The Beauty Of Plants

American Cancer Root [Conopholis americana]. Maryland, 5-19-23. A parasitic plant.

One Flower Cancer Root [Orbanche uniflora]. Maryland, 5-19-23. A parasitic plant meaning it subsist on the roots and energy of other plants, having no leaves of its own for photosynthesis and thus its own energy to create flowers.

The always elegant Perfoliate Bellwort [Uvularia perfoliata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-19-23

Smooth Solomon's Seal [Polygonatum biflourum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-19-23

Mayapple [Podophyllum peltatum]. Perry County, Pa. 5-9-23

I have never seen so many Downy Rattlesnake orchid plants at one spot before! Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23 [Goodyera pubescens]

Fringed Polygala [Polygala paucifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-6-23

Dwarf Ginseng [Panax trifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23

Fox Grapes [Vitis labrusca]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-5-23

Early Coralroot orchid [Corallorhiza trifida]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-1-23

The beautiful foliage of False Hellebore [Veratrum viride]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 5-4-23

Heart Leaved Twayblade orchid [Neottia cordata]. Northeast Pa. 5-1-23

Jack-in-the-Pulpit [Arisaema triphyllum]. Perry County, Pa. 4-24-23

Miterwort [Mitella diphylla]. Perry County, Pa. 4-24-23

I have always loved Rattlesnake Weed [Pilosella venosa]. But to really appreciate their vibrant colors and veining one must see them on a rainy day, that's when their contrasting colors of green and purple really stand out! Dauphin County, Pa.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing tiny pollen gains on the stamens [male] found at the end of the connecting filaments, in the middle of the flower the greenish points are the stigmas [female]. The ovaries can be found at the base of the stigmas

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing tiny pollen gains on the stamens.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23. Showing the stigma [female] and anthers containing the stamen [male]

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Dutchman Breeches [Dicentra cucullaria]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Multi petal [11] Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Multi petal Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Multi petal [11] Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Pink with a touch of yellow Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

This is what is referred to as a "maiden" flower. Only having stigma [female parts] and no stamens [male parts]. It is still possible to reproduce and have fruit or seeds, if it gets pollen from an adjacent flower with stamens. This plant is in the same area as the double flowering plants, I can't help but wonder if this and other maiden plants in the area are somehow responsible for the mystery of rare double flowering plants found here. Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Pink Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23.

Double Flowering Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-14-23. I was fortunate to discover this rare colony of double flowing plants interspersed with hundreds of normally flowing Hepatica last year. There were 32 of these double flowering plants found last year[1 plant would be considered an extraordinary find] and so far this year there are around half that number, with hopefully more to come. There is a wonderful mystery surrounding these particular plants, how they ever came to be. As they have no stamen or stigma [male and female parts] of the plant to reproduce [last year there were no seeds produced by these plants]. What is at work here that produces plants like these, is there some kind of genetic mutation? Only time will tell and it would be okay with me if we never know the wonderful mystery of these plants. For now just enjoy the extraordinary beauty of these spring ephemerals from the mountains of northern Pennsylvania. Notice the white with a blush of pink with a hint of yellow in these particular flowers.

Trailing arbutus [Epigaea repens], Dauphin County, Pa. 4-6-23

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica american var. acuta]. North Central, Pa. 4-3-22

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta] just starting to open. Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23

The stamen [male part of the flower] on Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica americana var. acuta]. Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23. Notice the tiny grains of pollen on the stamens.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica [Hepatica American var. acuta] Tioga County, Pa. 4-3-23. Nothing can stop spring wildflowers and their never ending will to flower and reproduce as they've waited an entire year for this one moment in time.

Native Lupine [Lupinus perennis] Schuylkill County, Pa. 3-29-23

Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens] flower buds from 3-24-23 [left] to 3-29-23 [right] it won't be long now! Dauphin County, Pa.

Although not a native plant, I still look forward to seeing Coltsfoot every year as for me it is almost always the first spring flower that I come across. I love everything about this plant, from its unusual "rubbery" stem to the bright pin wheel yellow flowers. Notice too the grains of sand caught in the flower as it broke through the soil. Native or not I will always look for Coltsfoot in spring. Dauphin County, Pa. 3-24-23 [Tussilago farfara]

Rattlesnake Weed already showing new growth [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 3-3-23

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

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.

