Appalachian
Treasure Hunt
Journaling Native Plants of Northeast Georgia
J. Whalen
"I saw on the snow when I tried my skis
The track of a mouse beside some trees.
Before he tunneled to reach his house
He wrote 'Merry Christmas' in white, in mouse."
Christina G. Rosetti
December 1
The month of December in the woodlands of Northeast Georgia is a palate of browns and grays. Yet, it soon becomes obvious that there is an abundance of evergreens that we hardly notice until the leaves drop from our many deciduous trees. Above is a Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana, Pinaceae) that
grabs our attention in a way that would not happen in the summer. (Along the AT north of Woody Gap)
December 2
Christmas ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides, Aspidiaceae) are our only native evergreen fern in this area. In the coldest part of winter the fronds will probably be lying flat on the ground but new fronds (fiddleheads) start growing out in early spring. White County
December 3
Galax, with its shiny green leaves, is visible all year, but in winter the leaves are often tinted with red. Watch for its stalks of tiny white flowers in June. (Galax aphylla, Diapensiaceae) Union County
December 4
Many species of soft green moss, in many shades of green, can be found in the moist shady woodlands. Mosses are flowerless plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds. If you can catch a patch of moss during its reproductive phase you'll see the tiny stalks with spore cases on top.
December 5
Lycopodium obscurum
Towns County
This is a common evergreen plant in Northeast Georgia along road banks and on forest floors. One common name is ground pine. It is a relic plant from the Carboniferous Period and reproduces by spores rather that seeds. (Lycopodium obscurum, Lycopodiaceae)
December 6
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia, Ericaceae) Union County
December 7
This is a beautiful example of a plant that is often overlooked but, if found with sharp eyes along damp creek banks, allows a look at a survivor from millions of years ago. The University of Georgia says this is a liverwort, a nonvascular plant. It has no circulatory system like a larger plant, and reproduces by spores instead of seeds. (Hall County park)
December 8
In May Rattlesnake Plantain, a member of the orchid family, shoots up a spike of tiny white blooms. In the winter months, however, the beautiful bluegreen leaves with white netted veins are even more showy. Another nice evergreen to look for amid the fallen brown leaves. (Goodyera pubescens, Orchidaceae) Union County.
December 9
Woodland Stonecrop, growing among the fallen leaves, is undeniably a sedum, a succulant. Check back in the spring and you'll find a three-branched cluster of tiny white flowers. (Sedum ternatum, Crassulaceae) Union County
December 10
Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum, Ericaceae). You'll find this one at lower elevations and blooming in late June. If you can bear the cold and wind up higher you will see the evergreen leaves of R. catawbiense. It will bloom with stunning large purple flowers in May.
December 11
One of our native Wild Gingers (Hexastylis arifolia, Aristolochiaceae) is a common sight peeking out of winter leaves. Look under these leaves in spring and see the succulent brown flowers called "Little Pigs." In winter, crush a piece of a leaf and smell the distinctive gingery smell. Hall County
December 12
Many violet leaves seem to persist late into the winter. The color and shape of the leaves are just as different as the violet flowers in April. (Viola ssp, Violaceae) White County
December 13
These leaves of toothwort (Dentaria diphylla, Brassicaceae) are often evergreen. They are one of our earliest wildflowers to bloom. (Anna Ruby Falls State Park)
December 14
This foam flower leaf is hanging on in spite of the cold. It will probably be gone in a few weeks. (Tiarella cordifolia, Saxifragaceae) Anna Ruby Falls State Park
December 15
Lichens are composite plants made up of a fungus and an algae. The algae captures sunlight and photosynthesizes, making nutrients. The fungus holds the plant tightly in place. Look for their beautiful patterns on rocks and trees.
December 16
A tangled vine of Smilax along a roadside fence can be an eye-catching spot of color in winter, but don't try to climb through it. When you finally get untangled you'll leave with deep scratches along any exposed skin. "Cat brier" is a common name. If you have any in your yard, try digging it up. You'll always find a knobby potato-like formation at the end of its prickly roots. If the plant has been there long enough, the "potato" may be the size of a football! (Smilax rotundifolia, Smilacaceae) Lumpkin County.
