Josh and I went on a short trip last week before the Baker Creek Spring Festival, where I was speaking. Our trip took us to Elephant Rocks State Park, Johnson Shut-Ins, Mammoth State Park and Pickle Springs Nature Preserve. At Pickle Springs we found a colony of unidentified plants (below). Funny, I can pass a dozen people on the street and not feel I need to know everyone's names, but when I cross paths with a plant I don't know, I just have to find the name. Now I know, these are American Colombo (Frasera spp.).
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| American columbo - Frasera caroliniensis |
Perfect time to walk in the woods, so many wildflowers, mushrooms and trees in bloom.
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| Stream from Pickle Springs |
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| Elephant rocks, atop the mountain, amazing. |
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| One of many "kissing rocks" at Pickle Springs |
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| Rattlesnake orchid, a plant which doesn't grow where I live. |
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| "Fat man's trap", I was glad I could pass through easily. |
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| Ferns at the base of the rocks, I just love seeing these in spring! |
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| Even though our morel season is over in the Ozarks, they were still finding them up near St. Louis. |
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| I always think of my mother when I see dogwoods in bloom. |
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| Turtles sunning themselves in the old quarry at Elephant Rocks. |
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| What amazing things nature creates! |
