Category Archives: Plant portraits

The white blooms of Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) are striking during mid-summer days.  Not only are they visually beautiful, they also emit a strong, unpleasant smell which can fill the surrounding woods on a warm day. Here are the basal … Continue reading →

The spring flowering Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) provides a flush of light pink blooms after a harsh winter.  This evergreen shrub reaches a height of ten to twenty feet in its habitat range throughout the Appalachian mountains. The flower buds … Continue reading →

False Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum) includes two subspecies which — between them — cover the North American continent.  This post highlights subspecies racemosum which has the greatest range, as it can be found throughout eastern and mid-western regions. After blooming, … Continue reading →