Thursday, September 12, 2019

WALK AROUND HUNTLEY MEADOWS IN ALEXANDRIA


I have lost count of the times we have been to Huntley Meadows over the years, and I have shared it many times on my blog.  I can't even remember how we first discovered it.  If I had to guess I would say it was found online when looking for new places to walk.  It was and still is one of our most favorite places.  We were there at the beginning of the month, on September 1st, 2019.
It looked like someone had flipped a switch.  There were signs that the season was changing.
In the Fall Flowering Dogwood Trees are bright with red berries, and the birds love them.  In the spring I am always looking for the first blooms.  "George Washington planted dogwoods at Mount Vernon, which came from the surrounding forest.  Thomas Jefferson planted dogwoods at Monticello in the late 1770s, which inspired Virginia lawmakers to select the American Dogwood as the state flower in 1918."  I read all of this and more at the first link in red above.I am always on the look-out for wildflowers and these were still blooming.  They are called Panicled tickclover. also known as Panicled tick-trefoil, Panicledleaf ticktrefoil and Narrow-leaf tick-trefoil.

There have been Cardinal Flowers growing in this particular spot for as long as I can remember.New York Ironweed is another native wildflower.  Its purple flowers bloom for most of the month of September and attracts many butterflies.This is a Floating Primrose Willow.   In the photos above and below, we have Swamp Smartweed.  It is an aquatic plant and in these wetlands it grows everywhere.The following is a Sweetgum tree, such a beautiful color at this time of the year.  According to the website it is 'common in the southeast and has a gummy, aromatic sap from which it gets its name'.

So much to see at this park but I'll leave the rest for another time when I share the wildlife.  







34 comments:

  1. I was sad to see this post come to an end. I have so enjoyed walking with you. New wildflowers for me, I have never seen any of them!

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    1. I will have a post on the wildlife from there next week Ginny. I'm so glad you enjoy my walks, thank you :)

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  2. I always like walking with you.
    We have sweet gums too - but they are known as Liquid Amber trees here.

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    1. That makes me happy EC. Thank you and also for the name of your own sweet gum trees. very pretty name!

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    1. Obrigado :) Gostaria também de desejar uma boa semana continuada.

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  4. Hello, pretty place for a walk. I love the flowers and berries. Wishing you a happy day!

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    1. It truly is a beautiful place Sandi, thank you :)

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  6. So much to see and probably much more for many more walks.

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    1. Thank you William, I have always thought it so :)

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  8. I see why you enjoy walking there so much, Denise. It's full of adventure and beauty.

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  9. I can see why this is a favorite spot to re-visit.

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    1. Thank you Ellen, I am already looking forward to going again :)

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  10. Hi Denise,
    What a wonderful place to visit, but so sad the seasons are marching on, we will soon be shivering in the snow.
    Super set of images.
    All the best,
    John

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    1. Hi John, thank you and yes it will be even more Fall-like the next time we go. I think I have only visited a couple of times in the snow. The trails get covered up so it makes it more difficult and we don't go as far. Thank you John and all the best to you too :)

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  11. I love this place! I got out in the woods today and there is something so calming about being in the forest. I love the wildflowers you saw and remember a few of them from NC. It's neat to see the different things we see at the end of the summer too. Enjoy your afternoon!

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    1. Thank you Diane, I agree with you totally about the forest, I am always 100% at peace there. I love this place in all seasons when weather permits us to get out there. You enjoy your afternoon also and the weekend ahead :)

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  12. Lovely photos. Sorry not visiting much. Just a very busy time for us. Cheers Diane

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    1. Hi Diane, life takes us away from blogging at times but it is so good to see you back. Cheers to you also :)

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    1. You are very welcome Christine, I am happy you enjoyed :)

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  14. You taught me the name of Swamp Smartweed. I did not know its name. Don't you just love Sweet Gums? They can have every color of the rainbow on them in the fall. If not for the prickly 'burs' they drop in the fall, I would have one here.

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    1. I'm glad I could help ID something for you Rose. Sweet Gums are a beautiful tree. I forgot all about those prickly burs though.

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  15. Thank you, Denise for the lovely walk and the beautiful flowers and trees. Nature is certainly an inspiring and beautiful place to walk.

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    1. You are very welcome Martha Ellen and I agree, it certainly is.

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  16. You know that bit of woods, its flowers well!

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    1. Thank you Yogi, I do know some of them but I also learn as I go along :)

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  17. A wonderful array of flora. It is not hard to see why you always enjoy your visits there.

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    1. Hi David, thank you. Like so many places, there is always something new to see :)

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