From The Sublime to The Ridiculous

Flora-Quest trip leader Steve McKee has reported in on Quest 5's trip, including Paul Knoop's private preserve, Spring Glen. This Adams County Cedar Barren is the home of many diverse species of flora and fauna. Steve was thrilled with an encounter with Hybanthus concolor, Green Violet, located on the preserve, along with another Adam's county specialty: Shooting Star.



Dodecatheon meadia, Shooting Star photo by Steve McKee

Interestingly enough, USDA plants data base refers to this flower by the common name: Pride of Ohio. Indeed- I think it is an awesome plant!

But, leaving the realm of flora, we have an incredible photo of fauna, a Hognose Snake, also shot by Steve McKee. Wait, I don't really mean shot. Before any PETA folks start writing, seriously, Steve and Paul are two of the kindest souls you would ever want to meet. They would never shoot a snake. They might poke it a bit to show people its incredible "possum act" of playing dead, but they would never actually harm it.

So here is Mr. Hognose, who should win an Academy Award for Best Actor. Believe me, although his tongue was hanging out and he looked to be el morte, he was just fine. They waited around until he crawled away... chuckling about fooling those silly humans! :)

Plant, mineral, animal- you will see it all on a Knoop / McKee trip. They are two of Ohio's best naturalists and great fun in the field.

Checking our list

Silene caroliniana Walter var. wherryi, Wherry's Catchfly photo by Cheryl

Unusual plants abound in Adams County and in the Shawnee Forest. In fact, there are so many we keep a comprehensive check list of the plants we have seen, or hope to see. It is a bit mind blogging for many of us, but the experts do this every day. Sorting the sedges and rarities call for an expert, and Rick Gardner, our state Heritage Botanist is one of the best!

Rick Gardner and Janet Creamer check the list of species and add a few more.

With a total of 454 plant species, you would think we were covered! But Rick has found some more to add to our future lists. Nothing gets past these two sharp-eyed botanists!

Ferns
Asplenium rhizophyllum, Walking fern
Cystopteris bulbifera, Bulblet Fern
Ophioglossum engelmannii, Limestone Adder's-tongue
Pellaea atropurpurea, Purple Cliff-brake
Pellaea glabella, Smooth Cliff-brake
Pleopeltis polypodioides, Resurrection Fern

Forbs
Asclepias verticillata, Whorled Milkweed
Coreopsis major, Forest Tickseed
Cypridedium candidum, White Lady's-slipper
Delphinium exaltatum, Tall Larkspur
Draba cuneifolia, Wedged-leaf Whitlow-grass
Jeffersonia diphylla, Twinleaf
Hybanthus concolor, Green Violet
Leavenworthia uniflora, Leavenworthia
Manfreda virginica, American Aloe
Silene caroliniana var. wherryi, Wherry's Catchfly
Sisyrinchium albidum, Pale Blue-eyed-grass
Sullivantia sullivantii, Sullivantia
Thalictrum revolutum, Skunk Meadow-rue
Trillium flexipes, Drooping Trillium
Trillium nivale, Snow Trillium
Triosteum angustifolium, Lesser Horse-gentian

Sedges
Carex crawei, Crawe's Sedge
Carex pedunculata, Long-stalked Sedge

Keeping this list is no small effort, but Miss Paula is up to the job. I am sure she will have the updates cranked out in no time at all!

Fauna-Quest: Birds and Butterflies

Blue Grosbeak photo by John Howard


The most sought-after non-flora on our weekend event was the Blue Grosbeak. At least two Quests produced views of these jumbo-headed Adam County specialities.

My first look at a Blue Grosbeak was during an Adams county trip at the 2006 OOS Conference held in Shawnee. We were thrilled with flickering glimpses of a dull brown female, while both Flora-Quests reported head on looks at a brilliant blue male. In fact, if you would like to see a Blue Grosbeak, there is a pair hanging about the Eulett Center. Now might be a great time to plan a trip to see that new building and pick up a life bird.

Cobweb Skipper photo by John Howard

The butterfly enthusiasts had the toughest go of it, since the temps were pretty moderate. While they did not have huge numbers of sightings, this one rarity made up for it. What I would give to add a Cobweb Skipper to my life list! Not only did they see one- Jaret Daniels, with his incredible butterfly ju-ju caught it mid-air with his bare hands and produced a glass jar for better viewing. Jaret is amazing in the field, and the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. I bet he still walks little old ladies across the street like a boyscout!

More flora to come, but I couldn't help reporting the rarities first-

Post Secret- Botany

Adams County's Secret Botany- White Lady's-slipper

There is an edgy little blogspot called Post Secrets, which is extremely popular with the college crowd. It is not for everyone, as its topics often delve into sex, drugs, and general unhappiness. It is a artistic outlet where people post their deepest, darkest secrets- in total anonymity.

Most botanists have some secrets too. Generally not the seamy dark kind, but rather the location of a rarity, too good for general publication. Secrets they whisper amongst themselves- away from the greedy public. It is not that botanists are selfish people, they just love botany so much, they want to protect it. And sadly too many times a rare plant has been dug up to be added to some one's personal collection. As flora-enthusiasts we should all take responsibility for protecting our rare native plants. Do not dig plants from the wild. Purchase them from reputable dealers (considering the junkie-like cravings I get for plants, dealers is the perfect descriptor for plantsmen!)

White Lady's-slipper, Cypripedium candidum, featured in the photo above, was a rarity a very lucky few from Flora-quest got to view. Somewhere on the vast TNC properties in Adams county this lovely golf-ball sized orchid graces the landscape. One of our guides could take you there- but we would have to blind-fold you first...

Flora-Quest Finale

Shawnee State Park Lodge May 3, 2009 Click on photo to enlarge

Here's the happy group under the Flora-Quest sign at the Shawnee Lodge this afternoon. Life plants, life birds- and a whole bunch of life people! More fun than ever with fabulous speakers, botanical rarities, and workshops on butterflies, photography and new converts to using a Newcomb's guide. And, plants for everybody, thanks to Marvin!

We were not about to be scared off by a forest fire, and our ever vigilant guides even came up with contingency plans for Sasquatch encounters! We decided to stick close to Jenny (the very pregnant gal in the front row). After all you don't have to outrun Sasquatch, you only have to outrun Jenny!

More fun later, when I have unpacked and caught up on sleep!