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.

Drops on grass on a misty January day.

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

A tiny leaf of Rattlesnake Weed [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-10-23. Its hard to believe that this tiny leaf will quadruple in size if not more by the time of blooming in late May, and will have all the fantastic purple veining that this plant is famous for. I can't help pondering the reasoning for the long hairs that are always present on each and every leaf and also the dark pin hole markings that always accompany each leaf, and wonder if eons ago this plant may have been in the cactus family.

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

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

Virgin Bower Clematis [Clematis virginiana]. 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]

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

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

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

Foamflower [Tiarella cordifolia] 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

My favorite pattern on Sharp Leaved Hepatica leaves [Hepatica nobilis], of all the many found in December in Tioga County, Pa. 12-8-22. They can be so varied from plant to plant, just another reason to love this tiny plant in the winter.

The woody seed capsules of Common Witch Hazel. it takes two years for these to develop and on warm fall days the seeds are ejected from the capsules up to 40 feet. Notice the capsule on the left has already expelled its seeds. It takes two years for these seeds to then germinate. Dauphin County, Pa. 11-3-22 [Hamamelist virginiana]

Dogbane in seed [Apocynum cannabinum]. Dauphin County, Pa.11-3-22

A nice patch of Trailing Arbutus and its beautiful leathery leaves. Dauphin County, Pa. 11-4-22 [Epigaea repens]

Little Bluestem grass [Schizachyrium scoparium] in fruit [seed]. Dauphin County, Pa. 11-3-22. Backlit the seeds seem to glow this time of year on the beautiful reddish golden stems.

Butterfly Weed in seed [Asclepias tuberosa]. Schuylkill County, Pa. 10-16-22

Common Milkweed in seed [Asclepias syriaca]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-22-22

Dogbane in seed [Apocynum cannabinum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-16-22

Sweet Fern [Comptonia peregrina] in fall colors. Sweet Fern, which is not a fern, is very aromatic. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-16-22

Hay Scented Fern in Fall, notice the spores on the underside of the fronds. That's how ferns reproduce as they don't have flowers or seeds. [Dennstaedtia punctilobula]. Dauphin county, Pa. 10-16-22

Hay Scented Fern in Fall. [Dennstaedtia punctilobula]. Dauphin county, Pa. 10-16-22

Beautiful Woolgrass in the fall [Scirpus cyperinus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-16-22

Witch Hazel [Hamamelis virginiana]. Dauphin County, Pa. 10-12-22

Native Strawberry [Fragaria virginiana] Coos County, N.H. 7-6-22

Native Strawberry [Fragaria virginiana] Coos County, N.H. 7-6-22.

Native Strawberry [Fragaria virginiana] Coos County, N.H. 7-6-22. My favorite color for these, when the seeds are red and the fruit is white and not quite ripe [red].

Aren't plants truly amazing. These Alpine Bulrush Plants were found growing in nothing more than cracks on a damp granite rock face. Northern Vermont. 7-6-22 [Tricophorum alpinum]

The fruit of Two Leaved Miterwort [Mitella diphylla]. Coos County, N.H. 7-5-22. Also known as Bishop's Cap

Indian Grass [Sorghastrum nutans] in bloom. Showing the stigma [the white fuzzy areas] and the stamens [the flowers]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-20-22

American Climbing Fern, Hartford Fern [Lygodium palmatum]. Pa. 7-27-22

The sticky tentacles of Round Leaved Sundew [Drosera rotundifolia]. North Central, Pa. 6-26-22

Rattlesnake Fern [Botrypus virginianus]. North Central, Pa. 6-26-22

Daisyleaf Grape Fern [Botrychium matricatiifolium]. North Central, Pa. 6-26-22

Mountain Laurel [Kalmia latifolia]. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-9-22

Rattlesnake Weed [Hieracium venosum] and flower. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-30-22

