Luna Moth (Actias luna) At Station Cove

April 2^nd, 2014. Sighting a Luna Moth (Actias luna) was a bonus while hiking the Cove Falls trail. 

The moth was clinging to a small stem.

It was a female. (Compare the antennae of the female with those of the male).

Judging by the size of the abdomen, this female emerged from the pupa not too long before I spotted it. She will excrete much of the fluid before she is ready to fly.

It’s unusual to find Luna moths in the Spring. They are much more common in the Fall so this was a lucky sighting

 

Related posts:

- Wildflowers at Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls (Part 2) 

- Wildflowers at Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls (Part 1)  
- Oconee Station Historic Site andStation Cove Falls 
- Another Luna Moth  
- Luna Moth (Actias luna)

Wildflowers At Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls (Part 2)

April 2^nd, 2014. Continued from Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls: Wildflowers (Part 1). We made a short trip over to Devil’s Fork State Park, South Carolina in search of Shortia galacifolia (Oconee Bells, Southern Shortia) and Monotropsis odorata (Pygmy Pipes, Appalachian Pygmy Pipes, Sweet Pinesap). While we were there we made a side trip to Oconee Station Historic Site and the Station Cove Falls. 

Map of the trails from the Oconee Station Historic Site to the falls. We parked at the historic site and walked down to the pond. The main trail stays on the highway side of the pond and follows the creek up to the highway. Although the map shows a trail around the pond, it is quite primitive. It was late in the day so we decided to hike to the falls the following morning. 

The vegetation changed about half-way along the trail. It was moister than the first part of the trail. 

There were several large areas covered with Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum). 

Some had buds that will develop white flowers

There were clusters of these plants standing by themselves and among the Mayapples. I knew I should know what they were, but it wasn’t until I saw the Perfoliate Bellwort that I realized they were Sessileleaf Bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia) that will produce flowers like these (photographed by Hugh Nourse).  

Halberd-leaf Yellow Violets (Viola hastata) were blooming along the bank beside the trail. 

Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)  

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia). Most were still in bud but a couple had opened flowers. 

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia). This was the first Wood Anemone I had seen, and the only one I saw along the trail. 

A promise of dwarf iris blooms to come. My guess is the Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) although they could be the Dwarf Iris (Iris verna). 

Lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) were just starting to bud at the very edge of the trail. We saw these in full bloom at Boggs Creek.  

I think this might be Spotted Mandarin (Prosartes maculata) that will produce flowers like these (photographed by Hugh Nourse in North Carolina). Another guess. This plant, and I only found one,  was growing quite near to the crossing to the final approach to Station Falls. It’s not been officially documented in South Carolina but occurs in surrounding states.

On the final approach to Station Cove Falls looking back to the crossing over Station Creek. The vegetation here was different from the drier areas along the trail on the other side of the creek. There were Mayapples which we had seen earlier on the trail but then several plants that appeared to be unique here.

Canadian white violet (Viola canadensis). Some are visible in the photo above but they carpeted the area to the left of the trail moving towards the falls.

The area to the right of the path was covered with Mayapples. Among the Mayapples the ground was covered with Sharplobe Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. acuta) plants. They had finished blooming for the season.  The flowers are similar to those of the Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa). 

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides). The final gem on the trail was a single Blue Cohosh, and in bloom.

This is a rich botanical area for Spring wildflowers that would require several trips at different times to fully appreciate the variety of flowers that could be viewed.

Related posts:  

- Wildflowers at Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls (Part 1) 

- Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls  

- Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia) 

- Pygmypipes, Appalachian Pygmy Pipes,Sweep Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata)

Wildflowers at Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls (Part 1)

April 2^nd, 2014. We made a short trip over to Devil’s Fork State Park, South Carolina in search of Shortia galacifolia (Oconee Bells, Southern Shortia) and Monotropsis odorata (Pygmy Pipes, Appalachian Pygmy Pipes, Sweet Pinesap). While we were there we made a side trip to Oconee Station Historic Site and the Station Cove Falls. 

Map of the trails from the Oconee Station Historic Site to the falls. We parked at the historic site and walked down to the pond. The main trail stays on the highway side of the pond and follows the creek up to the highway. Although the map shows a trail around the pond, it is quite primitive. It was late in the day so we decided to hike to the falls the following morning.  

