WESTERN NC MOUNTAIN WILD FLOWERS
AT SHINING ROCK WHITE PINE CABIN AND ON THE TRAILS NEARBY YOU'LL FIND AMAZING NATIVE WILD FLOWERS.
SPRING WILDFLOWERS:
BLOODROOTBloodroot is one of the first wildflowers to bloom each year - before the trees even leaf out.
HABITAT: Moist woods, flood plains BLOOMS: March-April |
HALBERD-LEAVED VIOLETThe 5 petaled yellow flowers of Halberd-Leaved Violet are purple-tinged on the backside. They have purplish nectar lines on the lower petal and are bearded on the lateral lobes.
BLOOMS: March to May |
GOLDEN RAGWORT (Aster Family)
Many yellow 1/4" wide daisy-like flower heads on 1'-2' stems. Leaves at the base are heart shaped. The stem leaves are feathery and become smaller as they go up the stem with view or none near the flower. HABITAT: Meadows and dry woods BLOOMS: April-June |
WILD GERANIUM (Geranium Family)
The bright pink to purple 1"-1 1/2" blossoms make this plant easy to find. The geraniums we grow in our gardens are in the same plant family but a different genus. HABITAT: Rich, moist woods and coves BLOOMS: April-May |
STAR CHICKWEED (Pink Family)
With 5 petals that appear to be 10 because each is divided almost to its base ... mountain folklore tells us that when this flower is open, we are guaranteed a few hours without rain. HABITAT: Moist woods BLOOMS: April-May |
SHOWY ORCHIS (Orchid Family)
The stalk of this incredibly beautiful wild orchid can produce 2-12 flowers. Each flower is 1" long and the plant itself is 5" to 10" tall. HABITAT: Rich, moist woods, trailsides BLOOMS: April-May |
WAKE ROBIN TRILLIUM (Lily Family)
Spring may begin when this trillium blooms. Bloom color can be purple, maroon or even green, pale cream, or white. HABITAT: Moist woods BLOOMS: April-May |
BROOK LETTUCE (Saxifrage Family)
Also called Branch lettuce grows in the wet soils of mountain brook beds in the southern Appalachian mountains. It can be used as a leafy green in spring salads. HABITAT: Streams and seepage slopes BLOOMS: May-June |
SMOOTH SOLOMON'S SEAL (Lily Family)
Small tube-shaped flowers hang below beautiful arched stems of this graceful plant. HABITAT: Moist woods BLOOMS: April - May |
DWARF CINQUEFOIL (Rose Family)
Low-growing plant with 1/2" - 2/3" flowers of five small yellow petals and five leaflets per leaf. Blossoms rise from the axil of the lowest leaf. HABITAT: Dry open woods, balds, fields BLOOMS: April-June |
FOAMFLOWER (Saxifrage Family)
Delicate 1"-6" spike of numerous small white flowers on a hairy leafless stalk. The leaves resemble a maple leaf. HABITAT: Moist woodlands and stream banks BLOOMS: April-June |
WILD STRAWBERRY (Rose Family)
Low-growing with small white flowers in the spring produce berries in the summer. HABITAT: Dry fields and slopes BLOOMS: April-June |
SHINING ROCK GARDEN
WHITE PINE CABIN IS LOCATED IN ZONE 6b/7a AND OUR LAST FROST DATE IS MAY 15th SO OUR GARDEN GETS STARTED A BIT LATER HERE. SHINING ROCK LIFE IS RELATIVELY NEW TO GARDENING BUT EACH YEAR WE TRY DIFFERENT FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES. WE GROW ALL OF OUR VEGETABLES ORGANICALLY AND ARE HAPPY TO OFFER EXTRA PRODUCE TO OUR GUESTS AT WHITE PINE CABIN. NEXT YEAR, IN ADDITION TO OUR TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS, SQUASH, ZUCCHINI, GREEN BEANS, CORN, POTATOES, PEPPERS AND PUMPKINS - WE'RE PLANNING TO ADD ASPARAGUS, STRAWBERRIES, ONIONS, GARLIC AND HOPEFULLY SOME BLUEBERRY BUSHES.
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