Wild Azalea [Rhododendron periclymenoides]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-29-22

Black Chokeberry [Aronia melanocarpa]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-29-22

These two pictures really highlight the two distinct differences between the two Sharp-Lobed Hepactica that a friend and I were fortunate to discover growing together in April in North Central, Pa.. The bottom picture taken on May 20, shows a normal flowering Sharp-Lobed Hepactica [Hepactica nobilis var. acuta]. This flower has been pollinated and you can see achene [fruit containing the seed] has developed in the receptacle. The top plant, taken within the same area on the same date shows one of the 32 extremely rare Double Flowering Sharp-Lobed Hepactica [Hepatica noblis var. acuta f. plena] that were found. These plants were found growing with the normal flowering Hepactica. Notice the difference in plant reproduction, in that the receptacle has no developing seed. This is because the double flowering plants [Hepactica noblis var. acuta f. plena] do not have reproductive capabilities. They lack the male part called the stamen [pollen] and the female part called stigma and thus cannot produce seed. Also notice one of the double flowers is still blooming [one of many seen] at this late date in the hopes of still being pollinated, which it cannot. The urge in plants can be so strong to reproduce, even if it is unable to do so. The real mystery here is how these 32 plants came to be in the first place, lacking reproductive capabilities. Is there a parent plant or plants producing this genetic mutation and if so, where are these plants located and how many are there? And also how and what are the factors in producing this mutation from a parent plant. Or could it be some unseen or unknown environmentally condition producing these beautiful double flowering examples. This is a very exciting discovery that I feel honored to be a part of and look forward to many years of not only seeing but of trying to unlock the secrets and mysteries of this rare, amazing, and beautiful plant.

At 18 inches tall [to the leaves] this Pogonia is truly a giant, and the tallest that I have ever seen. Large Whorled Pogonia orchid [Isotria verticillata]. Central, Pa. 5-17-22

The urge to bloom can be strong and every spring many plants become trapped in the leaf litter and struggle to bloom. In this case a Painted Trillium [Trillidium undulatum]. But bloom they do, maybe not as showy as the others, but they show an unrelenting determination. North Central, Pa. 5-20-22

Maidenhair Fern [Adiantum pedatum]. North Central, Pa. 5-20-22

Jack In The Pulpit [Arisaema triphyllum]. Central, Pa. 5-14-22

Maidenhair Fern [ Adiantum pedatum] sprouting. If you look close at the base of the new growth you can see remanence of last years plants. North Central, Pa. 5-4-22.

Maidenhair Fern [ Adiantum pedatum]. "Fiddleheads", Just starting to open. North Central, Pa. 5-4-22.

Maidenhair Fern [ Adiantum pedatum]. Just starting to open. North Central, Pa. 5-4-22.

Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica acutiloba]. North Central, Pa. 5-4-22

The beautiful foliage of Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica acutiloba]. North Central, Pa. 5-4-22. Notice the different variations and patterns in the leaves, also notice the four and five lobed plants vs the usual three.

Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica nobilis var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 5-4-22

I just had to take one last look at the amazing and fortunate find a friend, and I had made several weeks ago in North Central, Pa. Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica nobilis var. acuta f. plena]. Another friend did a wonderful job of surveying the area and together we found an extraordinary 36 plants mixed in with the normal flowering Hepatica! There was quite a diversity in plant form and color, with some really amazing and striking colors. The only reason these Hepatica were still blooming [vs normal flowering Hepatica] was because, lacking pollinating capabilities of normal Hepatica, they were still in hopes of being pollinated. 5-4-22

The beautiful veining of Rattlesnake Weed [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-3-22. Also the tiniest Rattlesnake Weed leaves ever found.

Dutchman's Breeches [Dicentra cucullaria] in bud. North Central, Pa. 4-25-22.

