Posted in Commentary on September 1st, 2010 by Steve – Be the first to comment
I’ve noticed new signs along the trail saying “Hidden Cove Park”. I’ve also noticed these signs along the stream bed at the end of Westchester Drive, so I guess that section has been officially annexed to the park area.
That’s nice. It extends the area I have to explore for this blog into more of an open space environment, as opposed to a forest environment. I don’t think it would be correct to call it a meadow environment, since it will apparently be continuously mowed. Now I just need to figure a way to specify locations there.
Posted in Plants, Vines on August 23rd, 2010 by Steve – 1 Comment
A climbing, woody vine reaching 50 ft. long. They are sometimes seen high in a tree, as the vine climbs by means of tendrils. Claws at the end of its tendrils allow Cross Vine to cling to stone, bricks and fences without support.
It is native to southeastern North America. The common name refers to the cross-shaped pith revealed when the stem is cut. It can spread by root sprouting.
What appears to be leaves are actually a pair of leaflets, with a third leaflet in between modified into a tendril. Those three leaflets compose a single leaf. Leaves are opposite, 4–6 inches long by 2 inches wide. They are persistent, glossy, semi-evergreen and change from dark green in summer to reddish-purple in winter.
Flowers are showy, trumpet-shaped, and appear in late winter and early spring. They are orange to reddish-orange to red, 2-3 in. long and borne in clusters of 2-5. The fruits are flattened pod-like pendants 5-9 in. long.
The related Trumpet Creeper is similar, but climbs with ivy-like aerial roots instead of tendrils and blooms later in the summer. Cross Vine blossoms have a yellowish center, while Trumpet Creeper flowers are the same color on the inside and outside.
Locations
- Right around W1, both to the east and west.
- About 17 yards west of M1, climbing the trunk of a large Box Elder
References
Posted in Plants, Vines on August 17th, 2010 by Steve – 1 Comment
Also known as Trumpet Vine and Cow-Itch, because it can be irritating to the skin if handled.
A large and fast-growing woody vine, notable for its showy trumpet-shaped flowers. It is native to woodlands of the southeastern United States. It is vigorous and can be invasive. It spreads by seeds which easily germinate, and also by underground runners.
It can be high-climbing, but it needs the support of a tree or other structure. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets, which, like English Ivy, can damage wood, stone, and brick. It may develop a woody trunk of 2-6 inches in diameter.
Leaves
It has distinctive compound leaves, 4-12 inches long, that cover the vine in a dense cloak of bright green foliage. They are composed of 7-15 oval leaflets that have serrated edges and are 1-4 inches long. The leaves are emerald green when new, maturing into a dark green.
Flowers
Flowers come in a cluster of 4–12 blossoms, orange to red on the outside and yellowish on the inside. They are very attractive to hummingbirds, but they need to be at least 3 years old before they bloom. The flowers are followed by large seed pods. As these mature, they dry and split. Hundreds of thin, brown, paper-like seeds are released.
The blossom looks very similar to those of Cross Vine, but the Cross Vine does not have a yellowish throat.
-
-
-
-
-
-
You can barely see some blossoms
Locations
This grows best in sunny areas. You can find it near the western stairs and also right around W1.
References
Posted in Commentary on August 16th, 2010 by Steve – 1 Comment
I had the good fortune to be contacted by Eli Dickerson, from Fernbank Museum, a few days ago. He had heard about this blog, read some of my posts, and contacted me to offer encouragement and support. He also verified that the mislabeled Long-leaf Pine in the cove is in fact a Loblolly Pine.
He and I took a walk along the path and he gave me much good information, particularly about vines that are found there. I’ll be posting about them in the next few days.
If you have any questions regarding trees, shrubs, vines or whatever, or if you would like Eli to give a talk to your group or a class, do contact him. In his own words:
“Feel free to list my name and contact information on your website. I’m always happy to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with others!”
Eli also runs a blog called Urban Hiking Atlanta, which you might enjoy.
Email: eli.dickerson at fernbankmuseum.org
Posted in Plants, Trees on July 20th, 2010 by Steve – Be the first to comment
This tree turned out to have many interesting points to it, pun intended. It is native from the Ozarks to southern Appalachia and into North Georgia, but it is widely planted and naturalized around the world in temperate zones. It is sometimes considered invasive. It often spreads by underground shoots or by sprouting from a stump.
It is classified as a member of the pea family, and like other plants in this family, it is legumous. This means it extracts nitrogen from the air and fixes it into the soil, thereby enriching the soil and allowing the tree to grow in poor soil. It also has a pod that contains rather large seeds. This tree gets its common name, “Black”, from the color of the pod. Supposedly the group of Locust trees got their common name from a Jesuit priest who named it so because of its thorns. However, the thorn tree from the New Testament was an Old World tree.
It can be up to about 70 feet tall with a trunk of 3-4 feet, but all examples in Hidden Cove are much smaller.
