Gray’s Lily – Lilium grayi

One of the highlights of my recent trip to North Carolina was finding and photographing some Gray’s Lilies (Lilium grayi). Found in only three states (Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia), they are listed as endangered in Tennessee and threatened in North Carolina.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

My plans for the trip including a hike on the Tanawha Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway – it is one places where the Gray’s Lilies have been found and late June is one of the times you can find them. Since I knew they might be blooming, throughout my trip I was keeping an eye out along the sides of the road and trails for orange/red lilies – just in case I spotted one elsewhere. You can imagine my surprise as I was driving through the Pisgah National Forest from Carver’s Gap to Rhododendron Gardens to spot a flash of orange out of the corner of my eye. I circled back – just in case – since I knew the Gray’s Lilies are native to the Roan Mountain area. And there on the side of the road – were five separate Gray’s Lilies. Only two were in bloom – the others were not yet blooming but probably would be in just a few days after I saw them. I had a wonderful time photographing the Gray’s Lilies.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Gray’s Lilies generally grow to about 3 feet tall – although they have been known to grow as tall as 8 feet. Each plant has whorls of 4-8 leaves and between 1 -4 nodding flowers. The orange/red flowers with puprle spots flowers are bell-shaped. The petals neither open out like the petals of the Canada Lily nor curve back like the petals of the Turk’s Cap Lily. They bloom in June and July.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Gray’s Lilies grow on the mountain balds of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. They need the full sunlight and higher elevations provided in these locations. Their survival is threatened by habitat destruction, over collection, grazing animals and several types of fungal infections. As a state and federally listed species, the Gray’s Lilies should never be dug up from protected areas.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Finding the Gray’s Lilies in the Pisgah National Forest was a wonderful treat. I enjoyed photographing them – and since I didn’t find any on the trail I’d hoped to find them on later in the trip – I was especially glad to have gone back to figure out exactly what that flash of orange I spotted was in the National Forest.

If you’d like to learn more about Gray’s Lilies – some online sites with additional information include

USDA Plant Profile for Gray’s Lily

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Plant Database: Gray’s Lily

USDA GRIN Taxonomy for Plants: Gray’s Lily

Flora of North America: Lilium Grayi

CPC National Plant Collection: Gray’s Lily

Galax – galax urceolata

On my recent trip to North Carolina, one of the wildflowers that I photographed for the first time was galax (galax urceolata). I photographed galax in two locations – on the trail to Erwin’s View of Linville Falls and along the Tanawha Trail near the Linn Cove Viaduct visitor center. It is also known as Beetleweed, Coltsfoot and Wand Flower.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Galax is a member of the Diaspensiaceae family. A perennial with evergreen leaves, galax has dainy white flowers growing on leafless stalks up to 15″ tall. The flowers have 5 white petals. It blooms from May through July.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Native to the United States, it’s native habitat is in mountain woods ranging from Maryland to Alabama. It will grow as far north as USDA Zone 5a and south to USDA Zone 8b. It tends not to do as well in gardens since it prefers the rich well-drained woodland soil to thrive. They do not transplant well – so please don’t dig them up in the wild to add to your garden.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

The leaves of the galax are much in demand by the floral industry. Not only will the shiny green leaves stay fresh for weeks, in winter the leaves turn red which adds a wonderful splash of color to holiday decorations. Overcollection of galax is enough of an issue that many localities have imposed limits on the collection of the leaves.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Traditionally galax has been used to treat cuts and wounds. An infusion of the root was used by Native Americans to treat kidney diseases. Information about medical uses is provided for information only – and is not a recommendation to use it medically.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

I really enjoyed seeing the galax in the woods as I was hiking the trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway. In the past, I’ve done most of my hiking in the spring when many more woodland wildflower bloom. It was great to discover some of the summer blooming woodland flowers on this trip.

If you’d like to learn about galax – some online sites with additional information include

USDA Plant Profile for Galax

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Plant Database

Plants for a Future

Galax: An Annotated Bibliography by Mary L. Predney and James L. Chamberlain

USWildflowers.com database

North Carolina Wildflowers – June 2010 Trip – Part 2

Here are a few more photos from my trip to North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Parkway. I had a wonderful trip and am already to head back to the mountains and look for more wildflowers to photograph.

Catawba Rhododendron – Rhododendron catawbiense – photographed at Rhododendron Gardens on Roan Mountain

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

False Bugbane – trautvetteria caroliniensis – photographed on Roan Mountain

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Gray’s Lily – lilium grayi – photographed on Roan Mountain

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Spotted Wintergreen – chimaphila maculata – photographed on the trail to Linville Falls

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Galax -    galax utceolata – photographed along the Tanawha Trail just under the Linn Cove Viaduct

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

And finally Linville Falls from Erwin’s View. Bill and I had photographed Linville Falls from the other overlooks, but had never made it to Erwin’s View. It’s now my favorite spot to photograph Linville Falls from – next time I’ll just make sure I’m not there in the middle of the day.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

I only spent a few days photographing on this trip – but what time I had on the Blue Ridge Parkway was wonderful.

