Native Plants From Alabama

Alabma Leather Flower endangered in North Alabama

2012-01-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

This snippet was found at the Encyclopedia of Alabama

The Clematis Socialis leather flower is an endangered flower in northern alabama. It has flowers that are drop pedaled flowers like a lily of the valley. It only comes from the Clematis family that is known for their beautiful flowering vines that are in purplish/bluish blossoms. Many plants such as the Nelly Moser only grow from plantings, transfers and much more. This flower is endangered in the state of Alabama and it is really beautiful so embrace it in its wild.

The "Alabama leatherflower" has a drooping blossom and grows in rich flowers. The plant doesn't look as though it would grow on a vine.

Squirrel types and Habitat in Alabama

2012-01-25T21:43:00.000-08:00

Squirrels rule the treetops of Pines and Sweetgums all over forests in Alabama. The most common squirrel you see is one of the state's largest is the Gray Squirrel. The Gray Squirrel sets its nest in mostly decidous types of forests, but you can also find them in some pines. They eat a number of things: seeds, hickory nuts, pecans, and other types of seed dispersals from trees. The Gray Squirrel has mating rituals which are high speed chases quite regularly. You can also catch them hanging themselves upside down to eat nuts from various trees. People have been known to raise the squirrels from a baby in their home and have them successfully as pets. It's advised to keep them as eye candy outside.

Most birdwatchers don't like squirrels invading their territory because they scare away certain types of rare birds that eat particular seeds. The easiest thing to do is get something especially for the squirrels and move it away from the bird watching view. There are squirrel feeders especially for the little beasts at Amazon. These little feeders are corn cobs that have sweet corn on them and they will keep your little squirrels busy while the purple martins enjoy their bird seed. Another thing you can do is take a pine cone or old corn cob and smear peanut butter all over it. Roll the cob or cone in sunflower kernels and put it where the little squirrel can hold it and have a good time with it.

The other two most common types of squirrels that are in Alabama are also the fox squirrel being the largest squirrel and the southern flying squirrel which i mention in several entries. I combined two blogs together to save space and as a favor to myself. The fox squirrel is a really an active member of the hardwood community whereas the southern flying squirrel loves both evergreen and hardwoods (decidous). The fox squirrel is a day dweller and usually has 3 to 5 babies each spring. The mating habits of the fox squirrel are basically calling and chasing running over one branch to another tree's branch after his mate. The southern flying squirrel is Alabama's smallest squirrel. The soft and cuddly little squirrels will usually take over a passerine's nest and have 2 to 3 babies. They are smaller in size and have a stripe on their side. Their hands are small and skin hangs from the arm to the bottom of their leg. The tail is flat to help guide the little squirrel where it needs t o go. The little nocturnal creature I sometimes think is kin to the sugar glider in Mexico and Middle America.

I have used many sources throughout the internet, but I would really like to thank my state's magazine Outdoor Alabamathat really gave me extra information i couldn't find elsewhere and Amazon for helping find the little sweet corn cobs. Many people don't know how easy it is to not loathe squirrels. They are too cute and neat to pass time watching.

Squirrels are from the class of mammalia rodentia. It's the rodent class if you didn't quite get that. They aren't scavengers for anything but nuts, berries, seeds and so on. They don't carry germs like other members of this class family. The germy critters would possibly be mice and rats. Thank God for our little furry friends that invade our trees and do funny things when we catch a glimpse.

Chamber Bitter (Phyllanthus Unrinaria)

2012-01-18T18:15:00.000-08:00

photographer

Photographer Information

Name: Richard Old
Organization: XID Services, Inc.
Country: United States

Chamber Bitter is a field weed that looks alot like Mimosa. Mimosa grows in all shapes and sizes. We mostly know it as the Silk tree. Chamber Bitter is different in a sense that it grows in early summer and it has a wart like seed or fruit that grows along it's spine like ferns.

The Chamber Bitter is a very delicate plant but, more difficult than mimosa since it more grass-like. Unlike many plants in the Southeastern United States, the Chamber Bitter is nothing but an annual and it needs the food chain or environment it's in to disperse seeds. One year you may see an abundance of Chamber Bitter and the next only a few.

You will find Chamber Bitter far south of most places since it likes tropic type weather better. For more information, you can check out these two great resources.

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/weeds/hgic2314.html
http://www.weedalert.com/weed_pages/wa_chamber_bitter.htm

Banded Darter

2012-01-10T22:07:00.000-08:00

The Banded Darter is a fish that lives in Alabama's fresh streams and waters. It has thirteen green bands around it's body and stays closer to the rocks than any other small fish. They are one of the few perches that are on Alabama's endangered species list.

The Banded darter is a type of perch that likes the rocky areas and the secluded areas of fresh water. They love insects and mate during the late spring and attach their eggs to the plant life underwater.

Aces Alabama Cooperative Extension

2012-01-10T21:04:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest resources we have in our state is the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services. The services they provide helps the Department Of Agriculture and also educates children and teens through their programs. 4-h is a program that has been a very important part of our children's education from k-7. There are countless activities that children learn from agriculture to physical fitness. Children also learn important skills like safety and maintaining a healthy lifestyle straight from their Alabama Cooperative Extension service.

One of the most important services that ACES does is educates the public about food safety and provides very important information through not only the media but through their office. They provide important information to expecting parents and parents and what to watch out for in foods they get through their community grocery stores. There is a wealth of information on their website about preparing foods and keeping hygenic.

Auburn University and Alabama A and M provide education material and research to the public and educators at ACES. If you are an educator and low on a few materials or need to get extra information, head on down to ACES website and find a wealth of information about our state, our agriculture, our forests and the things that Alabama Cooperative Extension has to offer.

alabama shrews

2012-01-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

references

http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1278

http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/Watchablearticles/alshrews.cfm

alabama shrews are carnivorous and not too beautiful. Like, moles, their eyes aren't very good and they can be as long as 5.5 inches to one ounce in weight. They are from the genus sorrex. They eat mostly insects and grubs. There are several species in Alabama and they are all victims to preditors like dogs, cats, owls and hawks. Five varieties are pigmy shrew, north american short tailed shrew, southeastern shrew and the least shrew. They are all similar in size and behavior. They are easier going in woodlands and in grasslands. They only have one litter of babies per year and usually 5-6 resulting in survival.

