The Nickajack Naturalist

Spring at Sewanee's Shakerag Hollow

  On April 13, Kim and I visited Sewanee's Shakerag Hollow, famous for its spring wildlflower display. Located on the domain of the University of the South, the hollow is traversed by the Perimeter Trail and can be accessed from the stone gate university entrance on U.S. Hwy. 41A, or from the overlook parking area at Green's View.  See a post about last spring's visit here.

  Here are a few of the photos I took on this latest visit.  While the timing and extent of the peak display varies year to year, it averages mid-April, and this spring's seemed to be one of the better ones.  I don't know my plants as well as I should, but I've labeled these according to my best determination based on my trusty Audubon wildflower guide.

Large flowered trillium  Trillium grandiflorum

The roots were gathered and chewed by Native Americans for a number of medicinal puposes.

Purple trillium    Trillium erectum    Also known as Stinking Benjamin

Spring larkspur    Delphinium tricorne

Contains a harmful alkloid that frequently poisons grazing cattle.

Wood poppy    Stylophorum diphyllum

Considered a good choice for wildflower gardens.

I've yet to determine just what these flowers are.  They're quite prolific in places like Shakerag Hollow, and prefer to grow in beds atop large boulders like this one.  If anyone knows what they are, feel free to comment.

May apple    Podophyllum peltatum

May apples, which are also known by a variety of other names, grow in several large "groves" like this in Shakerag Hollow.  They bloom in April to May, then grow crab apple size fruits which ripen in early summer.  To learn more about the May apple and its medicinal and other uses, visit altnature.com.

Kim passes the big boulder by the trail.

One of the mountain streams the trail crosses.

Green's View Overlook, where we accessed Shakerag Hollow.

Click here to see a map of the Sewanee hiking trails.  Shakerag Hollow is in the upper right area of the map.

Bob Butters                                                                       All photos:  Bob Butters

Chattanooga to be First Trail Town for the Great Eastern Trail

                                                                           From Get Out Chattanooga

  On April 28, Chattanooga will make hiking history as it is named the "First Trail Town" for the Great Eastern Trail, America's newest long distance trail that spans from Alabama to New York.    Read more.

Click here for a detailed description of the April 27 - 28 ceremony and events in Chattanooga, as well as the trail's route through the local area. 

Chattanooga as viewed from Stringer's Ridge.                          Photo:  Bob Butters                                                                  

The Kimball Park Project--2013__April 20

  What a difference a month can make!  Sometime since last month's visit, Spring has arrived in full force.  Click here to compare the March 20 issue.  View January's introductory post here.  

The Pond:  While I couldn't get close enough for a better look, I couldn't resist photographing this trio of Northern Shovelers, most likely on their migration from the Gulf or Atlantic coastal region to a summer breeding range farther north.  The Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) is considered a dabbling duck, meaning it feeds by tipping its tail up to reach food in the water, rather than by diving below the surface.  Learn more about the Northern Shoveler at the Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife website.

The vegetation around the pond is slowly greening up, but is still a ways from being at its peak.

The Tree:  The big red oak has leafed out considerably compared to a month ago, when it was primarily covered in small clumps of catkins. 

The Field:  The field of wheat on the right, adjacent to the park, is continuing to grow.  The field within the park, on the left, is getting greener on its own but has yet to be tilled or planted this year.

The Mountain:  The plateau is now covered in the multiple shades of green leaf cover typical of Spring.

The River:  As with the preceding scenes, Burns Island has greened up considerably since last month.

Random Shot--Turtle:  There were four or five of these turtles on the log at the river bank.  The instant I peered over the top of the bank, all but this one dived into the water.  I believe this is a River Cooter (Pseudenys concinna).  One of two subspecies, the Eastern River Cooter is found in all major river systems in Tennessee.  Learn more about the River Cooter at the Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife website.

Be sure to check back next month for the May installment of the Kimball Park Project--2013.

Bob Butters                                                                                                All photos:  Bob Butters

 

 

Yurt Camping Popular at Cloudland Canyon

                                                                           From Get Out Chattanooga

 Yurt camping is becoming increasingly popular.  Cloudland Canyon State Park is one of the newest parks to offer the Mongolian-style accomodations.    Read more. 

See a Jan. 28 post about the yurts at Cloudland Canyon here.