North Carolina Wildflowers – June 2010 Trip – Part I

I’ve been on the road photographing wildflowers in North Carolina for the past few days. I thought you might like to see some of what I’ve been photographing.

Some White Rosebay Rhododendron (rhododendron maximum)  – photographed at the Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge parkway

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Small Purple Fringed Orchid – platanthera psycodes – photographed at Mount Mitchell State Park

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Bluets – houstania caerulea – photographed at Mount Mitchell State Park

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Wood Sorrell – oxalis montana – photographed at Mount Mitchell State Park

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Black Eyed Susans – rudbeckia hirta – photographed along the Blue Ridge Parkway

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Hope you’ve enjoyed these wonderful early summer wildflowers. I’m planning on posting a few more photos from my trip over the weekend.

Johnson’s Blue Lungwort – Pulmonaria angustifolia

One morning in early April while photographing at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland I spotted a patch of beautiful blue flowers. And these flowers were truely blue which not easy to find. It turns out they were Johnson’s Blue Lungwort (pulmonaria angustifolia).

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Lungwort is a member of the Boraginaceae family and native to Europe and Asia. Any that are in the wild in the United States are most likely escapees from someone’s garden. Lungworts are perennial herbs that grow in clumps with small tubular flowers that grow in clusters.  They bloom in early spring. They are hardy from zones 3a to 8b.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Some varieties of lungwort have spotted leaves, which in earlier times were thought to resemble diseased lungs. So the plants were used to treat pulmonary infections and became known as lungwort. While traditionally used to treat diseases such as tuberculosis, lungwort does contain toxic alkaloids – so should not be taken internally without medical supervision. It has been used externally to help heal wounds.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

I really liked the delicate blue flowers which added a nice splash of color to the garden in early spring.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Lots of Lilies

I was sorting through some of the photos I took earlier this spring – and came across a set of wonderful photographs of some Oriental Lilies. The photos were taken at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. I just love all the bright colors and textures in the flowers.

After Eight Lilies

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Conca D’Or Lily

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Chili Lily

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Siberia Lily

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

Florian lily

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

So which of these lilies do you like the best? My two favorites from this set are the After Eight Lilies and the Chili Lily – you don’t suppose this has anything to do with the fact that I love bright colors?

Links – June 18, 2010

Crested Dwarf Iris II (c) 2009 Patty Hankins

Here are some links I found interesting this week – hope you find them useful

Photography and Art Links

ksl.com has information about a rare photo of slave children found in a NC attic

ArtBizBlog has 8 Tips for Stronger Art Show Submissions and 5 Reasons to Title Your Art

BlackStar Rising has At Too Many Museums, It’s Check Your Cameras at the Door

Copyright Law and Information has The Basics of Copyright – What Can Be Protected?

Smallerbox has 3 Cheapskates and How to Respond

Virtual Photography Studio has How to Stop Justifying Your Low, Low Prices

Silber Studios has 1200 Classic Polaroid Photographs from Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol and More Up for Sale

Christine Goldbeck has Is that Art or just a Photograph?

CraftMBA has Your Pricing Strategy: Are You Spending Too Much Time Playing Defense?

Ask Harriete has Good Galleries Gone Bad: 6 Steps to Take if Your Gallery Is Not Paying You on Time

Flower, Gardening and Plant Links

Invasive Notes has Invasive Species Impacts akin to Oil Spills without the Publicity

IPS has U.S. Lawns Getting an Eco-Makeover

Homestead Gardens has Trends in Gardening with John Peter Thompson

National Park & National Wildlife Refuge Links

National Parks Traveler has With a Growing Number of National Park Phone Apps, What Should You Expect? , July Designated “Park and Recreation” Month, Mountains to Sea Trail Weaves Through NC National Parks, Let’s Stay Safe in the National Parks This Summer, Okay?,

Refuge Watch has Development Threatens Savannah NWR, and Sec. Salazar Announces Refuge Land Acquisition Funding

Wildlife Links

Boston.com has more Scenes from the Gulf of Mexico

National Parks Traveler has Productive Nesting for Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles at San Padre Island National Seashore, But Oil Awaits, and Photo Collage of Florida’s Coastal Seabirds Reminds Us of What’s At Stake with Deepwater Horizon

Environmental Issues Links

Chesapeake Bay Journal has Paradise Lost? Proposed Road Threatens Mattawoman Creek

Some Skullcaps – Scutellaria – Members of the Mint Family

Over the past year I’ve photographed three different types of skullcaps. The skullcaps (scutellaria) are members of the Lamiaceae (Mint) family. They have four-angled stems and opposite leaves. The flowers have both upper and lower lips. Once you’ve identified what members of the skullcap family look like – other members of the family are easy to spot.