Agrostis Hyemalis

2012-01-03T20:50:00.000-08:00

the name of this plant is
agrostis hyemalis which is otherwise known as a plant called small bentgrass. Other names for this plant are ticklegrass and winter bent. The plant is a perennial and grows within Elmore county and other counties in Alabama along the northeastern end and the eastern most part of the state. The plant is vascular and flowers during the winter months.

It loves the climate of Alabama because it is mostly moist and very damp. Unlike most perennials, it doesn't have a woody stem, but is more grass like.

Cooking With Food

2011-12-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

One of my friends and neighbors has got a website and writing a cookbook and she has an exceptional way of life that makes her unique. She's one of the grandest and talented ladies that I know that does wonders with food and cooks the most natural foods available. She shops at whole foods stores and buys organic and whole foods. She cooks with the best stuff, she took me to the doctor this morning when I heard about her new website so I just thought I would pass along a really good website to visitors of my sweet little plant blog her site is http://www.cookingwithfood.com there is alot of science and nature to her small website and the way she does things. Her book's going to take some time to write because she is testing her recipes and wants you to try them too! Her name is Karen Abel and she is the best! you can find out more at :

http://www.cookingwithfood.com there you should find everything you need to know about her and her cookbook!

Dog Fennel (Eupatorium Capillifolium)

2011-12-12T18:33:00.000-08:00

Dog Fennel is a member of the Aster family and a perrenial. The plant has a woody stem and a very pungent smell. Caterpillars and moths are very attracted to the plant and eats it's leaves.

Dog fennel can be used for pest control when it's mixed with your garden except for moths and caterpillers. It's really beautiful when you mix it with a bouquet. If there isnt any ferns around.

Dog fennel is a toxic weed, it can't be eaten. Just because it's fennel doesn't mean that it is the type that you are supposed to veg out on. This fennel can attack the liver of livestock if they eat it as forage and other animals including people.

Sources:

http://www.ehow.com/about_5499392_uses-dog-fennel.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eupatorium_capillifolium

Common Classifications Of Animals In Alabama

2011-12-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

The most common warm blooded creatures in Alabama are mostly rodents. Rodents are the smallest thing in the mammalia class that are on the lower end of the food chain. Most of our state has mice like the Nutria, White footed mouse and the wood mouse where preditors like aves birds, snakes, and wild cats eat. These animals are more apt to eat small things like vegitation and live in burrows under the earth.

Passerine type birds are the most common birds found in Alabama due to their wings that go side and lay flat to the back. These birds are common warblers, cardinals, wrens and lower flying birds than terrestrials. The most commonly found birds in the passerine class are the cardinals which have beaks that can crush seeds and small nuts and berries. The birds have a common mating ritual fairly normal in animal husbandry and they usually mate for their life span.

Fish in Alabama are in many varieties including some migrated exotic types. The most common species of fish in Alabama is Bass . Most common types that aren't desired are the crappie that don't get so large, gizzard shad and golden shiner fish because of their size. The most wanted bass in alabama is Large Mouth Bass, yellow bass, and several breeds of catfish. The fishing industry in Alabama is one of the most sought after industries worldwide because of freshwater.

Without the common and smaller breeds of animals, the larger species couldn't survive without them. The small rodent species make up the most saught after by breeds of canines, terrestrial birds and wild cat species. The passerines and fish species are hunted by the aves bird population including bald eagles and golden eagles. The state of Alabama is very mindful of the conservation of animals and their environment along with privileges of hunting and fishing facilities.

resources:

http://www.outdooralabama.com
http://www.bassproshops.com
http://www.aces.edu

Most Common Trees In The Southeastern United States

2011-12-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

The most common trees in the Southeastern United States are both evergreen and decidius. Evergreen means that the tree will outlast Winter with green leaves and less effects from autumn solstice. The differences in Deciduous is the trees are hardwood and have leaves that change color during the fall. The most common Evergreen in Alabama is it's Long Leaf Pine Tree and the most common Deciduous is the Sweetgum tree.

There are more things you can tell about about these two trees. There's a tree called a conifer that makes a long and spikey cone. The trees are usually are pine trees which Alabama has more than three different types of Pine and conifers. Hardwoods in the Deciduous category are usually trees like the Sweetgum, Tulip Popalar, Oak and the Hickory nut trees. These trees change colors vibrantly during the autumn of the year and its usually in it's prime about the first week of November. This year they really had alot of reds, purples greens, and other vibrant colors. The Hardwoods like Oaks and Hickories usually have a seed type on their limbs. The hickory is in the same class as a walnut and you'll notice if you are lucky enough to crack one, the flavor of a hickory nut is the same. An acorn is a small nut that kinds of reminds you of hazel nuts like they make in Nutella.

The Tulip Popular and Sweet-gum have strange ovaries on their plants. The sweet gum carries a spore like a spiked ball and the tulip Popular carries a small likeness to a cone that's hard to crack and both find.

lanceleaf blanket flower

2011-11-23T20:36:00.000-08:00

The Lanceleaf Blanketflower is a member of the aster family. The flower has many cousins that are more beautiful but this one is unique because of it's center. The Lanceleaf Blanketflower is called such because of how it tends to grow in any condition whether dry heats or very moist places. As everything in the Aster family is Perennial, it'll come back year after year with it's beautiful scarlet head.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaillardia
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GAAE
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?sub=12954

The Alabama Service Berry

2011-11-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

The service berry is one of the prettiest platns in the south during th fall with it's changing colors through the leaves. The berries that grow on the plants around June are really sweet and edible. In fact they were a staple in native american would eat service berries with dried fat meat and other types of nuts and berries.

