What’s blooming at Audubon Acres?

Sharp-lobed Hepatica at Audubon Acres. It is growing on a steep hillside.

I made it to a few more locations yesterday, and I included those sightings at the end. After chasing down the Latinate names of plants for the previous issue, I have decided to stick to common names. This issue begins with a list of plants I saw on my March 23^rd trip to Audubon Acres.

Bloodroot – most have dropped their petals and have seed capsules.
Christmas fern – in fiddlehead form.
Foamflower
Forkleaf Toothwort
Ground Ivy 
Round-lobed Hepatica
Sensitive fern – the green sterile fronds have replaced the dried fertile fronds. 
Sharp-lobed hepatica 
Rue Anemone – abundant.
Star Chickweed – much more abundant.
Violets – blue, yellow, and white. 
Virginia Spring Beauties – much more abundant than two weeks prior. 
Yellow Trout Lilies – blooming where they were only foliage two weeks ago. 

Locations visited on Wednesday, March 27, 2024

My building’s front yard has an abundant display of Common blue Violets and some Henbit Deadnettle. The narrow strip of earth between the retaining wall and the road has Red Deadnettle. After seeing the two deadnettles so close together and identifying them with the help of iNaturalist, I am confident in determining the species of either. That narrow strip of land also harbors Field Madder in bloom. Lady’s Bedstraw and Crane’s-beak have put out leaves, but no blooms so far.

The roadside along Craven’s Terrace has Redbud and Dogwood in bloom. One yard sports a blooming cultivated Azalea.

At the historic Cravens House, the grass is covered with spring beauties. At other locations, iNaturalist specifies Virginia Spring Beauties, but at this location, both the Virginia variety and the Carolina variety are listed. Virginia appears at the top of the list, so I chose that option.

The yard surrounding the historic structures also contains Field Madder, Red Deadnettle, Smallflower Buttercup, Common Dandelion, Bird’s-eye Speedwell, and Common Chickweed. The Common Chickweed is abundant and much smaller than the Star Chickweed I have seen at Audubon Acres and Reflection Riding.

The Eagles Nest is a small property just off Scenic Highway. It once held a community flower garden but is now part of Point Park. There is an Eagle statue on the bluff, in a sorry state of disrepair. On the lower level, I saw a Red Admiral Butterly on a Common Dandelion. Common Blue Violets and Common Chickweed are abundant. Sweet White Violets are present in smaller numbers, and Crane’s Beak is in leaf but has not yet flowered.