A WALK ALONG THE LIMBERLOST TRAIL, SKYLINE DRIVE

 On our walk along Limberlost Trail (milepost 43 on Skyline Drive) in June 2014, there were Azure Bluets everywhere, a beautiful sight.  Another name for this pretty little flower is Quaker Ladies and its botanical name is Houstonia caerulea.  They are native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States, about half an inch across and very small compared to other flowers we saw.  Spread like a continuous carpet of tiny blooms, they were a delight for the eyes.  They attract butterflies and bees and are commonly found growing wild in forests but can be found in almost all grassy biomes.  Look out for it in spring, summer and the fall.

 Next we have the European columbine, also known as Granny's Nightcap, Granny's bonnet and Common columbine. Its botanical name is Aquilegia vulgaris. It attracts butterflies, bumblebees and hummingbirds and blooms for an extended time beginning in early spring.  

It thrives in sun or shade and will self-seed.  Buntings and finches apparently love the seed.  An interesting bit of trivia is that Ancient Romans considered the European columbine to be sacred for the goddess Venus.  It is toxic however, and can cause adverse health effects on animals, if they ingest the plant material.  The name Columbine evolved from the Latin name, columbina, meaning a dove-like plant.  

Next we have a White Trillium and the only one found that day.  Trillium are members of the lily family.  It is known by several other names, Great white-trillium, Snow trillium, White wake-robin, Large-flowered trillium, American Wake Robin, Large white wood lily and American Wood Lily.  Its botanical name is Trillium grandiflorum. 

The colors of the flowers vary and there are white, yellow, pink, red and purple.  The leaves can also be variegated and patterned.  It blooms in spring and summer and grows in the shaded areas of a garden and needs daily care.  It originated from North America and East Asia, and likes cool, moist habitats.  The leaves of this plant are cooked and eaten by Native Americans, but the root stalks are utilized as herbal medicine.  

The flower in the above photo is White Baneberry, also known as Doll's-Eyes, White cohosh, Baneberry, Necklace weed, Toadroot and White beads.  Its botanical name is Actaea pachypoda.  An herbaceous perennial that can grow from 1 to 2 feet tall, it blooms from spring to summer.  It is a mildly toxic for humans, but can cause serious health problems for cats, dogs and horses.  However, it is harmless to birds. 

This yellow flower is called Golden Ragwort, also 

known as Golden groundsel and its botanical name is Packera aurea.  It is a member of the Aster family and its nectar and pollen attract small bees and flies.  A perennial, Golden Ragwort is a native to eastern North America, and you will find it blooming in the spring and summer.

I tried my best to ID each flower correctly, but if you think I am incorrect on any of them, please let me know.  I still enjoy learning about these things.

DEER AT BIG MEADOWS

One of the transfers from my old blog from February 2014.  It had snowed but there was only a little left when we visited.

Big Meadows is one of our favorite places and another we have frequented for years.  We would liked to have checked in at the Lodge not far away, but it is closed until Spring.  We stayed at the Lodge for a weekend several years ago, and have talked about going again for some time now.

It is not for just the beautiful scenery we find along Skyline Drive.  At Big Meadow we often enjoy seeing the deer and I have posted about them before.   

Most of the snow had melted but there were still large patches here and there.

On this visit we saw more deer than we have ever seen before.  We counted at least 27 by the end of our walk.

They were aware of our presence, but we were told when we first discovered the meadow that they are well used to people. We watched as parents with two small children and a dog on a leash walked around the first small herd we came across.  A few deer looked up and twitched their ears listening.  I thought that we wouldn't be able to see them much longer, that they would soon be off into the woods. 

I was glad to see that family behaving responsibly.  The children and little dog did not run or make any noise, the dog was on a leash.  The parents had taught them well.  I silently thanked them for not going any further and watched as parents, children and four-legged family member turned around and walked in the other direction. 

There was a lot of tasty grass to munch in peace.

"Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything."

~Albert Einstein~

A few heads came up at the slightest sound.

We saw other humans come and go.

This mother took very good care of her fawn. When the doe ambled away her little one followed.  We thought the smaller one might have been born last Spring.  

"The company of deer can fill one's soul with the love of Nature."  This quote is mine, I think.  It popped into my head as I watched and took everything in around me, but then I have come across many quotes as I love reading them.  I might have heard it somewhere and borrowed it.  Either way, it fit my mood perfectly, I find being out in nature completely soothing and relaxing, peaceful.  

I could sit myself on the ground and watch for hours.....

and hours.....

and hours.

And then come back the next day and do it all over again.  

Look at that one ear turned in our direction?

Always on the look-out.

Used to people they may be, but her wild instincts were still there I am happy to say, ready to take flight if we got too close (I am using a zoom lens and wasn't very close at all).  We stayed where we were as quiet as possible.

Another wonderful walk across Big Meadows, made even more so because of all the deer we found there.

You can go here to read about Big Meadows.

Added note: some of you expressed an interest in the grasses on the meadow.  I found this at the Shenandoah National Park site here.

"In Shenandoah National Park grasses can be easily viewed at Big Meadows where red top (Agrostis perennans) and tall oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) are particularly common.  The troublesome invasive Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum) can be seen throughout the Elkwallow picnic area where it has overrun virtually all other forest understory herbs.  Grasses possess a subtle beauty and provide a worthy botanical challenge to those interested in determining individual species.  Take a moment next time you pass some of the grass to bend down and take a closer look."

Good advice!  I think I could have been a botanist in another life.  I have always enjoyed studying such things up close.  It is amazing what you see.  

Thank you for walking across the meadow with me.  I hope your day is a great one.