I'm always delighted to find a species at the Witchwood that I've never found there before, but it's even more special when it's something I've never seen anywhere before. This Narrowleaf Gentian was one of those. I found a different gentian species there last year, and I assumed this was the same one until I put it on iNaturalist. It's wonderful having a place I can post my observations and get confirmation or correction!
Narrowleaf Gentian (Gentiana linearis)
This arrowwood was another new find this week. It's the third viburnum species on my land along with hobblebush and wild raisin, which are in fruit right now.
Southern Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
I'd never seen virgin's-bower in fruit before - isn't it beautiful?
Virgin's-Bower (Clematis virginiana)
This was probably the last week I'll see monkeyflower in bloom. I only found two or three plants still blooming.
Allegheny Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens)
This was my first time finding pondweed in bloom. There are a number of similar species in the genus - I don't know which one this is.
Pondweed (Potamogeton sp.)
There's a spot by the vernal pool with dozens of downy rattlenake-plantain orchid plants in three large clusters around a tree. Last year tons of them bloomed, but this year I found only a single flowering stem alongside last year's empty seed pods.
Downy Rattlesnake-Plantain (Goodyera pubescens)
I was so excited to find this pinesap, though I missed the flowering stage - it's in fruit now. You can tell because the flower heads start nodding downwards but turn upwards like this when they're pollinated. Last year I found the dried stems of flowers from a previous year near a corner of my property. I watched carefully for new stems there last year, but none appeared. I obviously wasn't watching closely enough this year since I missed flowering, but I'm so glad I found them!
Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys)
Jack-in-the-pulpit is in fruit - it will turn a gorgeous bright red soon. See the dried remnant of the flower spathe attached to the fruit?
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
The purple-fringed orchids are also in fruit. Last year the deer ate half of the flowers. I'm hopeful that this year they will reach maturity and release their dust-like seeds. Most of them are just off my land, and I'm hoping that lots of seeds will drift my way and germinate.
