Last weekend Eric and I went on two amazing day trips to different places in the Allegheny Mountains of western Virginia. What a glorious weekend for hiking in the woods.
Huge bud of a hickory bursting open
Up there spring was just starting. It was like traveling back in time about two weeks. In addition to taking in the beautiful views, we were hunting for spring wildflowers.
On Saturday, we drove to Hone Quarry in the George Washington National Forest. This recreation area sits at about 1,933′ and has several hiking trails running through it. We walked along one of the ridge trails for a while and saw lots of different budding and blooming wildflowers, as well as trees and shrubs that were beginning to break into growth.
Fringed Polygala or Gaywings
(Polygala paucifolia)
Less common white form of Gaywings
Sessile-leaved Bellwort
(Uvularia sessilifolia)
Long-spurred Violet (Viola rostrata)
Flower of Striped Maple
(Acer pensylvanicum)
Dwarf Cinquefoil
(Potentilla canadensis)
Wintergreen
(Gaultheria procumbens)
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)
Hepatica flower
The name Hepatica comes from
the foliage which resembles the
lobes of the liver.
On Sunday, we decided to drive up to the top of Reddish Knob, one of the highest points in Virginia at 4,397′ and the highest peak on the 73 mile long Shenandoah Mountain.
The drive to Reddish Knob was spectacular. We drove through an area where a fairly recent (within a few years) forest fire had gone through. The road appeared to be the firebreak and there was an interesting contrast in the vegetation between the two sides of the road.
Mountain Fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) was the predominant ground cover
in the fire scorched woods. Many of the pines were killed.
At one time, there was a fire tower on top of Reddish Knob – which is the primary reason that there is a road to the summit. From the parking lot, the site of the old fire tower, you feel like you are on top of the world with a 360° panoramic view of the surrounding area! Stunning!
On the way back down, we continued south on a rough dirt forestry road. It was great road but I’m glad we were in my 4-wheel drive truck! We made frequent stops to check out wildflowers and scenic views along the way.
Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata)
growing on a steep bank
Wild Pink (Silene caroliniana) found
a foothold in the rock face.
Dwarf Iris (Iris verna)
A little sedum grows on a rock amongst
lichen, moss, and Christmas Fern
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
grows beside a Striped Maple)
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
with its often unnoticed flower
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
had gone to seed
The curious flowers of Miterwort
(Mitella diphylla)
Toothwort (Dentaria diphylla)
Mountain Anemone
(Anemone lancifolia)
What an awesome way to spend a spring weekend!
Viette's Views 