State Parks, Orchids and Wildflowers

After spending most of a week in Florida, I spent several days in Charleston, West Virginia at a conference. As usual, when the conference ended for the day, I was out the door headed somewhere to hike.This time it was at two parks, mostly within Charlestons urban sprawl. At Little Creek Park, a mostly sports complex, I hiked into the Trace Fork Canyon.

Hoary Mountain Mint

At one point, I ran into Hoary Mountain Mint, an interesting wildflower that I had only previously seen in the Smokey Mountains . I had not really thought about it being in West Virginia, but now realize that it has a pretty wide range.

#328 - Hoary Mountain Mint

I also saw a large population of Rose Pink

Rose Pink

 The other park that I visited was the Kanawha State Forest.

 There I stumbled on a small group of  Crane Fly Orchid in bloom, or rather partially in bloom. These two plants were side by side, with one in full bloom and the other plant had no open flowers. 

#329 - American Bell Flower

I also found another new
West Virginia wildflower for me.
The American Bell Flower




























Below are other flowers seen over the two days

#330 -  Whorled Milkwort

#331 - Flowering Spurge 

This Spurge has green flowers surrounded by white petal-like bracts.

June Mints and More

Spent the day at our church picnic in Camp Creek State Park. I found one new wildflower, the Showy Skullcap. Last year I dragged my Nikon D3000 everywhere I went as I photographed every possible wildflower in one year. I was able to find 308 and this year and for the foreseeable future I will continue to add more. But, I usually just have the iPhone, which is tough trying to get close ups.
I also saw two flowers thatI knew about, but could not find last year.

Meehans Mint

Showy Skullcap

#319 - Showy Skullcap is another
wildflower from the mint family

#320 - White clintonia

I still remember seeing this for the first time early one spring and thinking that I had found a huge population of some type of Orchid. I find this at my daughters home, but could not find a bloom last year.

 The Indian Cucumber is an interesting plant. You see a lot of plants, but a blooming one is sometimes hard to spot. It is another member of the Lily family and has the name Medeola virginiana. 
Small Whorled Pogonia is named Isotria medeoloides and the medeoloides refers to its similarity  in appearance to Medeola virginiana , the Indian Cucumber, 
'virginiana' means "of Virginia" and is a common name for many of my favorite plants, 'virginica' is also used, including for the Iris below.

#321 - Indian Cucumber

Virginia Iris - Iris virginica L.