Appalachian
Treasure Hunt
Journaling Native Plants of Northeast Georgia
J. Whalen
"Yet not without some soul does one eat the honey of his own hives. One cannot assist his bees in all their sweet work without learning many a lovely thing among the meadows, without hearing many a sweet note within the woods."
Dallas Lore Sharp
July 1
July 1
The roadsides begin to brighten up in July with the first of the yellow daisies. This is Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta, Asteraceae), and it will continue to bloom through August. It gets only about two feet tall but a cluster of them along a mountain path will make it seem like summer is finally here. (Union County)
July 2
Beautiful pink Summer Phlox begins to appear in sunny spots in July. The leaves are slightly "toothed" and the flower tube is downy. Phlox paniculata, Polemoniaceae (Union County)
July 3
This July flower is in the mint family and, typical of most mints, the stems are square. The leaves are also aromatic. As with most members of the mint family, Crimson Bee Balm has long been used medicially. It can be found growing in cool dark places or in full sun. (Monarda didyma, Lamiaceae) Lake Winfield Scott
July 4
July 5
The delicate white bell-shaped flowers of April have turned into these sturdy four-winged seed pods by July. Carolina Silverbell tree (Halesia tetraptera, Styracaceae) Union County
July 6
Pale Indian Plantain (Cacalia atriplicifolia, Asteraceae) has very modest whitish-pink flowers, but beautifully shaped leaves that are worth stopping to admire. Look for a white coating under the leaves. (Arnoglossum atriplicifolium, Asteraceae) Union County
July 7
Tall Meadow Rue, as you can see, is tall. Like Rue Anemone in early spring, the leaves are smooth and bluish green. (They are both in the buttercup family.) The many tiny white flowers are usually covered with bees and butterflies. (Thalictrum polygamum, Ranunculaceae)
July 8
New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus, Rhamnaceae, is a small shrub that blooms in July, often on steep roadbanks. Although it is not a member of the tea family, its leaves have been used as a tea substitute. Some sources say that it was used by the patriots in Boston who refused to drink English tea. As you can see, it's definitely appreciated by local bees. (Union County)
July 9
Flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata, Euphorbiaceae) appears in early July. The flowers are so tiny they only get a second glance from serious botanists who study their unusual structure with a hand lens. Related to poinsettias, the stems have a distinctive milky sap. There will be a whirl of beautiful blue-green leaves beneath the flower clusters. Union County
July 10
Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonni, Schrophulariaceae) is not a common wildflower but can be found in colonies along cool shady paths in the mountains. If you gently press the sides of the flower the "turtle's mouth" will open! Pull the flower apart to study the interesting wooly structure inside. Union County
July 11
Ground-nut is a perennial vine that starts to bloom around the beginning of July. The fragrant pinkish blooms place it obviously in the pea family. The common name refers to the small edible tubers found underground and discovered to be a food source by the early settlers. (Apios americana, Fabaceae) Union County
July 12
Don't walk through the cool shady places without taking a deep breath of refreshing oxygen provided for all the animals who live there, and those who visit.
July 13
In the primrose family, Whorled Loosestrife sends out delicate stems and yellow flowers from a whorl of lance-shaped leaves. The flowers usually have a splotch of red in the center. (Lysimachia quadrifolia, Primulaceae) Union County
July 14
Even with this unusual color "break" of red, poison ivy is easily recognisable. Many hiking trails are lined with it. Since it won't grow on compacted soil you are safe walking in the middle of the path and wearing long pants.
July 15
These multi-flower clusters of small yellow blooms can be spotted towering five or more feet above the ground in July. Look on the ground below to see the large smooth leaves with a red mid-vein. Rosinweed (Silphium compositum, Asteraceae) Union County
July 16
Purple Gerardia (Agalinis purpurea, Schrophulariaceae)
Pickens County
July 17
July 18
Lance-leafed Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata, Asteraceae) is often found in garden centers, but can be spotted in colonies along roadsides in July. Check the leaves to see if they are lance-like. (Union County)
July 19
"Bane" in archaic English means "danger", "Stay away", "poison." Cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior, Apiaceae) means poison to cows. If it's poison to cows, it most likely is poisonous to any member of the animal kingdom. There are so many species that bloom in July and August with white flower clusters that it would be wise not to taste any of them. Cowbane has distinctive large leaves with 5 to 11 leaflets, and the flower head is loose and bounces in the wind. (Union County)
July 20
Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina, Anacardiaceae) is blooming now with large greenish white flower clusters. Note the "wings" along the "stems" of the leaves. The tiny fruit of this plant is said to have a lemony flavor that can be used to make a "lemonade", and the bark and leaves have been used to tan leather. Lumpkin County
July 21
Blooming alongside Winged Sumac on summer roadsides is Smooth Sumac. In addition to the beautiful red drupes (fruit) the fall foliage is bright red! Birds enjoy these tiny treats all through the fall. (Rhus glabra, Anacardiaceae) Lumpkin County
July 22
Note the umbrella-shaped flower clusters at the top of each downy stalk in this July bloomer: Hairy Angelica. Like several other look-alike flowers in the carrot family, this one has poisonous roots. Also note the pinkish stems and clasping sheaths around the stems. (Angelica venenosa, Apiaceae)
July 23
Aralia spinosa, Araliaceae (Devil's Walking Stick, Hercules Club) blooms on TALL stems with sharp thorns. In the fall look for large clusters of purple-black berries. (White County)
July 24
An overcast foggy day in the mountains is brightened by a colony of tickseed coreopsis.
July 25
Southern Sneezeweed (Helenium flexosum, Asteraceae) pops up in July around lakesides and wet ditches. Like other Heleniums, it has a ball-shaped central disk made up of many TINY flowers. Note the pollen just beginning to puff out of the bottom flowers. Keep kleenex handy. (Don Carter State Park, Hall County.)
July 26
BEAUTIFUL clumps of this "heavenly" looking July plant also pop up around lakes and other boggy places in North Georgia. But leave it where it grows. All parts of this plant are poisonous to humans and wildlife. It's name, Water Hemlock, should be sufficient warning! (Cicuta maculata, Apiaceae) Don Carter State Park, Hall County
July 27
A bakery in the woods?
July 28
Turk's Cap Lilies (Lilium superbum, Liliaceae) are our tallest lilies, often reaching 7 or 8 feet tall. If you're lucky you'll find one several years old with as many as 20 flowers to a stalk! Union County
July 29
Bunchflower is an unusual summer wildflower to find, and may even disappear for a year or two before it flowers again. Look for these tiny white flowers on stems that are at least two or three feet tall and can reach 5 feet. (Melanthium parviflorum, Melanthiaceae) Hall county
July 30
This is Fairy Wand or Devil's Bit...your choice! It's a
"dioecious" plant (male flowers on some plants and female flowers on others). This one is a male plant because the flowering tip is drooping down. The tip of the female plants are erect. (Chamaelirium luteum, Liliaceae) Union County
July 31
Eastern Featherbells (Stenanthium gramineum) Lake Trail at Lake Winfield Scott
There's always a spot of beauty to be found, even on a rainy, rainy day.