Resources:

http://www.treenames.net/ti/amelanchier/amelanchier.html

wilderness photos november 2011

2011-11-07T07:07:00.000-08:00

black willow tree leaves autumn colors

oxeye daisies

Dryocampa rubicunda Rosy Maple Moth

2011-11-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

(jpg found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

This lovely little insect is a silk moth from the family Rubicunda. It's a pretty moth with rosy pink wings striped with a little taupe. The Rosy Maple Moth feeds on maple trees like the sugar maple, silver maple and red maple. The moth uses the maple tree for food and does go underground near the tree. It's a nocturnal insect so the rosy little pest comes out at night. The female lets off phermones like other animals and mates every year.

The female moth is a little bigger than the male. They have pale green eggs and the caterpillar. Like many animals, the Rosy moth male is more colorful than the female. The adaptation of the male is the problem. Males attract mates so God made them have fashion sense so the girls would find them gorgeous.

From My Back Window

2011-11-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

I got this shot from my little lg500g in my back window last Saturday. It was a beautiful fall day here and the wind was so nice. I went for a walk afterwards. My little cell phone was filled with photos though some didn't turn out that great. My photgraph has my little "concerned scientists" sticker on the window because they help sustain the beautiful things that you see around you and make our lives easier through biotechnology and alternatives to energy. They also feed hungry people worldwide by trying to improve and increase the hardiness of grain and wheat so that others may have more to eat. Scientists do make our world a better place, so support them and help them to stamp out hunger and disease.

2011-11-01T21:28:00.001-07:00

2011-10-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

(picture taken from wikipedia commons under creative commons 3.0)

The Clematis is a beautiful flowering vine that's perinnial and grows in the Southeastern United States. The vine can be used in a typical garden regardless of it's pesky invasive growth. The flower is very hearty in the southeast due to the fact that it loves sunshine.

The plant has a strong sturdy base and it grips to climb very well on trees, bushes and in brush. It loves soil that has lots of limestone and mineral rich soil. Some animals that love the clematis is the catapillar. Catapillars are very easily found on the plant.

Some of the species of Clematis is used for essential oils and other types of fragrance uses. The plant does cause internal bleeding if injested so keep it away from kids and pets because it's poison. Tbe flowers can be used for trellis and chimneys and many other things like you would use wysteria. The flowers are very beautiful and fragrant when they bloom

http://www.aces.edu/department/extcomm/npa/daily/archives/2006_08.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clematis

Alabama's bog buttons

2011-10-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

bog buttons are flowers that are found in boggy areas around the state and the Southeastern United States. Wetlands carry this semi aquatic flowering plant with tall stalks and greyish white flower heads that looks like buttons. The flowers are small clusters of little white flowers and make a great way to vamp up a water garden border. Flowering stalkks on each plant can be up to 15 inches.

Purple Loosestrife

2011-10-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

(purple loosetrife , lythrum Salicaria jpeg found at creative commons 3.0)

Lythrum salicaria

Purple Loosetrife grows along the Eastern part of the US. The wildflower is a perrenial plant that loves
marshland and moist soil. The plant has short but narrow leaves and lots of them. The flowers are 1' purple flowers with clusters and yellow centers. They last for a few weeks and dry leaving a ovary type of tubular seed packet with lots of small seeds. During this time of the year, Goldenrod also succeeds fields and land throughout the Southeastern parts of the United States.

Alabama is known for it's wonderful array of beautiful flowers in fall. The flowers help keep the environment clean of any type of global warming. Over population of pesky insects (ie: mosquitoes, gnats, yellow jackets, sweat bees, chiggers) are the main problems that ruin the environment. Warm blooded animals and birds help sustain beautiful flowers like Purple Loosestrife and Goldenrod to help butterflies and bees.

Helenium and other wildflowers enrich the environment and attract tourists. Citizens and Tourists are what makes Alabama and the Southeast one of the most vacation occupied places in the world. Medical technology, Car manufactoring and many other aspects of Alabama protects both citizens and wildlife.

This plant blog is a proud member of the awareness of the Souteastern part of the United States. It is enriched in intelligence, accountability, and endurance to lead an example in the United States to provide all things common to everyone from abroad and home. God bless Alabama and America.

Purple Loosestrife entry from wikipedia.org
Maryland State Website Entry Purple Loosetrife

Prospect Baptist Church: Gold Of Kowligia

2011-09-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

I have been noticing how stuff had been growing up around the house and the fact that fall is among us. When weather changes, some weeds can get to looking nappy around the joint. I love my hypercium performatum and goldenrod. They bloom for awhile, but my mimosa and chokecherry trees get to looking a little bad.

The house was overun with weeds. I just didn't feel good. I had prior to yesterday went to the doctor for allergies and she put me back on antibiotics. I am taking them with precaution. Children's cold medicine seems to work as well as some things and your heart doesn't beat funny. I don't reccomend it to children though unless your doctor says so.

Yesterday Prospect Baptist Church took on our yard yesterday and they started early. Both children and adults tackled the yard at no charge whatsoever. They just wanted to help out. My brother and his wife got married at Prospect Baptist Church and they open their doors to everyone with open arms without any judgement. My dad's best friend and his wife used to go on a regular basis there. They would wear their jeans and tees without dressing up.

The true meaning to Sunday morning is going to church to worship God. Many people don't think of Stewartship, but yesterday I experienced stewardship in my shyness to the world. My dad's friend would tell me, "The world around you gets smaller unless you get out and make it larger". Stewardship makes your world alot larger and happier. I was so happy without feeling down yesterday that I went out and cleaned my aunt's house more than usual because I was happy.