The only wildflower we found at the pond were patches of Bird's-foot Violets (Viola pedata) and these were along the dam. 

To reach Station Cove Falls, we parked on the highway where the trail from the Oconee Station Historic Site crosses the road. The main trail connects the historic site to Oconee State Park which is about 3-1/2 miles from the highway and is intended for hiking and mountain biking. It’s wide and easy hiking. Logs have been embedded in some short sections to stabilize the trail where puddles would form after rain. The trail initially descends from the highway and then follows a contour along the hillside until it crosses the valley along the creek, periodically crossing tributaries to the creek. The area is an open, deciduous forest that is relatively dry until the area In the immediate vicinity of the falls which is much more humid.

We were surprised by the number of Little Sweet Betsy trilliums (Trillium cuneatum) that we found along the first half of the trail. 

Among these was an unusual ‘double’ variant with two sets of leaves and flowers. 

We also saw an unusually large number of ‘yellow’ variant Little Sweet Betsy trilliums – on the left side of this cluster of flowers. 

Closer views of one of these variants. 

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). This is the first time that I have seen Bloodroot in bloom. These were a little past their best but still impressive. The leaf is visible to the right of the bloom and with grow larger with time.

Some Bloodroot plants had finished blooming and seedpods were developing.  

There were a few clumps of the Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia). 

We found a single cluster of Virginia Pennyroyal (Obolaria virginica) plants in bloom. This is the first time I’ve seen this wildflower. 

Robin’s Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) plants were beginning to bloom. 

We were surprised to find Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) blooming in full sunshine by the side of the trail. Usually we have seen these in sheltered areas. We found several more plants in open areas.  

Closer views of this flower. 

Perfoliate Bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata). This was the only plant of this species that we saw on the trail. It was blooming a short distance from the Jack-in-the-pulpit. 

Continued at: Wildflowers At Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls (Part 2) 

Related posts:

- Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls 

- Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia)  

- Pygmypipes, Appalachian Pygmy Pipes, Sweep Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata)

Oconee Station Historic Site and Station Cove Falls

April 2^nd, 2014. We made a short trip over to Devil’s Fork State Park, South Carolina in search of Shortia galacifolia (Oconee Bells, Southern Shortia) and Monotropsis odorata (Pygmy Pipes, Appalachian Pygmy Pipes, Sweet Pinesap). While we were there we made a side trip to Oconee Station Historic Site and the Station Cove Falls. 

Map of the trails from the Oconee Station Historic Site to the falls. 

We parked at the historic site and walked down to the pond. The main trail stays on the highway side of the pond and follows the creek up to the highway. Although the map shows a trail around the pond, it is quite primitive. It was late in the day so we decided to hike to the falls the following morning. 

We parked on the highway where the trail crosses the road. The main trail connects the historic site to Oconee State Park which is about 3-1/2 miles from the highway. 

The trail is intended for hiking and mountain biking. It’s wide and easy hiking. Logs have been embedded in some short sections to stabilize the trail where puddles would form after rain. The trail initially descends from the highway and then follows a contour along the hillside until it crosses the valley along the creek, periodically crossing tributaries to the creek.

The trail.

An overlook of a swampy section of Station Creek. Many American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) were calling.

The trail passes through a deciduous forest which was very open in early April; it will be much more shaded when the trees leaf out.

Yellow ‘I’s mark the trail connecting the historic site to Oconee State Park.

The trail to the falls leaves the main trail just after it leaves the historic site property and enters the Sumter National Forest, marked by the red blaze on a nearby tree.

Looking back to the ‘entrance’ to the Station Cove Falls trail. This trail is not opened to mountain biking.

Looking upstream along one of the larger tributaries to Station Creek.

Station Creek not far below the falls.

An impressive gall on a tall tree along the trail not far from the falls. 

Looking back, just after descending to, and crossing Station Creek on the final approach to the falls. 

The trail on the final approach to the falls 

Station Cove Falls. The falls are about 60 feet high. 

This is a relatively easy hike approximately 1 mile in length from the highway and worth the effort for the scenery and for the Spring wildflowers (to follow).

Related posts: 

- Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia) 

- Pygmypipes, Appalachian Pygmy Pipes, Sweep Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata)