Spring bloomings?

N

NewSchoolPiney

Explorer
Jun 16, 2003
138
0
Boston, MA
www.pinemind.com
Hey everyone,

With the spring weather finally upon us, I'm looking forward to some expeditions in the pines. Are there any blooming cycles for Pine Barrens specific plants coming up within the next week or two?

Also, I know there is a rare yellow flowering plant in the Pines but I don't know the name. Does anyone know any information about this plant and it's approximate blooming time?

Justin
 
Justin,
there are a number of threatened yellow plants in the Pines. There are a number of yellow orchids, but I have a feeling the one you are referring to is probably bog asphodel.

Bog asphodel-a member of the lily family
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

other threatened and endangered flowers that are yellow...
Yellow or orange fringed orchid, S2
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

I have pics of a couple other yellow orchids that are t&e (threatened and endangered.) They aren't in my album, but I know that I have them, I put together a power point presentation on orchids and other rarities of the pines that I presented a few weeks ago at the Atlantic County Community College as a guest speaker for their environmental club. I'll find those and upload those and post them.

Some highbush blueberries are starting to bloom, leatherleaf as well. Other shrubs that should be blooming soon include fetterbush, dangleberry, huckleberry, lowbush blueberry, red chokeberry, serviceberry and probably a few I've missed off the top of my head.

Alot of tree are blooming right now, too.
This is a good time of year to find coyote scat. I found 3 piles of it last week on the Batona. Found it last year around the same time near a swamp as well.

Pyxie is blooming now. I have several pics of it, but can't seem to locate it in my album at the moment. I'll look for that one too.

Golden club, or never wet, is also in bloom. If you find this, push the leaves under the water, then let them come back up and notice how they are the original goretex!
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Swamp pink-blooming in some areas, budding in others.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
In bud, it reminds me of asparagus. It's a member of the lily family too.
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
Lady's slipper will be in bloom soon:
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

There are a number of violets in addition to the common blue violet that bloom around now:
Bird's foot violet
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Primrose leaved violet
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Lance leaved violet
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Ipecac spurge
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Common strawberry
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Common cinquefoil, sometimes mistaken for strawberry
http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Also, trailing arbutus should be coming in bloom--don't pick it! And broom crowberry I think.
Should keep ya busy for a week or two.
 
We were out yesterday and broom crowberry was pretty much done, but you could still tell the male and female plants apart.
Service bush is flowering, and red chokeberry and sand myrtle are budding with an occasional flower open.
Southern twayblade should be within the next 2 weeks.
Some grasses, like Carex barrattii were in bloom. It has a really cool flower. The spurge was blooming too. Arbutus is at the tail end of blooming.
Renee
 
Nah, I'm still a beginner, still learning. I just started Ted Gordon's threatened and endangered plant species of the Pines class, it runs through October. Fantastic class.
Karl Anderson, a retired botanist, has been mentoring me a bit. He was out yesterday with me, counting a plant population. He's been a wonderful help. He keeps stressing the importance of me learning plants out of the pines too, but gosh, there are just so many!!!
We saw about 200 swamp pinks blooms down here, we seem to be a little ahead of Ocean County. The population I visited Tuesday with Ted's class was nowhere near ready to bloom. Only 10-15% of the population blooms on any given year, ideally, though the populations I've seen have a slightly lower bloom percentage.
Our highbush blueberry were well into bloom yesterday down here.
One interesting thing I learned Tuesday that Karl reaffirmed yesterday is on the subject of trumpet pitchers. There are a couple in the Pines in isolated spots. They are not native to the Pines, of course, but there is no conservation effort on them because they were apparently planted in various spots by a Piney who thought it would be a good joke. scratches head....
We found some orchid leaves yesterday while we were out too, though it's too early to tell what kind. And I saw a lady slipper that should be blooming soon.
It's funny, but it seems like I forget a lot of them over the winter. I had to laugh when Karl said yesterday that now he had to relearn all the plants since it was spring. At least I know it's not just me, lol!
Next time I see Ben I'll give him the CD with my powerpoint presentation, and he said he will set it up for viewing somehow. Lots of info in it and pics.
Renee
 
bach2yoga said:
One interesting thing I learned Tuesday that Karl reaffirmed yesterday is on the subject of trumpet pitchers. There are a couple in the Pines in isolated spots. They are not native to the Pines, of course, but there is no conservation effort on them because they were apparently planted in various spots by a Piney who thought it would be a good joke. scratches head....
Click to expand...

That reminds me . . . last fall on the lab practical for my ecology class, we were all amazed--right next to question nuber 18 (threadleaf sundew) was a big fat, healthy venus fly trap.

Well apparantly some piney planted it (and others) out there . . . go figure.

-Bob
 
Yeah, that was another one that they mentioned occasionally gets planted, just to see if it will live. I love carnivorous plants--it brings to mind one of my favorite words--"nastic".
One of my fave botanical names to say is "Calamovilfa brevilipilis" (Pine barrens reed grass-a very special plant, but one that tends to choke out other plants that are even more rare.). Just is a lot of fun to say, kinda like supercalifragilistic etc...
My daughter Kristen (she's 9) came in one day a few months back and asked me how to spell Helonius bullata (swamp pink). When I asked her why she needed to know, she informed me she was playing hangman. shakes head...
Renee
 
Anyone know of any Turkey Beard's in bloom yet. Plants I have seen this past week are just starting to stalk out. Thanks, I'm looking for a big field for some pictures. Crosley has some, but would like to find a larger area.
 
One of the most visible bloomers right now is Mountain Laurel.
It is in full bloom this week in my neck of the woods. The hunter's lore is that this is when the whitetail deer start to drop their fawns.
Sweet pepper is also flowering around the swamps right now as well. The bell shaped flowers have a really sweet smell that you can detect from a good distance.
I was walking down Hampton Road last night and the smell was noticeable.
 
I love the smell of sweet pepper bush.
Turkey beard is just starting to bloom. Friendship bogs has areas with turkey beard that are good for photographing, but I haven't seen Crossley's populations so I can't compare.
Sand myrtle and PB heather are blooming now too.
Lady's slipper orchids, and Southern twayblade are blooming now, and so are loeselli's twayblade and lily-leaved twayblade (all orchids in the Pines).
Adder's tongue is fruiting, a neat little fern ally.
Renee
 
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