Atamasco Lily (Zephyrantes Atamasca)

2011-09-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

(Atamasco Lily found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

The Atamasco Lily (Zephyrantes atamasca) is a wildflower you will actually like. Countless weeks, I have been on Sneeze-weed, but this week I bring you something beautiful and well loved. The Atamasco Lily is one that is just beautiful. The flower is a real lily with grass like leaves and only stands four inches to the ground. It has six petals and is completely snow white unless it's near minerals that will give it a tinge of pink. The inside of the flower has a little yellow in it and there are six bright yellow stamens in it.

Atamasco Lilies love wetlands like creek banks, lake fronts and riverbanks. The flower is seen throughout the Southeast including Georgia, Mississippi Alabama and Florida. The flowers reproduce from bulbs after 3 to four years. Flowers that are this spectacular only come out at various times like some Flocks and our Sweet William. Early spring Atamasco is when it usually blooms. People plant woodland gardens of Narcissus, Trillium, Trifolium and Jonquils. The early blooms of these lilies in spring are wonderful, and you don't want to miss an indigenous Alabama native in action.This flower is a very beautiful member of the Amaryllis family.

I got information on this flower through a site called

http://www.auburn.edu/~deancar/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zephyranthes_atamasca
http://www.floridata.com/ref/z/zeph_ata.cfm

Hyssop Leaved Thoroughwart

2011-09-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

Eupatorium hyssopifolium found at creative commons

Hyssop Leaved Throroughwart is found throughout the eastern United States. The flowering herbaceous plant has small feathery blossoms that make up a big cluster. The flower grows in Alabama during the late summer months. The flowering herb is a perennial and grows very high. The herb was used to treat insect bites and reptilian bites in the olden days. The flower comes from a family of hearty growers . The flower would be a great replacement for baby's breath in a bouquet of roses.

resources:

http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/eupatoriumhyss.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eupatorium_hyssopifolium

The Obedient Plant

2011-09-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

(Picture found at Creative Commons)

Obedient plant is a pretty wildflower that grows in alabama that's sometimes also called the false dragonhead. It gets to be about 4 inches tall and it has clusters of light pink or lavender flowers that droop from it's stems. The top of the plant holds buds that haven't blossomed yet and the plant has many jagged but long spikey leaves that grow up the stem of the plant. Most plants that bloom late August and into October are very hardy and last long in bouquets. Obedient Plant doesn't really like the vase that much because the dragonheads tend to fall off quicker than usual. The plant's rhizomes love Alabama soil and you can see this flower along Alabama's county roads. It's good to take a picture of them because the flowers don't last long when picked. If flowers are left in good soil, they do the obedient thing to the Good Lord by doing exactly what he wants by multiplying and that's not a bad thing when you have a field full of clusters of light pink to lavender flowers to be seen for tourist photographs. The obedient plant is a member of the mint family. I am not sure of nutritional value, but it's very lovely and would be a great edition to anyone's flower garden as a backdrop for a rose garden scheme. You can make this one a true pastel beauty to see today.

Kenneth Driscol's Company

2011-09-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

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Sneezeweed *Helenium Autumnae

2011-08-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

sneezeweed helenium autumnale (image edited with the gimp http://www.gimp.org)

Helenium autumnale is a member of the sunflower family called sneezeweed. It is simillar to bitterweed with an exception to height. Bitterweed stays closer to the ground whereas sneezeweed is known for it's height. According to resources, the common sneezeweed grows a meter high. It's sunflower family traits are clearly seen. It has a large center and wedge like pedals and thin needle like leaves.

Helenium Autumnale has been known to treat tumors. It is not recommended to use this plant for any type of disease. It like bitterweed has a bitter taste and parts of the plant are poisonous. It's a very beautiful weed to use in sunflower arrangements and bouquets for the home and flowerbeds.

The Sneezeweed blooms late summer to fall. The plants are perrinials and need direct sun light to get the full bloom effect. The flowers reseed when the center is dried and falls to the ground. Flowers usually grow into one spot each year since birds do not eat the bitter plant. If you like to keep arrangements, you'll know where to find them if you remember where they were. This is a great plant for empty pieces of land or flowerbeds for people who don't have pets.

Resources:

http://diglib.auburn.edu/collections/wildflower/
http://home.howstuffworks.com/define-helenium-sneezeweed.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneezeweed
http://www.briartech.com/summer/snez/snez.htm

Grass Of Parnassus

2011-08-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

(photo edited by samantha taylor original found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

Grass Of Parnassus is found in the highlands of Appalachia. It's blossom looks like that of the wild crab apple that grows wild in Appalachia. Appalachia is found near ferns in boggy areas like an orchid almost. The flowers have five light green sepals that support a oval pedals that have veins which is more showier than most flowers and five stamen that are very fertile. The flower is lightest pink that you can notice.

This plant is in the endangered species cataglory with the pitcher plant and many other flowers in the State. The flowers are perrenials that come up every year . When the flower wilts, there is a brown seed inside that falls to the earth. If the birds don't take it, it later produces another flower or two. The flower is in the family of the saxifrage family. There are three known species in the Southeast.

References:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PAPA8 http://www.auburn.edu/~deancar//wfnotes/grspn.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parnassia

The Cucumber Tree (Magnolia Acuminata)

2011-08-11T16:13:00.000-07:00

(picture found at wikipedia.org, resources: http://www.plants.usda.gov, http://www.wikimedia.org, http://www.wikipedia.org)

The Cucumber tree is an endangered tree in the United States' eastern corner. The tree comes from the magnolia family. It's native to the Appalachian belt from central Alabama up on to the farthest near the New England States.

The trees are in the class as the magnolias are. They grow a funny greenish cone that resembles a cucumber. The trees are deciduous but still have ovaries like evergreens and other trees. The "cucumber" in turn becomes the "ovary". The "ovary" carries seeds that provide seeds to birds and other animals.