Double Flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica nobilis var. acuta f. plena]. North Central, Pa. 4-25-22

This has now been confirmed as double flowering Sharp lobed Hepatica [Hepatica nobilis var. acuta f. plena], a very rare wildflower mutation. What makes this flower so special and rare is not just its beauty but the fact that at least 12 different individual plants and as many as 15 were found in this particular site, along with many hundreds of regular flowering beautiful Sharp Leaved Hepatica. North Central, Pa. 4-25-22

Coltsfoot [Tussilago farfara]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-11-22

I do not care that this is not native, I always look forward to the beautiful maroon and gold colors of Coltsfoot [Tussilago farfara]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-11-22. Oh and guess what, We're not native either! These flowers are all curled up for the night.

The beautiful purple veins of Rattlesnake Weed [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa.-6-22. Notice the large hairs covering the leaves

It won't be long now! Buds of Trailing Arbutus [Epigaea repens]. Dauphin County, Pa. 4-6-22. One my favorite wildflowers, and one I always look forward too!

Spotted [Striped] Wintergreen [Chimaphila maculata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 3-14-22

Beautiful seeds from our native clematis Virgin Bower [Clematis virginiana]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-15-22

Spreading Dogbane still holding on to it's seeds [Apocynum androsaemifolium]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-15-22

The setting sun seems to make this Common Milkweed pod and seeds look they are glowing. [ Asclepias syriaca]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-15-22. The seeds were immature and under developed and never dispersed last fall.

Ice had formed on a blade of Indian Grass and having become separated, created this perfect copy, right down to the grains and pattern of the grass. [Sorghastrum nutaus]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-10-22

Ice on Whorled Mountain Mint [Pynanthemum verticillatum]. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-10-22

All that is left now of Indian Tobacco are the ghostly seed pods from last fall [Lobelia inflata], but they are still elegant. Dauphin County, Pa. 2-5-22

Dried flowers [the receptacles] of Rabbit Tobacco [Psuedognaphalium obtusifolium]. These flowers in summer are a white tubular shape. "When crushed, the plant exudes a characteristic maple syrup scent." The plant in summer has an overall white papery appearance. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-27-22.

This is that part of the Goldenrod [Solidado] plant called the receptacle. It holds the individual flowers and later the seeds of the plant, these picture show the receptacle empty after the seeds have all dispersed. If you look close at the receptacle head you can see the perfect indentations where each individual seed or achene was held. For years I was mistaken and thought I was looking at a dried flower from possibly Fleabane. I think these receptacles are beautiful in the stark winter landscape, and a reminder of warmer summer days. Dauphin County, Pa. 1-14-22.

Roundleaf Greenbrier vine and its fruit [Smilax rotundifolia]. Dauphin County , Pa. 1-14-22

Bluestem Goldenrod in seed. Tioga County, Pa. 12-17-21

White Pine Needle balanced on Bluestem Goldenrod [Solidago caesia]. Tioga County, Pa. 12-17-21

Nature's designs, the skeletal remains of a seed pod from Indian Tobacco [Lobelia inflata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 12-3-21

Tall Goldenrod [Solidago altissima] in seed. Dauphin County, Pa. 12-3-21

The dried stalks of American Pennyroyal [Hedeoma pulegioides], in December. Its hard to mistake this plant anywhere as it really stands out from all other plants. An annual in the mint family, it still smells wonderful! My favorite tiny little plant, always a pleasure to see! Dauphin County, Pa. 12-3-21

The beautiful Rattlesnake Weed plant in December [Hieracium venosum]. Dauphin County, Pa.12-3-21

The beautiful foliage of Rattlesnake Weed in December [Hieracium vevosum]. This picture really shows off the deep reds and purples of the veining on the leaf. Dauphin County, Pa. 12-3-21. I have often wondered what purpose the filaments "hairs" serve on this beautiful and interesting plant, which are longer and much more visible this time of year.

This is an example of a tiny young Rattlesnake Weed plant just starting to get veining on its new leaves. Notice the leaf at the top shows barely any veining at all, also notice the really long filaments ["Hairs"] and the new leaf unfurling in the center [complete with many filaments]. [Hieracium venosum], Dauphin County, Pa. 12-3-21. It would seem fall and winter are the growing times for this beautiful and unusual plant. It would also be interesting to know the evolutionary history of this particular plant