Appalachian Trail Spring Wildflowers

Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail

Elk Garden, May 3, 2013

While it was warm in Independence and at other lower elevations, in Elk Garden at approximately 4000’, and with 30 mph winds rearranging our hair and expressions, it almost seemed like winter still had a grip.

But we were here for ephemeral wildflowers…those that get the business of propagating accomplished before the forest canopy sucks away the sunlight’s energy…and we were in the right place.

This field trip was a collaborative effort among the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club, Blue Ridge Discovery Center, and Doris Halsey’s art students from Grayson County High School.

Carol Broderson, who also serves as a substitute teacher for the Grayson County Schools, is an active member of the MRATC and avid hiker.

Through her connection with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as well as a volunteer for BRDC, she initiated this field trip.

Eleanor Grasselli, also with the MRATC, and Cecelia Mathis, BRDC volunteer and wildflower enthusiast, offered professional back-up guide support.

We had seven students and Ms. Halsey as artists in the moment.

The bus arrived at 9:something, and we quickly moved out of the wind into the woods to begin our studies.

Aaron Floyd served as our director through Blue Ridge Illustrated, a funded BRDC program.

Each student was assigned a species or two, and given the opportunity to find that flower in one of the many field guides on hand.

We used both the Latin and common names, and instructed the students to write down enough descriptive information on their field cards to assist them in discovering the living forms along the trail.

Which they did.

Finding the best example of their target species for sketching purposes was the next step.

Then the drawing tablets and pencils came out, with each kid finding their comfort zone and settling down to capture the basic details of their flower.

While the students were sketching, several guides took photos and/or encouraged the kids to do so with shared cameras.

Pictures taken from the same perspective as that of the artist will be utilized for further in-class studio follow-up.

Cecelia, Scott and Aaron were all involved in this process.

During lunch, out of the wind and exploiting the solar advantages of the bus, we shared our morning’s work, ate ramps, and talked about the studio follow-up strategies for creating a valuable poster or other type of publication.

Aaron carefully explained the value of contrast when illustrating wild flowers, starting with a basic outline or silhouette, and moving into detail afterwards.

After lunch we had an hour to return to the field, take a longer look at our flowers, and work a bit harder on securing the best photos for further documentation purposes.

We also talked about other BRDC sponsored programs and events that might interest this enthusiastic group.

The target species list, derived from the combined expertise and explorations of Carol, Eleanor, and Cecelia appears below:

Latin Name    Common Name

Phacelia fimbriata

   Fringed Phacelia

Houstonia caerulea

  Bluets

Erythronium americanum

 Trout Lily

Claytonia virginica

  Spring Beauty

Trillium erectum

   Red/purple Trillium  

Trillium grandiflorum

  Large white Trillium

Dicentra cucullaria

  Dutchman’s Breeches

Dicentra canaden

sis  Squirrel Corn

Dentaria laciniata   

   Aka

Cardamine concatenate

 Cutleaf Toothwort

Caudophyllum thalictroides

 Blue cohosh

Anemone quinquefolia

  Wood Anemone

Ranunculus recurvatus  

Blisterwort

Disporum lanuginosum

  Yellow Mandarin

Alliaria petiolata

   Garlic Mustard

Tussilago farfara

   Colt’s Foot

Viola canadensis

   Canada Violet  

Viola hastate 

  Yellow Violet with halberd shaped leaves

Viola pubuscens

   Downy Yellow Violet

Viola sororia

   Common Blue violet

Allium tricoccum   

Ramps

Veratrum viride   

False Hellebore

We wish to thank Doris Halsey and her class.

The students involved were Kenny Yonce, Morgan Simpson, Jake Parnell, Levi Taylor, Marcus Thompson, James Williams, and Luke Wright.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

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Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally

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Cecelia Mathis' Photo Presentation on Earth Day