Short Springs SNA

Jean and Glenda me me at Short Springs on a beautiful cool spring morning. Glenda was familiar with the trails so she led us on the loop to see all the waterfalls. They are both fast hikers so I had to slow them down to see the wildflowers still blooming. We found a lot of Jack in the Pulpits, some really tall ones.

So I have pics of blooms I do not know the name of and would like someone to ID. Plant has several leaves, fuzzy and soft. Stalk is fuzzy, blooms attached all the way up the stalk, about  blooms ending with two at the top of the stalk. About  feet high. Also the fungi needs names too.

After the hike I stopped in Manchester to visit with cousins. Very blessed day, got home late, to supper cooked by my sweet sister. Fried chicken, potato salad and baked beans.

Pictures:

Short Springs SNA

Joan scheduled a hike with Dennis Horn at Short Springs SNA. It was a Sunday afternoon hike to see the fall color and for tree identification. I got there early so I drove to Rutledge Falls which is close by. It is on private property with access by the owners. Beautiful farm, really pretty waterfall just behind their house. A nice statue seems to add peace to the area.

The wildflower book I have is edited by Dennis Horn who is a charter member of the Tennessee native plant society and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Rare Plants in Tennessee. We were chatting in the parking lot, and I showed him my book, he asked where I lived and showed me a rare plant that evidently grows on our mountain top not far from our house. Since it blooms in April and May I will have to wait to investigate.

Dennis pointed out different oaks, maples, magnolias, different leaves, explaining how to id trees without their leaves. Much study is needed. We saw beautiful waterfalls, thankful for the recent rains. Adams Falls had water falling coming from a spring in the side of the ridge. Machine Falls was flowing well and the water is so clear! There were some young guys flying a drone, and one had a remote controlled truck climbing the rocks.  Dennis left us behind at the waterfall and was gone by the time we got back to the parking lot. I should have had him autograph my book.