The Cucumber Tree has a yellowish green flower that reminds you sort of the tulip poplar. The flowers are very beautiful and it makes a great ornamental tree for your yard for years to come. I

this image is under creative commons at flickr.com

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papillo Glaucus)

2011-08-11T12:47:00.000-07:00

(images and resources from wikipedia.org and invasive.org under creative commons law 2.0)

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is found prodominately in the Southeastern part of the United States and has a huge population in Alabama. They are more visable during the spring to fall of the year.

Like many other butterflies, they are cross polinators. They eat the nector from flowers throughout the forest and into your front yard. To attract them, you don't have to do much but have Chinese Wysteria, Pink Mimosa Trees, and any wildflower will do.

      According to Wikipedia, they mostly eat from Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae. Apocynaceae is a family of flowering vines that have poisonous qualities to them, and the perriwinkle is in the same classification. Asteraceae is in the same class as the shasta daisy, the mum, and the false sunflower otherwise known as the oxeye daisy. You will find a little bit more about these listed in the npfa blog a few entries past. Fabaceae is a in the legume family is a crawling, climbing flowering pea. The Chinese Wysteria, Silk Tree (mimosa) and Partridge Pea can also be found in this family.

   The Butterflies usually lay eggs that are bright green and the larvae (caterpillars) are brown and white. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly usually goes as far west as Texas, as south as the Florida Keys, and as Northeast as Vermont.

passiflora incarnata fruit

2011-08-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

(please forgive image drew it from gimp)

The passionfruit that grows throughout the southeastern united states grows on a vine called the "passionflower" which is listed in another blog. The fruit is a really neat little egg shaped fruit.

The egg shaped fruit is smells like a septic tank leaking, it grows from 4 inches to 6 inches and hangs from the vine like a tear drop. When you take the fruit from it's vine it has a leathery exterior. Kelly green in color, it hides inside the passionfruit vine and with kudzu vine that helps it camoflage the fruit.

Inside the fruit there's tons of seeds like a melon or squash. The seeds are covered in pearly white flesh. The interior looks like a thin layer of sterofoam. It's foamy and pourous lining the seeds like a bed for them. The plant is edible but it is feels more like a nerf football.

paronychia erecta shinners squareflower

2011-07-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

(paronychia erecta found at invasive.org)

In the coastal counties lies a small woody flower with a square cluster head called squareflower. You can find the flower growing around borders of the beach and on sand dunes.

According to Alabama Plants the flower's name was taken from a greek source paronychia erecta was named for para meaning near, onych meaning claw or claw-like. Erecta came Latin meaning upright.

The squareflower is a perrenial that grows along the beach from April to October. The flowers range from Louisiana to Florida along the beach. The flower is was used to treat absesses and swollen places on the hand or foot.

Trichostema Lanatum (Blue Curls)

2011-07-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

(trichostema Lanatum found at wikimedia.com)

(photo courtesy of wikimedia.org)

Blue Curls is a member of the mint family. The flower is a drought resistant herb that grows in the grassy spots during the summer time. The flowering plant can be found throughout the Southeast and other parts of the United States.

It is one of the most violet flowers found in the summertime here in the Southeast and loves shaded areas. You can find the seeds at Seedhunt

The Cicada (Locust)

2011-07-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

(photo by wikimedia commons)

The cicada is a rather large bug that likes to sing at night and in the daytime. This bug looks big and intimidating, but it's very friendly.

The cicada or locust loves our subtropical climate and they thrive here in the Southeast. They feed on tree sap, under their head they have a needle like mouth which helps them feed on plants.

In Asia, people eat bugs like cicadas and also other in the Bible there are tribes that ate cicadas when they had nothing else to eat. The North American species of cicadas are named "Tibachen" or dog day cicadas because they start chirping at the end of July into August which is called "Dog Days". Cicadas sing with "instruments" called timbals which are at the side of their abdomen. Cicadas can live up to 13 years which is as much as your pet cat or dog.

Rue Anemone

2011-07-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

Rue anemone (rue.jpg)

Rue Anemone is special type of Alabama wildflower. It's less findable than others like catsill, dandelion, asters and other types. Anemones are grown from bulbs and sold by plant businesses that sell tulips, daffadils, narcissus and lilies.

This particular anemone grows in Alabama. It has a tuber root instead of wildflowers like trifolium that carry rhizomes. This flower is a cousin to flowers like daffadils and other lilies but this is a forest flower. It's a late spring bloomer and has very yellow stamina and petals vary from the whitest white to a violet color.

alnus serrulata: Smooth Alder, Hanous Alder

2011-07-07T20:36:00.000-07:00

alnus serrulata found at wikimedia commons under creative commons

Alnus serrulata is a tree found by riverbanks along the lakes and rivers of Alabama. It's a unique plant like the poplar and sweetgum taking that it's decidius tree. It has light green rich shiny leaves.

Like any small tree growing at anywhere 8-12 feet tall. They prefer the moisture rich soil that has plenty of room. Roots sprout quickly and efficently for a to find out more about alnus serrulata go to http://www.floraofalabama.org/Plant.aspx?id=1151

Carolina Wild Petunia

2011-07-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Carolina Wild Petunia is one that also grows in Alabama. It grows a little north of us in the Carolinas to the tips of Florida. The petunia is a wild perenial that creeps along with grasslands over the Mideastern to the Southeastern Coastline. The flower blooms spring, winter and fall. The flowers can be blue as the vector painting in the left hand corner of the entry or they can be a light violet purplish color.

The flower was named after Herbalist Jeane Ruelle. They have hearty stems and leaves that are loved by caterpillars and other bugs. Ruellia caroliniensis
is the latin name for the ruella. Ruellas are known to be poisonous and they are ornamental plants like Oleander or other flowers with poisonous capabilities.