December 17
Children and adults alike enjoy discovering the fuzzy leaves of Wooly Mullein poking out of the winter leaves. This "basal rosette" of leaves will last through the winter and start growning again in spring. The TALL spike of small yellow flowers doesn't catch our attention until mid-summer. This is an introduced plant from Europe but has been established here for a long time and hasn't proven to be a nuisance. (Verbascum thapsus, Srophulariaceae) Hall County
Post Oak
Quercus stellata
(cross-shaped leaves)
Southern Red Oak (above)
Quercus falcata (thin middle portion)
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra (above)
December 18
Blackjack Oak
Quercus marilandica
(left)
Walking in a wooded area in December you are likely to notice the variable shapes of the fallen leaves. The four above are all oaks...just four different species.
Red oaks? White oaks? All our native oaks can be divided into these two groups. The names describe the wood! Red oaks have darker wood. (They are sometimes called black oaks.) White oaks have lighter wood. Red oaks typically have bristle tips on their leaves and white oaks have rounded tips. Above, the post oak and the blackjack oak are white oaks, and the southern red oak and northern red oak are in the red oak group.
To the right is a Beech tree leaf. Beechs are in the oak family (Fagaceae), but in a different genus. (Fagus
grandifolia, Fagaceae) All the leaves above were found in the same Hall County Park.
December 19
This green cluster of leaves will be covered in April with many large beautiful blue Birdfoot Violets. Come back then and take a look. (Viola pedata, Violaceae) Hall County
December 20
The very short twisted needles of Virginia Pine are useful for identifying this native tree. In December note the small mature cones with slender sharp prickles. (Pinus virginiana, Pinaceae) Hall County
December 21
Common Grapefern
(Botrychium dissectum, Ophioglossaceae) Hall County
December 21 is our darkest day of the year: Winter Solstice. It will be a while before we notice that the days are getting longer, but the plant world knows. Every tiny bit of extra sunlight each day is preparing them for the work they have to do in the spring.
************
"As the days lengthen, the cold strengthens."
Old Farmer's Almanac
December 22
The mature cones of Eastern Red Cedar are blue, frosted, and berrylike. (Juniperus virginiana, Cupressaceae). Look for these trees, with their shaggy bark, along fence rows and old home sites.
December 23
December 23 is the traditional day to "gather the greens." Always look for mistletoe in Oak trees. This one doesn't have berries but, when they do, they will be white. They are parasitic and can do harm if there are too many plants on any one tree. But, for the holidays, it's always nice to have some mistletoe handy. (Phoradendron serotinum, Loranthaceae) Hall County
December 24
Our most common native holly in Northeast Georgia (Ilex opaca, Aquafoliaceae) is in full festive color around this time. Hollies are dioecious (two houses) so there are male trees and female trees. This one is female, of course, because of the berries. Union County
There's no mistaking a white pine (Pinus strobus, Pinaceae) The triangular profile, the tiers of whorled branches, and the bluish green needles are all giveaways. The lower branches don't die off and always go almost to the ground. If you plant one, give it a sixty foot circle! (White County)
December 25
December 26
River cane can be found growing in the floodplains of our many beautiful rivers of Northeast Georgia. (Arundinaria gigantic, Poaceae) Clark County
December 27
This fresh bunch of greens in December almost looks edible, but don't be tempted. One of its 15 common names is "staggerwort." It is one of the Golden Ragworts: Packera aurea (formerly Senecio aureus), Asteraceae, and will send up tall stalks in May or June with bright yellow "daisies." White County
December 28
Frosted leaves of Post Oak.
(Quercus stellata, Fagaceae) Hall County
December 29
Winter Farm, Frosty Mountain Top
Towns County
December 30
Evergreen trees, deciduous trees, winter sky
Union County
"December is bare trees and the evergreens, it is rustling weed stem in the ruthless wind and a partridge berry on the hillside. It is ground pine, older than the hills where it grows, and it is a seedling maple from two years ago clinging to one last scarlet leaf. It is a stiff-tailed young squirrel scrambling up an oak tree, and it is a mask-faced coon in the moonlit cornfield, listening for the hounds. It is ice on the pond and lichen on the rock and a flock of chickadees in the pine thicket." Hal Borland (Sundial of the Seasons)
December 31
"No year stands by itself, anymore than any day stands alone. There is the continuity of all the years in the trees, the grass, even in the stones on the hilltops. Even in man.
All our years are summarized in our now, and all our tomorrows are ours to shape." Hal Borland (Sundial of the Seasons.)
