Went to a family campout up at Lake Powhatan near Asheville NC then a few of us traveled on to Deep Creek near Bryson City NC and Cades Cove near Townsend TN. There were flowers aplenty during this week in early May. I'll start with Lake Powhatan which is in the Pisgah National Forest and is at elevation 2200 feet. I couldn't get a photo with all 3 TC and 2 tents as our sites weren't together but here we are sharing a site with my Dad.
We took a few walks around the campground and a small lake enjoying the company of family and the sight of many flowers. Here are some of the ones we saw with what I think are the names. While the Latin names don't mean much to me, I'll include them for those who are interested.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Dwarf Cinquefoil (Potentilla robbinsiana)
Common Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Common Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Halberd-leaved Violet (Viola hastate)
Violet Wood Sorrel (Oxalis montana)
Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera)
Showy Orchid (Galearis spectabilis)
Eastern Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Pink Lady's Slipper / Pink Moccassin Flower (Cypripedium acaule)
There were several large shrubs whose profuse blooms attracted a lot of bees, butterflies, moths, and other insect. I don't know the name of the bush but I was able to identify some of its visitors.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and a honey bee
Silver-spotted Skipper moth
Here are some other flowers that I couldn't identify.
And lastly, this isn't a flower but was interesting. Next to the road was a young cherry tree with it's leaves covered with what appeared to be pink insect casings. There was also a cloud of gnat-like insects swarming in the air near this tree. Any idea what they were?