The Carolina Wild Petunia would be a great flowerbed additive, many people buy flowers from Walmart without asking a neighbor about their wildflower stash. This would be a good exchange for a cup of sugar. :) free flower

Sweet Crab Apple Tree

2011-06-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

I remember the Sweet Crab Apple from my childhood. I had one at the edge of a wooded area in front of my trailer home and the blossoms would be so pretty and pink during the spring and the apples were very sour but my mom, brother, sister and I would eat them with salt. They would make your cheeks hurt so badly but somehow you just kept eating them like cutleaf blackberries and chokecherries.

When spring came, the crab apple tree also came in bloom. They were so beautiful and made a great border to the forest area. Eventhough people eat crabapples raw, i found that some also make jams and jellies out of the fruit. The fruit turns yellowish and light brown during the fall of the year. Although I've not seen the tree around awhile, many people still have them from the Southernmost part of Alabama to North Carolina. If you want to know more about Crab apples click here for a plant guide

Bobcat (Lynx Rufus)

2011-06-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

The bobcat is one of the most beautiful cats in the Souteastern Region of the United States. The Bobcat eats mostly small reptiles, mammals and birds. The feline has large back feet, a short tail, and is 2 times larger than a regular housecat. They are spotted like a cheetah and has a nice pelt of fur that keeps her cool during the summer and warm in the winter time.

Like a regular housecat, she'll lose the full face and gain a skinner pelt during the summer. Bobcats have been known to interbreed with housecats and have litters of "Pixiebobs". If they don't, they usually have four to five cubs and live near a riverbed, marshy area and in the brush.

The bobcat loves rabbits especially the eastern cottontail. There's not much other types of bunnies in the area other than that. They are a less of a burden than preditors like foxes, jackals and feral pigs. Some people want to see them in their backyard rather than any other wildlife.

Ban On Burning In The State

2011-06-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Our state parks and forrests are important to the economy because of tourists. There have been 1808 fires within the state of Alabama since January 2008. There is way too much careless actions dealing with burning debri, cigarettes, and other things that cause wildfires during drought seasons. Take every precaution imaginable when out this fourth of july. When you are shooting fireworks, shoot them away from trees and anything that sets on fire quickly. Save our resources for others to enjoy.

41,000 acres was destroyed during that timespan and it was due to negligence. It' s important to be safe when around fire since it's extremely dangerous. Never burn brush during extreme drought times. Things are easier to burn and wind can make the fire spread quickly. Never leave a fire unattended or leave a cigarette around without making sure there is nothing left in the butt.

Don't act retarded with fireworks and do stupid stunts. Don't do dumb things with fireworks at all. You could wind up in jail, in the hospital or on television doing both. Be safe and don't mess with fire!

The Red Wolf

2011-06-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

The Red Wolf is a beautiful and illusive animal that lives throughout the Southeast. They are relatively shy animals that chow down on coons, white tailed deer, possums, many birds and small game.

They have a blend of cinnamon, white, grey and black in their fur and two aren't identical in looks or markings. The Red Wolves like many in the canine packs mate for life and both male and female care for the young. They travel in packs like our small coyotes here in Alabama.

The red wolf likes areas near water, they are usually more afraid of you than you are of them. They will eat livestock if they have nothing else to eat, but usually sticks with their deer and smaller mammals. These wolves are protected under law because of low numbers of them. Protect and save them for generations to come!

The Alabama Croton

2011-06-23T21:29:00.000-07:00

The Alabama Croton rarely blooms making it a rare Alabama Wild Flower. According to a resource on Auburn University's wildflower site, the flower usually blooms around March of the year. The flowers look like their cousins asters in the respect of their being less petals and more anthers. The anthers are small and gold and stand out from the little bud areas.

Some would call the flowers terminal clusters due to each small pod with tons of anthers. Many flowers in the aster family are this way. Below is a drawing of the flower's blossom. The fruit is the pod shaped part of the flowers.

The flower isn't the most beautiful in alabama but rarely seen blooming. The plant is an evergreen which stays green all year long and mostly withstands heat and cold. You will usually find the Alabama Croton .

Parts of the plant are poisonous so keep your pets from it. There are also some issues with skin irritation. It may cause you to break out into a rash.

vermilion darter endangered

2011-06-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

vermilion darter: only found in turkey creek in jefferson county

2011-06-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

2011-05-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

The huckleberry bush is a flowering bush of the Southeastern Unite
d States. It produces berries simillar to tbe blueberry and the acai berry. Local residents enjoy the berry by making huckleberry pies and wine. If you can enjoy a blueberry pie, you would love the unique taste of the huckleberry.

Prunella Vulgaris (selfheal) native to united states

2011-04-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

Prunella Vulgaris found at Wikimedia Commons under creative commons

This flower that you see on the side grows mostly in rich moist soil in the grassy areas mostly found near homes, in fields and moisture rich areas. It's a hardy grower and takes less beatings than many other plants do.

HealAll or selfheal is a box plant that starts growing in the spring when seeds are dispersed naturally. It has been known to cure some diseases or symptoms of diseases, but not exactly proven. Altnature describes it as an herb that cures stds and some dermatic problems.

The herb is used in dry form and is made into a poultice which is used topically not internally.The herb contains many vitamins that help with many problems. around. Although Prunella Vulgarus is a very good healing agent, it's not approved by the FDA and could be harmful if used without doctor's supervision. Always contact a doctor before treating a disease on your own.

In Alabama wildflower types this particullar one is under blue catagory because the flowers are purple. It's a yearly so you'll have it all the time if you want to incorperate it into your own landscape or garden as a filler or border.

American Lotus: Nelumbo Lutea

2011-04-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

(superlotus.jpg found at http://www.wikimediacommons.org under creative commons)

The American Lotus is one of Alabama's most beautiful aquatic flowering plants. It is a common North America member of the family of Lotus's. The roots deep embed into the mud underneath the water's bed and takes root creating a system of lilypads and blooms. The North American Indians used to eat the roots of the American Lotus. The common name from the Native Americans was "Maucapin" The flower has been crossed with other lotus's to create more beautiful subjects. American Lotus is a fast grower and is found throughout the Southeastern United States.

