We had noticed white flowers that we couldn't recognize while driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mt. Mitchell. When we saw several of them on the walk up to the top, we took their photos, and then asked a Park Ranger what they were. Yay, he knew!
Snakeroot has no real petals to speak of.
Little white blobs in a cluster with fernlike leaves is Yarrow.
Clusters of blobs on reddish stems are Hairy Angelica
Another trail that comes off the one going to the top of the mountain, Balsam Nature Trail, goes down through the woods.
I have taken this trail several years ago, but we elected to skip it this trip. Another side trail along it goes to Balsam Spring, which is probably completely covered with vegetation this time of year.
It does say in one sentence that the twisted dead trunks of Frasier Fir have fallen prey to an aphid infestation. I think they sure are downplaying the infestation which is killing so many trees.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
White woolly egg masses
Photo: Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station,
Bugwood.org
HWA adults at the base of needles
Photo: Mark Whitmore, Cornell University
"Native to Asia, the hemlock woolly adelgid, or HWA, is an invasive,
aphid-like insect that attacks North American hemlocks. HWA are very
small (1.5 mm) and often hard to see, but they can be easily identified
by the white woolly masses they form on the underside of branches at the
base of the needles.
How HWA Damage Hemlock Trees
Juvenile HWA, known as crawlers, search for suitable sites on the
host tree, usually at the base of the needles. They insert their long
mouthparts and begin feeding on the tree's stored starches. HWA remain
in the same spot for the rest of their lives, continually feeding and
developing into adults. Their feeding severely damages the canopy of the
host tree by disrupting the flow of nutrients to its twigs and needles.
Tree health declines, and mortality usually occurs within 4 to 10
years.
Close-up view of HWA ovisacs and a juvenile HWA
on a hemlock branch
Photo: Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation
and Natural Resources - Forestry, Bugwood.org
All species of hemlock are vulnerable to attack, but severe damage and death typically occurs in eastern (
Tsuga canadensis) and Carolina (
Tsuga caroliniana) hemlocks only..." within 4-10 years of infestation. Source:
.dec.ny.gov/animals
I'm really enjoying your blog! We have a home in Asheville so I've been many of the places you've shared. I'll keep looking at your other posts to get to know you! And I'm anxious to keep up with you now! I love the mountains!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting stuff. It seems that many sorts of trees are under attack from various pests at the moment. Yarrow I know, though the others would have defeated me.
ReplyDelete...I've bee to Mt Mitchell, but it's been a while. Woolly Adelgid is a serious problem here. I had thought that only the Canadian Hemlock and not Carolina Hemlock was attacked.
ReplyDeletePretty shots!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos! I love your header photo, it's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my blog.
Have a fantastic weekend.
Lavender - Glad to have heard back from you, and I enjoyed reading your bog today too!
ReplyDeleteJohn - It is sad to actually have better views because so many trees have died. But the state is planting more conifers to make up for the dead ones.
Tom - I had the other attitude, not knowing Canadaian Hemlock was also being effected. It's not pretty.
William - Thank you.
Bill - Thanks, I think we get some beautiful blue skies, which I call Carolina Blue. Thanks for coming over to check out my blog too!
Great post and thank you so much Barbara for reading my blog. It means so much too me! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteGlad you could stop over here, and comment too! I've enjoyed reading about your family journeys this summer. Looking forward to whatever comes next!
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