping by. Ohhh sleeping out on the dock isn't really a good idea. There are some creepy waterbug things that live on the underside of the dock. There are critters at night, wouldn't be keen on a muskrat crawling over me while I slept. Then there are the spiders......oh my. It does look nice though.
DeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteThe liatris is clearly Liatris squarrosa and a very cool find! The yellow composite with the large leaves should be easy to ID, I can never remember them.
Randy, I would love to know how you can determine the Liatris species. I am trying hard to learn these wildflowers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Deletei love the picture of the lake. If I lived out there I don't think I would ever get anthing done, I would be watching the water day and night.
ReplyDeleteDavid, thanks for stopping by. We love watching all the activity on the lake, always something to see.
DeleteI have seen a plant like the Euphorbia up here and now will check out if it looks like what you showed. The photo of the lake is really beautiful. What a great spot. The Blue Moon was a bit of a wash up here as it was cloudy. I did photograph it on my other blog on Thursday on a clear night, then on Friday through the clouds. I really wanted a good photo of it too.
ReplyDeleteDonna, I wonder if the plant you have it a Euphorbia as well. Check for that sticky sap.
DeleteMy hope is to learn my 'good' camera better to try and get moon shots.
That euphorbia is adorable. I'd love to sit on that dock and dangle my feet in the water!
ReplyDeleteDiana, yes it is cute. Sort of a little baby's breath kind of bloom. Come on over and we will sit on the dock and soak our feet!
DeleteWow that last photo is stunning. What a view!
ReplyDeleteI am supposing that that passiflora is not the one with passion fruit? Or is it?
ReplyDeleteRuth, Yes it is the passiflora that has a fruit. Native plant, host plant for the Gulf Fritillary.
DeleteThank you for your walk around the woods and that da bomb sunset. These images are so sweet when you're a paralyzed gardener. Thanks much, my Queen.
ReplyDeletePatrick, it is my pleasure. thanks for stopping by again.
DeleteVery interesting post...
ReplyDeleteDarla, thanks.
Deletelovely photos :-)
ReplyDeleteEnglish Shepherd, thanks a bunch!!
DeleteWhat beautiful pictures Janet. I love the one of the lake. Just gorgeous. It is always fun to keep an eye out for new natives growing each year. I always get excited over finding a new one that has taken root. The little Euphorbia's are so cute.
ReplyDeleteLona, thanks so much. I am always on the lookout for something new blooming.
DeleteThat is a very lovely and unusual liatris. I have Helianthus strumosus in my backyard, is that one of your two species.
ReplyDeleteJason, thanks for coming by. It could be a Helianthus strumosus....there are just so many Helianthus...some very close in appearance to each other.
DeleteHappy Labor Day to you as well Janet! Enjoyed the woodland garden tour, especially the sunset and moon photos. I agree that the last flower photo looks like mountain mint. Hopefully you can get closer to it this fall.
ReplyDeleteI can tell your really enjoying it down there (except for the bugs...ha ha).
Alan, thanks! I love our sunsets....sunrise is way too early. Yes, I am enjoying it here a lot...in spite of the bug bites.
DeleteJanet thanks for the nice comments - Becoming a MG is in the long-range plans but right now with two teenagers and my mom living with us in the house there is no freetime
ReplyDeleteDavid, I understand that. Keep us in mind. Great source of info too!
DeleteJanet those sky photos are amazing...without a tripod I cannot get evening or night shots that aren't blurry...I love the wildflowers you find and try t identify...so far I have been no help but that does look like a liatris.
ReplyDeleteDonna@GEV, thanks, I like the lake picture a lot, the moon....kind of lame. When the shutter is really slow, I hold my breath...because BOTH of my tripods are in the house. (of course)
DeleteI've always wondered, too, why something thrives in one location and not in another. A couple of years ago we had what I thought were wild phlox growing everywhere along the roadsides. I dug up a clump from the ditch across the road (the neighbors thought I was weird, I'm sure) and planted it in my garden where it promptly died:)
ReplyDeleteThe last photo is breathtaking--what a gorgeous view you have!
Rose, it is a mystery why some plants are one place and not another. I would have gathered some of the wild phlox too!
DeleteI have a huge swath of mountain mint and have always loved its fragrance and powdery white bracts in late summer. For some reason, this year, every plant has fallen over and there are very few blooms. Maybe it's the heat over the past few months, or maybe the trees have just gotten larger and there's too much shade. Loved your photo of the lake. So peaceful...
ReplyDeleteDJ, I will see if I can get to that clump along the road, would love some in my garden!
DeleteOur lake is very peaceful.
That last photo is utterly stunning Janet, no wonder you are happy living where you are! I would be deeply envious if I hadn't moved near water and amazing skies myself ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have this wonderful image of you walking around your area, eyes darting this way and that, searching out the little wild gems that almost certainly pass most others by. Hope your Liatris settles in for the long term.
Janet, thanks! I know you are loving your great water views. Yes, my eyes are always darting from one side of the street to the other to see what I can find.
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