Large Mouth Bass

2011-04-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

(large mouth bass found at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html and found under creative commons law)

The Large Mouth Bass is one of the most caught fish in the state of Alabama. The fish is one of the most common to Lake Martin, Lake Jordan and other water areas throughout the state. The fish is beautiful and eats both plankton, smaller fish, insects and sometimes amphibians. Southerners and waterfowl love eating the fish because it's meat is decadent and very clean.

The Bass comes from the family of the Sun Fish. They are the largest of the Bass family and grow to be over 20 pounds commonly. They can be found in Alabama, Georgia and other parts of the Southeastern United States. The most common way to cook a Large Mouth Bass is to batter it in beer, corn meal and fry it in a skillet. It's great for a Sunday Afternoon dinner with the family and don't forget to invite a neighbor over to help you eat it.

April Showers Bring Spring Flowers Photos 2011

2011-04-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

The Crimson Clover is all over our field in on our familie's land, it's so beautiful and the smaller budding herbs I haven't got to just yet. Stay tuned to the blog. I am sorry for the quality of photos only had my small keychain camera.

long tailed weasel

2011-03-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

(long tailed weasel found at creative commons search on creative commons)

The long tailed weasel is a cutie that I found yesterday while walking my father's dog "Mushoe". The small critter is black and brown and has an yellow tummy. It is about the size of a small cat and lives in a hole or burrow.

The small animal will suck eggs from a birds nest and eat small rodents. If you see one around your home be considerate since they do eliminate your vermin that tends to invade homes. They are throughout North, South and Middle America. It's a member of the mustelid family.

The foamflower

2011-03-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

(foamflower, found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

The foamflowers you see to the left grow in North Alabama. They are small feathery like flowers that grow in clusters.The small flowers wilt into a ball when their blossoms go. The blossoms open up towards the light. They have five peddles and an equal amount of anthers on the stem.

Foamflowers can be found throughout fields, riverbanks and near water. The reason why they are called foam flowers are because the flowers act as foam from soap or as water hits over the rocks into a foamy suds in the river. The white water is fuzzy and white and the shrivels into buds and emulates fizz.

The flowers have a leaf that is simillar to a popilar or a muscadine leaf. It has five large points. The plants grow in the shade and small animals disperses seeds for distribution. The plant has small stems which are rhizomes and gather plenty of moisture to keep the plant nourished.

The flower comes from the plant Saxifrageles there are three types in the species line. This flower's species name is Tiarella polyphylla (link is on wikipedia.com. Tiarella polyphylla is easy to get in with your garden, so if you don't appreciate the foam flower, better throw them away from your plants. They stay thirsty.

wild mustard

2011-03-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

wild mustard plant found at wikimedia commons under creative commons

I think I've mentioned wild mustard in the blog before, i've noticed it has gone haywire growing all over the place. If you've had a chance to see it you've probably asked yourself, how pretty is that?

It's gorgeous for a spurting weed.

The wild mustard gets high, and very tasty, it comes from the class brassica and can be used in very many dishes from us to vietnamese. If you have time to stop to smell the wildflowers, get a few and share a vase with a loved one.

Ross's Goose (chen rossi, anser rossi)

2011-03-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

(Ross's goose found under creativecommons.org)

Ross's goose is found in Alabama in Winter and early spring. Where there is fresh water, you'll find these beautiful geese. As you can see, you can find these geese have smaller beaks than most. They look regal and beautiful. Ross's goose are smart and migrate from the Northern part of the country to the Southern part.

For More Information on Ross's Goose, you can visit :

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rosss_Goose/id
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross's_Goose

Cypripedioideae Pink Lady Slipper (Orchid)

2011-03-02T18:37:00.000-08:00

(cypripediodeae found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

Having talks about flowers always makes me feel better. They are the one things besides strawberries that I have loved since I could walk. I was talking to one of my friend's daughters about her country which is in Central America and it made me dream vividly of how it would look with orchids and flowers everywhere. The climate in the Southeast is a little like Central American climates in the Gulf Coast area. We have beautiful orchids in our state that I didn't know about and some of them are Cypripediodeae. Cypripediodeae is a class of flowers grown in the United States. It is a genus family of pocket shaped orchids that can be found in tropical/subtropical areas like Alabama.

(pink lady slipper found at wikimedia commons)

Eventhough there are many species of flowers in this category I have narrowed one down as my favorite one.

This is the pink lady slipper found all over the Southeastern United States. This flower was used for medicinal purposes by stopping seizures and spasmodic episodes. There are other medicinal things used with the same

classification found in this postscript document form from pollinator.org.

There are orchid societies all over the South and there are many in Alabama too. There are several that you can find below if you are a Southerner and a major orchid enthusiast.

Heart of Dixie Orchid Society

Place page

116 Douglas Street
Madison, AL 35758-1219
(256) 772-8174

NAOS is in the Northeastern part of the state. They have their blog with further information on orchids, how to grow them and where they are meeting at their blog

Woodland Orchids has their annual event calender on their front page. They welcome all enthusiasts to join their events.

The Gulf Coast Jaguarondi (Puma yagouaroundi cacomitli)

2011-02-06T22:12:00.000-08:00

(jaguarondi image found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

Jaguarondis are a beautiful and illusive cat that have lived in the state for some time. They are endangered animals and are listed underneath most endangered species. I haven't ever seen these beautiful animals in my area before so this is my first time seeing it.

The Jaguarondis have been found throughout South America into Middle America into the Southeastern portion of the United States as far as Texas. The cat has the physical appearance of a river otter or long bodied mammal. Most predators favor their choice of prey to eat in the wild.

