Kalmia angustifolia L. is a flowering shrub in the family Ericaceae, commonly known as sheep laurel. It is found in a small number of locations on the Refuge. Its natural range is from Quebec and…
[caption id="attachment_4885" align="alignleft" width="300"] (Click on image for larger and fuller view.)[/caption] Today, I went out to the southern border of the Refuge to checkout the area around the old USDA Beltsville Landing Strip. There…
Last time we attempted to identify a Forget-Me-Not that was found growing in Oldtown Elkridge. (Click here to see the first part of the story.) After looking at the key, we narrowed the possibilities down…
[caption id="attachment_4821" align="alignleft" width="360"] Old Erie Canal (Clinton's Ditch) on left and the "New" Erie Canal on the right[/caption] This time we diverge from looking at plants. On our hike on the Butterfly Trail at…
Today, I went on a botanical foray in Oldtown Elkridge concentrating on the area around the Thomas Viaduct and found several interesting exotics and even a few natives. Pictured here is the Poet's Daffodil -…
[caption id="attachment_4814" align="alignleft" width="360"] Thomas Viaductpassing over Levering Avenue in Elkridge, MD[/caption] The venue for today’s foray took place in Oldtown Elkridge and in area of the nearby Thomas Viaduct (the world’s oldest multiple arched…
This tiny plant called Draba verna L. is a true harbinger of spring. It is always one of the first flowers to makes its presence known each year. In Maryland, it can usually be seen…
[caption id="attachment_4622" align="alignleft" width="360"] Little Patuxent River from the River Trail[/caption] Today, the Little Patuxent River Trail located on the North Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge was the scene for a spring wildflower walk…
The American Field Pansy (Viola bicolor Pursh) is found throughout the eastern part of North America with a small number of outlying populations reported from the west. It is commonly found on the Refuge on…
Found a sizable patch of Azure Bluets (Houstonia caerulea L.) in full bloom on the Central Tract today, 7 April. It is differentiated from the similar looking Tiny Bluets (Houstonia pusilia) by its basally disposed…
[caption id="attachment_4506" align="alignleft" width="300"] Petals with ears at the base, style, and dimple-less ovary[/caption] Today, I went to the refuge's North Tract to look for some Yellow Dogtooth Violets or Trout Lilies (Erythronium) to take…
Dutchman's Breeches - Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. is favorite of those who are familiar with spring ephemeral wildflowers because if one uses their imagination, little man in pants hanging upside down can be envisioned when…
Yellow Fumewort - Corydalis flavula (Raf.) DC. - is another spring bloomer that is a denizen of bottomland woods and adjacent areas and is commonly found in parts of Eastern North America. As typical of…
Today at the Patuxent Research Refuge, we stopped by the Chickasaw Plum "Grove" (Prunus angustifolia Marshall). There are two clumps of the trees at this location, and they put on a nice display. According to…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/11582493@N02/31204967503/ This bracken fern is another species of fern that we found on our nature walk. This variety is called the Hairy Bracken Fern or Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn var. pubescens Underw. It differs from…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/11582493@N02/31153362664/ Western Swordfern growing in Bellevue, Washington 30 December 2016. The Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum (Kaulf.) C. Presl) is an evergreen fern found on the west coast of North America from Southeastern Alaska to…
Today,my granddaughters in Seattle and I took a hike on the Boeing Trails in Bellevue Washington. We saw several types of native trees as well as the non-native American Holly. We also saw the Western…
This time we will examine two similar species of Thoroughwort (sometimes called boneset) - Hyssop-leaf Thoroughwort (Eupatorium hyssopifolium L.) and Torrey's Thoroughwort (Eupatorium torreyanum Short & Peter). The synonym Eupatorium hyssopifolium L. var. laciniatum A.…