Sand Mountain is located in the Elkhead Mountains. The mountain is actually two separate peaks. They reach heights of around 10800′. It is a great hike if you want to have a mountain almost all to yourself. However, it takes a little navigating to get there. The trailhead is located off a forest service road […]
The plants in the photos on this page are common milkweed. I found it when I was out on one of my many hikes / walks. I am always on the lookout for topics to write blog posts about. Common Milkweed is really anything but common. It is a quite lovely plant with spectacular flowers […]
Oak trees are probably one of my favorite types of trees. The Chestnut Oak is a lovely member of the white oak group. It’s scientific name is Quercus prinus. There is a cluster of Chestnut Oak trees on my Mom’s farm in The Plains, Virginia. This is a great opportunity to get up-close to some […]
The Rocky Mountain Columbine is the state flower of Colorado. Wildflowers are always so pretty. In the spring, meadows are full of a variety of colorful wildflowers. This is an exceptionally beautiful flower that is somewhat unique. Where is the Colorado State Flower? Of course, in Colorado you can find this flower in aspen […]
If you are hiking and look down, chances are you will see a mock strawberry. Their scientific name is Duchesnea indica or sometimes Potentilla indica. They also are known as false, Indian or wild strawberries. Read more to find out about another non-native plant. As usual, it is an invasive species. Plant Characteristics The mock […]
Why So Many Cicadas? Cicada are true bugs. They belong to the order Hemiptera, which means true bugs. They emerge by the billions. This is a survival strategy called prey satiation. These bugs are food for a large number of birds, mammals, frogs, fish, and a fungus called massospora. The massive number of cicadas ensures […]