1 - Mid September, 2025
I realized that I hadn't been in here since 2021 (four years ago)! My primary goal was to photograph Turtleheads in bloom. But due to various insects that had devoured many of the plants' leaves, other critters that had chewed the tops off plants, hogs rooting, and creek scouring, there were fewer plants in flower than I'd seen in this area in past years. There were no big multi-flower clusters, but here are a few examples of what I did find in three different creeks.
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Mountain Purple Turtlehead, aka Erwin's Turtlehead
(Chelone erwiniae)
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These Turtleheads were originally classified as Chelone obliqua species.
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Then, as a subspecies, Chelone obliqua, var. erwiniae.
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Finally in 2024, they were elevated to species status
(Chelone erwiniae).
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Mountain Purple Turtlehead, aka Erwin's Turtlehead
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Mountain Purple Turtlehead, aka Erwin's Turtlehead
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One more Chelone erwiniae
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Carolina Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus)
Looking down at this view from several feet away, one would see what appeared to be
two flowerheads. But looking closer, instead of the more common rounded array of
petals making up a single flower, each flowerhead is composed of a small cluster of
4-5 disk florets (four in this case), with each floret containing 5 outward-flaring lobes.
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Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
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I had brought my drone with me, and flew it up from the end of Nelson Ridge Rd.
This is the view looking south at Mt. Boteler.
The ridge coming down on the left leads to Perry Gap.
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View looking NW at the Tusquitee Range
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View WSW, with Lake Chatuge off in left distance,
and the valley of Tusquitee Creek on the right.
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2 - Early November, 2025
I wanted to find a quiet place with a bit of remaining color and some
flowing water, without traveling too far. I thought of just the spot.
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Approaching a pretty little waterfall
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Frontal view, with some nice color above the falls
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From a little further back...
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Waterfall from the side.
With 1.20 inches of rain the day before, the flow was just right.
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Falls #2 on the creek.
This one used to look better, but some large trees have fallen directly
in front of the drop. I had to do some clearing to get a decent shot.
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Further upstream, Falls #3
only about four feet high.
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Closer view of the small Third Falls
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Nice color in the woods with the late
afternoon sun lighting up the leaves.
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