The first skullcap I photographed was Scarlet Skullcap (scutellaria costaricana). Native to Costa Rica and Panama, this plant prefers full to partial sun.  In much of the United States, it is best grown in a container so it can be sheltered indoors during cold weather. I photographed this Scarlet Skullcap at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

The second skullcap I photographed was some Showy Skullcap (scutellaria serrata). Showy skullcap is native to the United States – growing from Southern New York to as far south as Florida and west to the Mississippi River. It generally blooms in late spring through early summer along woodland trails. Showy skullcap can be identified by it’s smooth leaves.  I photographed this showy skullcap at Greenspring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

The final skullcap I’ve photographed is Hairy Skullcap (scutellaria ellipitca). Hairy skullcap is native to the same areas as Showy Skullcap. It also is native to states west as far as Texas and as far north as Michigan. It is found in dry woods and thickets. It can be distinguished from Showy Skullcap and other members of the skullcap family by its hairy leaves. I photographed this Hairy Skullcap along the Lakeside Trail at Rock Creek Regional park in Rockville, Maryland.

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

(c) 2010 Patty Hankins

There are at least two other types of skullcaps native to the southeastern United States – Downy Skullcap (scutellaria incana) and Heart-shaped Skullcap (scutellaria ovata). I hope to find and photography them someday.

Think About It! Hosted by Sylvia Henderson – I’m Going to be on TV with my Flower Photos!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I was recently interviewed about my flower photography by Sylvia Henderson of Think About It! Think About It!  is a personal development and community interest talk show that airs on Montgomery Municipal Cable Channel 16 in Montgomery County Maryland.

I had a wonderful time visiting with Sylvia and doing her show. We talked about photography, places to photograph and why I photograph flowers the way I do.

The first showing of the 30 minute interview will be at 10 PM tonight Monday June 14 on MMC-16. It will reair on Jun 15 at 7 PM, and June 17 at 8:30 PM. Since I don’t have cable TV – I’m going to have to wait to get a copy of the show once it airs. Once I get the DVD, I’ll post a copy of the show to my website so any who doesn’t live in Montgomery County is able to see the show

Links – June 11, 2010

Wild Bleeding Hearts (c) 2009 Patty Hankins

Here are some links I found interesting this week – hope you find them useful

Photography and Art Links

Maria Brophy has How to Never Get Ripped Off Again for Freelancers and Beware of the Online Art Contest

Greeting Card Designer has an Interview with Alyson Stanfield on Protecting Your Art

Dear Rich has First North American Serial Rights: What’s the Story?

Gizmodo has Are Cameras the New Guns?

PhotoAttorney has More Bad Photo Contests and Adorama Camera Revises Photo Contest Rules for the Better

PhotoTraveler has Enter into Pop Photo’s “Travelographer of the Year” Competition

Copyright Law and Copyright Information has The Basics of Copyright – Registration and Duration

PhotoShelter has Top 10 Ways to Piss Off a Photographer

PDN has LA Photographer Cleared of Criminal Charges

Your Photo Tips has Today’s Top 100 Photographers on Twitter – Thanks Damien for including me as # 68 on the list

Mark Dubovoy has Photographing Waterfalls on the Luminous Landscape site.

Flower, Gardening and Plant Links

National Parks Traveler has Craters of the Moon National Monument Offers Wildflower Walks in June

National Park & National Wildlife Refuge Links

Christian Science Monitor has Ex-Rangers Ride to the Rescue of World’s National Parks

National Parks Traveler has List of Top 10 Endangered Rivers Includes 2 That Flow through the NPS System,

Florida Today has Merritt Island Refuge May be Best For Oil-Tainted Wildlife

Wildlife Links

The Miami Herald has Crist signs Fla Python ban

Boston.com has Caught in the Oil – very disturbing photos of wildlife caught in the gulf oil spill

The Guardian UK has the Top 50 Wildlife and Conservation Twitter Accounts

Scientific American has Extinction Countdown: Threatened Tortoises Become Tempting Target for Thieves

Refuge Watch has Second Ocelot Kitten Discovered at Laguna Atascosa NWR

BBC has Humpback Whales Form Friendships that Last Years

USA Today has Oil’s Gruesome Toll on Wildlife Slowly Emerges

Wildlife Extra News has Wild Whooping Crane Chicks Hatch at Necedah NWR

National Parks Traveler has Circumstances Force NPS to Actively Manage Wildlife