Leaves are easy to recognize; they are large, bright green, compound pinnate with rounds tips. Leaflets fold together at night and in wet weather. Each leaf has a pair of thorns where it attaches to the twig. On younger nodes the thorns are rather small, but on older nodes they are significant and potentially dangerous.
Flowers are small, but grow in a large droopy cluster. They are very fragrant, making the tree a good honey plant in eastern US. However, the blooming period is also short and they don’t always get pollinated
Wood is very hard and resistant to rot, making it suitable for fence posts and small watercraft. It is also favored for xylophone keys.
Locations
- A seedling near the eastern steps
- A tall but slender one about 30 yards west of the western steps, on the northern split
- Some about 5 yards east of W1
- A tiny grove right across the street from W1
References
Posted in Plants, Trees on July 16th, 2010 by Steve – Be the first to comment
This tree is widespread in Eastern United States and common in Hidden Cove. It is medium sized, up to about 60 ft. tall and 2 ft. in diameter, but most in Hidden Cove are small to tiny. It grows quickly.
The leaves of a mature tree are oval, 3-5 inches long and almost as wide. They have three main veins and a serrate margin. Younger trees may have leaves with two or three lobes. The upper surface of the leaves is noticeably rough, similar in texture to fine sandpaper. The underside of the leaves is covered with soft hairs.
The fruit is red when ripening and resembles a blackberry. It is edible and very sweet with a good flavor. People, birds and mammals enjoy the fruit.
The wood is durable in contact with the soil and has been used for fence posts.
-
-
Lobed leaves on a young tree
-
-
Showing 3 main veins
-
-
-
A small tree
-
-
A small tree
Locations
- A large one a few steps east of O
- Many small ones between O and B4
- A large one 25 yards east of M1
- A large one on the northern split, about 20 yards west of the western steps
- A few right at W1
Reference
Posted in Animals, Insects on July 15th, 2010 by Steve – Be the first to comment
This is a cute little flying insect that I’ve been noticing a lot recently. It turns out that it can be seen between March and October around here. It looks similar to a dragonfly, but it’s actually a damselfly. Dragonflies hold their wings perpendicular to their bodies when at rest, while damselflies fold their wings back parallel to their bodies. Also, dragonflies are very good fliers, but damselflies tend to flutter, more like butterflies. They can be seen along the creek bed or resting on plants in sunny locations. You can get quite close to them if you move slowly. The wings of males are all black, but the females have a white dot on the tip of their wings. They prey on other small insects.
Female
Location
Along the stream bed and in sunny spots along the path.
References
Posted in Plants, Trees on July 14th, 2010 by Steve – Be the first to comment
This is a species of birch that is native to the eastern US, and as you can guess, grows well near rivers or in areas with damp soil.
The distinctive bark can be shades of gray, brown and pink, and peels off in papery scales. It’s popular as an ornamental tree.
The leaves are small, only 1½ to 3 inches long, and have doubly saw-toothed edges. You’ll notice 7-12 pairs of parallel veins.
Locations
- Two growing just a few steps east of C
- One next to the stream near the swings
References
Posted in Plants, Shrubs, Trees on July 10th, 2010 by Steve – Be the first to comment
Shrubs or small trees that form colonies from root sprouts, reaching heights of about 30 ft, diameter of about 8 inches. It is native to North America.
The fruit is a large edible berry, up to about 6 inches and resembling a banana. It has a flavor somewhat similar to both banana and mango. The fruits are quite popular, but the shelf life of the ripe fruit is almost non-existent, for it soon ripens to the point of fermentation. The name comes from the word for Papaya in another language, but the two are not related.
Pawpaw flowers are insect-pollinated, but fruit production is limited since few if any pollinators are attracted to the flower’s faint, or sometimes non-existent scent. The flowers are deep red.
The fruit has some recognition as an alternative cancer treatment, because of its high amino acids content.
Locations
- 20 yds. west of M1 (behind a larger tree)
- 40 yds. east of M1
- 5 yds. east of P
References
Posted in Plants, Trees on July 9th, 2010 by Steve – Be the first to comment
One of the most beautiful trees in Hidden Cove, I think, is the Silver Maple growing near the playground areas. There is also a very small one growing just a few steps west, but almost hidden in shrubbery. I’ve noticed two other Silver Maples in the neighborhood.
This species of maple is native to eastern United States. It is one of the most common trees in the United States, although Atlanta seems to be at the southern edge of the range.
Height of 50–80 ft. Its spread will generally be 35–50 ft wide.
The leaves are dark green on the top and very pale green (almost silver) on the bottom. The slender stalks of the leaves mean that even a light breeze can produce a striking effect as the silver undersides of the leaves are exposed. The autumn color is less pronounced than in many maples, generally ending up a pale yellow. Some specimens can simply drop their leaves while still green as well.
Silver maple is the first of the maples to bloom in North America, beginning as early as February and extending into May. The winged seeds are the largest of any of the native maple. They are produced in great abundance annually, providing many birds and small mammals with food.
Location
References:
