Bridgestone-Firestone Wildflower Hike

This weekend I went on wildflower hike led by Bart Jones at Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness Wildlife Management Area and Virgin Falls State Natural Area in Tennessee.The trip was an absolute blast! I learned the names of thirteen species of ferns, saw birdfoot violets for the first time, and loved meeting fellow wildflower enthusiasts! Here are a few of my favorite flower photos from the hike!

Rhododenron canescens (mountain azalea, Piedmont azalea) on Virgin Falls Trail

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root) along Virgin Falls Trail

The delicate, green flowers of Indian cucumber root are easy to miss. The flowers are only about a third of an inch long!

Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root) along Virgin Falls Trail

Viola pedata (birdfoot violet) at Polly Branch Falls Trailhead

My first birdfoot violets! The plant gets its name from the feathery leaves.

Uvularia perfoliata (perfoliate bellwort) along Polly Branch Falls Trail

Cypripedium acaule (pink lady's slipper) along Polly Branch Falls Trail

I saved the best for last! The lady’s slippers were spectacular. I had never seen such dense patches in my life!

Here are some cool facts I learned about orchids:

• All orchids take at least seven years to flower.

• The dust-like seeds and are capable of traveling great distances on the wind.

• Orchid seeds have no endosperm and rely on symbiotic relationship with a fungus to survive. You can read more about it here!

• The lines along the petals guide pollinators (bees) inside the flower to the pollen.

• Lady’s slippers grow in acidic soils with a pH below six. Pine straw plays a very important role in the soil composition.

• Lady’s slippers are also commonly known as “moccasin flowers.”