Plants in Winter

The papery beauty of Heal-All in early spring. Dauphin County, Pa. 3-24-23 [Prunella vulgaris]

Indian Tobacco seed capsules still holding on [Lobelia inflata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-27-23. I love taking pictures of the seed capsules of Indian Tobacco, they are an truly one of natures amazing designs. looking much like a balloon supported by ribs, they can survive all winter. I like the way this capsule seems almost transparent, with the sunlight, lighting up the inside. Notice too the skin of the capsule, you can see the intricate veining much like that of a fallen leaf.

That part of Spotted Bee Balm showing the receptacles that once held their wonderful tropical looking flowers, beautiful in their own right, these individual "tubes" have strips and are guarded by five points at the opening, looking like stars. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-21-23 [Monarda punctata]

Dogbane Seed Pods, fruit. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-30-23. Notice they still have not opened and released their seeds as of late January. I have seen Dogbane release seeds in the fall or not until spring.

Last years dried flower head of Spotted Bee Balm [Monarda punctata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-26-23. Showing the empty receptacles that once held the flowers. Notice that they are striped and have five points at the top of each column, looking much like a five pointed star.

Princess Pine [Dendrolycopodium obscurum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-2-23

The skeletal remains of last years magnificent Pink Lady's Slipper [ Cypripedium acaule]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-2-23

Seed Pods from Partridge Pea [Chamaecrista fasciculata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-31-23

Wild Grape in winter. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-2-23 [Vitis]

I have been trying to find this tiny plant in winter for a long time now and finally success. Its hard to believe that this small plant will be 3 feet or higher with its beautiful tropical flowers and its wonderful aromatic scent, in just 6 months from now! Spotted Bee Balm [Monarda punctata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-31-23. You can see last years flower stem behind the plant in the last picture.

Common Milkweed Seed Pods [Asclepias syriaca]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-26-23

Tall Goldenrod in fruit [seed]. Dauphin County, Pa. 11-30-22 & 1-26-23 [Solidago altissima]. The picture on the left from last fall shows a Goldenrod full of seeds, the fuzzy looking white area are called the pappus, which are attached to each individual seeds [located inside the achene or fruit] and act like tiny little parachutes helping the seeds to disperse on the wind. On the right is the same plant two months later, and as you can see the winter winds and the pappus have done their work and very few seeds remain.

Beard Tongue in winter [Penstemon]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-26-23

Mountain Mint [Pycnanthemum virginianum] coming up through the snow. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-26-23.

The fruit [seeds] of White Avens [Geum canadense]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-26-23. Notice the hooked fruits, snagging passersby.

Large Whorled Pogonia seed pod in snow. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-23-23. After releasing thousands of tiny seeds this single orchid seed pod still stands out, like a beacon on a snowy cold day. [Isotria verticillata]. It is amazing to think that this one seed pod is a reflection of the energy from sun, rain, and a good growing season that was stored in this plants roots [bulb] from the previous year [2021], enabling this one plant to produce a inflorescence [flower] in 2022, and after being pollinated, this one lone seed pod. I have found that for every dozen plants from this particular orchid only a few might have the energy to produce a flower, and of these very few if any are pollinated correctly enough to produce a seed pod. The life cycle of the Large Whorled Pogonia, and many other plants can be hard to say the least. I think this is why I have such admiration, respect and love of plants.

Drops on grass on a misty January day.

The unmistakable elegant form of American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides] in winter. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-13-23

American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides]. A comparison between flowering in August and January's dried Calyxes [that hold the inflorescence [flowers]. Notice in the winter [and summer] picture that calyxes are 5 toothed and 2 lower teeth are covered in tiny spikes or hairs, making the lower teeth look like formidable weapons. What is the function of these hairs are I cannot say, but you can be sure that in nature, there is a reason! This is one of my favorite tiny wildflowers, summer or winter, and is an annual, coming up from seed every year. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-10-23

Rattlesnake Weed [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-10-23.

The buds and fuzzy stems of Sweet Fern [Comptonia peregrina]. Dauphin County, Pa. 12-19-22

On the shortest day of the year I was struck by the last rays of the setting sun coming through a lone seed pod of a Large Whorled Pogonia orchid making it look as though the pod was a glowing candle. This image on a stark winters day was one of my favorites from last year, it seemed to give hope on a deep dark winters day. [Isotria verticillata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 12-21-22

Downy Rattlesnake Orchid [Goodyera pubescens] in winter. Dauphin County, Pa. 12-22-22

Virgin Bower Clematis [Clematis virginiana] in seed. Dauphin County, Pa. 12-22-22

Silver-rod, White Goldenrod [Solidago bicolor] in seed. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22. With Beech leaves in the background.

Tall Goldenrod in fruit [seed]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22 [Solidago altissima]

The wonderful warm browns of Tall Goldenrod in fruit [seed]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22 [Solidago altissima]

Ground Cedar [Lycopodium digitatum]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-10-22

Partridge Berry [Mitchella repens]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-10-22

Close up of the pappus on Goldenrod [Solidago], each pappus, the circular hair like filaments, are attached to achene which contain a single seed. The pappus help to disperse the seed on the wind, just waiting for that right gust to propel them into the air. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22

Swamp Milkweed [Asclepias incarnata]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-9-22

Bluestem Goldenrod [Solidago caesia] in seed. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22

Checkered Rattlesnake Orchid [Goodyera tesselata] in amongst Partridge Berry [Mitchella repens]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-9-22

Teaberry [Gautheria procumbens]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-9-22

Tall Goldenrod in fruit [seed]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22 [Solidago altissima]

This shows that part of Goldenrod [Solidago] know as the "receptacle". If you look at the very center you can see the tiny dimples that once held the "achene" inside the achene are the seeds. Tioga County, Pa. 12-9-22. The receptacles are found on many plants such as asters, and are noticeable after the seed or achene are gone. I think that they are very beautiful this time of year.

This picture shows the "achene" of Goldenrod [Solidago] which are held inside the receptacle. Inside each "achene" is a single seed, the tiny hairs in a circle around the top are called "pappus",they in turn help the seed to disperse on the wind. Tioga County, Pa. 12-9-22. Natures design and engineering at its finest, through eons of time and evolution providing a way for plants to spread and disperse their seeds and thus continue their species.

The wonderful warm browns of Tall Goldenrod in fruit [seed]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22 [Solidago altissima]

Maidenhair Fern [ Adiantum pedatum] has a stark beauty all its own in winter especially with drops of rain. Also pictured, Christmas Fern [Polystichum acrostichoides] in the background. Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22

The beautiful and varied foliage of Sharp Leaved Hepatica [Hepatica nobilis], still looks fantastic in December! Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22. Notice the unusual four leaved plant

Foamflower [Tiarella cordifolia] Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22