The species tends to live more closely near water in thorny patches of brush. The animals feed on rodents, reptiles and water creatures. They will breed all year round. The female usually gives birth to 1-4 jaquarondi kittens. The kittens have spots under their neck and abdomen which will fade away as the kittens get older. The cats most relative breeds in the feline genus are the cougar and the cheetah. The Jaguarondi has shorter arms and legs.

The Jaguarondis are usually found in the gulf coast region. If you seen one contact your national wildlife conservatives so they can investigate and learn it's habitat. The cat is not a menace such as many animals such as foxes, coyotes and the over abundant. It is on the endangered list and should be protected. Rodents and preditory coyotes packs over populate. A feline breeding that mainly feeds off of the fish, rodents and mussels have less of a chance attacking a person at first site.

References to the Gulf Coast Jaguarondi

http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/Watchablearticles/blackcats.cfm*
http://www.earthsendangered.com/profile-217.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguarundi *
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0701_full.html

The Brazillian Peppertree

2011-02-02T22:56:00.000-08:00

(Brazilian Peppertree found at wiki.bugwood.org under creative commons)

The Brazilian Peppertree is found throughout the Southeastern United States. The plant was brought to Floridians in a latter time. The tree is in the same category of Poison Sumac and other itch and rash causing plants. Only difference is that it can grow up to 40 feet.It's similar to another popular tree that one looks for, but this one is a nusance.

The Brazillian Peppertree is a fast grower in our sub-tropic type temperatures. They can multiply in such a short matter of time due to the clusters of red fruit that have seeds that aren't too much eaten. Some animals that are attracted to this plant are the sawfly, and any type of flying insects. The smell is like turpentine .

Alabama Endangered Species List: Alabama Sturgeon

2011-01-26T22:37:00.000-08:00

(alabama sturgeon found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

The Alabama Sturgeon is one of the last fresh water sturgeons in the world that's ranked highest risk for Alabama fish and that in the United States. It's latin name is Scaphirhynchus suttkusi . It'll only gain to one to two pounds, but the fish can live up to twenty years. It was put on the endangered list in the early 90's and has continued to be watched by biologist today. The amazing and mysterious Cahaba River has a few of them. Each year the Cahaba River is celebrated for it's wonderful and rare types of species such as the mollusks discussed earlier and the Cahaba lilly that grows along the bank. For more physical information you can find it on the following pages

http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=E026

http://www.druidcityonline.com/na-sturgeon-frozen%206-3-03.htm

http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/fish/Acipenseriformes/Acipenseridae/Scaphirhynchus-suttkusi

The Fringe Tree (chionanthus virginicus)

2011-01-23T21:29:00.000-08:00

(fringe tree, chionanthus virginicus found usda, wikimedia commons under creative commons)

The fringe tree is a bloomer of late spring. They are alot like the privet blooming in late spring. Some nics for the tree is grancy gray beard, old man' s beard, and white fringe tree. The flowering tree produces a blue fruit on both male and female plants.The tree is native to the United States as many are indigenous to places in Europe or Asia. The native Americans used the fruit to cure diseases such as liver issues and in the gall bladder. The fruit is also known to cure sugar levels in urine. If you are in the woods nearby and happen to hurt yourself, you can use the bark of the plant to fix your wounds.

Resources

Auburn University Of Agriculture
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hort/landscape/dbpages/309.html

Wikipedia's Entry to the Fringe Tree
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chionanthus_virginicus

Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)

2011-01-17T16:01:00.000-08:00

(Blue Grosbeak found at http://wikipedia.org under creative commons)

This little beautiful Blue Grosbeak is a passerine and a nut and berry bird like the Cardinal. The little grosbeak male has a bright blue color and sometime's mistaken for a type blue jay or bluebird. The male has a beautiful blue coloring similar to both of the birds. Like the cardinal, the female has a mottled brown color mixed with a little bit of blue.It's still pretty beautiful. The males love to show off at spring time and put on a show to woo the female.

This little bird is a migratory bird. It has been found in Northern Mexico to our southeastern states (Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi)
It's song is a little similar to the red cardinal only different type of tweeting it doesn't have the "Wordy Wordy" tone the cardinal has, but rather a faster tweeting and chirping here's a link to the little bird's song
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wwwsounds/birds/hardy91sh.wav

This bird although the smartest of many passerines has been red listed on it's on http://www.iucnredlist.org/ The redlist for threatened birds. Many birds on this list have been brought back into thet habitat, but many people don't care any more in the fast paced world around it.

Small flower Morning glory (Jacquemontia tamnifolia)

2011-01-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

Small flower Morning glory found at http://www.invasive.org under creative commons

The Small flower Morning glory is a flowering vine found in meadows and weedy areas around your area. It's an annual that only comes out in the summer time and late spring when your crops usually harvest.

Pest control is usually maintained in crops like cotton, peanuts, and other plants that have vines in your garden. The plant usually starts off as a pared fuzzy small leaf like a pea and grows out really fast and multiplies rather quickly.

The leaves are more broad-leaved than other types of morning glory Most Morning Glory plants have a thinner more ivy like leaf. It makes an ovary with four seeds and it looks squared.

Like Peanuts, the Small Flower Morning Glory tends to survive in all soil conditions, it's hard to kill but rather lovely if you like weeds.

Nine Banded Armadillos

2011-01-06T21:59:00.000-08:00

(ninebanded armadillo found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

The Nine Banded Armadillo is a little stinker that comes out at night and digs in your yard leaving little holes the size of it's nose. It'll dig and dig for bugs, worms and their larvae. It's yummy to them, but nasty to us.

The Armadillos are found throughout the South. You can find them in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. They like nice scrubby land with lots of woody places so they can hide out. The armadillo is a mammal believe it or not. The only place it has hair is on it's abdomen or what we call the stomach area.

If you are wondering what the heck this strange little critter is kin to, it's clear that the armadillo eats grubs, insects, aunts, eggs, and stuff from the ground. The anteater also eats grubs and digs for insects. Closest anteater in the United States is one that lives in South America.