Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 18th, 2015 (Part 2)

August 18th. (Continued from…). I started to walk again at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, Georgia. One of my favorite walks is from the Group Shelter A to the Old Fort and back.This is a rewarding walk for viewing wildflowers and I’ve This is a rewarding walk for viewing wildflowers and I’ve been walking it every week and documenting the wildflowers that I see.

The route, which I described here, here, and here.

The early spring wildflowers have finished blooming; it’s time to watch the developing fruit. Summer wildflowers were still blooming but it was time to turn attention to the fungi in the woods.

The fruit on the Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) were unchanged from the previous week. But I got a surprise while I was looking at the bush; three surprises to be precise.

A Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis), a…

Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis), and a…

Black and Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) were all hunting in their own ‘corner’ of the bush.

I was surprised to see a Common Button Lichen (Buellia erubescens) fruiting on a tree near the ‘Rock Garden;’ it seemed a little early for lichens to be fruiting.

The seed capsules on the Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) had lightened in color. They weren’t turning brown but it was possible to see the outline of the seeds in the capsule.

The Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) was still green after the recent rain.

The fruit on the Eastern Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) in the Rock Garden had turned completely brown - finally.

It’s unusual to find Hairy Elephantfoot (Elephantopus tomentosus) in this section of the woods but I found one blooming there.

Periodically, after rains, I had found Snow Fungus (Tremella fuciformis) on several logs between the end of the Rock Garden trail and the open area below the Old Fort.

This was a ‘first.’ I wasn’t used to seeing Witch’s Butter (Tremella mesenterica) on this trail. This was a particularly beautiful specimen. Even more interesting was the ‘powdery’ surface on a section that was indicative of sporing; I’d never seen this before.

I walked down to the Swamp Rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos). In the dry weather, the capsules were open. On this visit, the…

 

capsules had ‘closed,’ apparently against the wet weather.

Groundnut (Apios americana) vines were still blooming next to the rosemallow bush.

Along the lake shore between the rosemallow and the woods, I found…

Water Hemlock (Circuta maculata), and…

Bushy Seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia) blooming.

The final find on this walk was particularly exciting. I had read about these fungi but never thought I’d see one. This is the Golden Reishi (Ganoderma curtisii) – thanks to Matt Schink in the Facebook Mushroom Identification Forum for this identification - that is associated with hardwoods, and distributed mainly in the Southeastern United States.

As with many other walks on this trail; when I think I’ve seen everything, I see something new and exciting.

Related posts 

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 10th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 10th, 2015 (Part 2) 

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 10th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 3rd, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 3rd, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 27th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 27th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 20th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 20th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 13th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 13th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 6th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 6th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort,June 29th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort,June 29th, 2015 (Part 1) 

- Orange Sponge Polypore (Pycnoporellus alboluteus)? 

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 22nd, 2015 (Part 2) 

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 22nd, 2015 (Part 1)  

- Black Chanterelle (Craterellus cornucopioides)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 15th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 15th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 8th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The OldFort, June 8th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 3rd, 2015 

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 26th, 2015 (Part 2) 

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 26th, 2015 (Part 1) 

- Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 18th, 2015 (Part 2) 

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 18th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 11th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 11th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 6th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 6th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 30th April, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 30th April, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 22nd April, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 22nd April, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 16th April, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 16th April, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 10th April, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 10th April, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 4th April, 2015 (Part 2)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 4th April, 2015 (Part 1)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 26th March, 2015 (Part 2)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 26th March, 2015 (Part 1)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 20th March, 2015 (Part 2)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 20th March, 2015 (Part 1)

Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 18th, 2015 (Part 1)

August 18th. I started to walk again at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, Georgia. One of my favorite walks is from the Group Shelter A to the Old Fort and back.This is a rewarding walk for viewing wildflowers and I’ve been trying to walk it weekly and document the wildflowers I see.

The route, which I described here, here, and here.

The early spring wildflowers have finished blooming; it’s time to watch the developing fruit. Summer wildflowers were still blooming but it was time to turn attention to the fungi in the woods.

It had been raining and not the best day for photographing. The rain did, however, brighten the colors of some of the…

small bracket fungi on fallen logs in the first open section of woods.

Flowering Spurges (Euphorbia corollata) were still blooming and a bright spot in the wet, gloomy day.

After seeing some pink color on the Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus) fruit the previous week, I had been hopeful that they would be showing more color on this walk, but they were just the same.

I’d been following the developing fruit on the Hazel Alders (Alnus serrulata) at the Fishing Area but the bushes had been cut back. I found some more just beyond the Strawberry Bush.

The Virginia Meadowbeauty (Rhexia virginica) was also still blooming by the water’s edge.

I was surprised to see a Starry Rosinweed (Silphium astericus) flower after they seemed to have finished for the season.

Small Wood Sunflower (Helianthus microcephalis) plants were still blooming along the trail.

A few Hairy Elephantfoot (Elephantopus tomentosus) and…

A few St. Andrew’s Cross (Hypericum hypericioides) plants were also blooming in the shade.

The Leatherleaf Clematis (Clematis terniflora) vines were still blooming in the open area under the power line, as were the…

Groundnut (Apios americana) vines.

Both the Pigeonwings (Clitoria mariana) and…

Spurred Butterflypea (Centrosema virginianum) vines were also blooming in this area.

In spite of the misty weather, the woods were enticing.

The berries on the Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) plant, in the woods just before the first bridge, were just the same as they had been the previous week.

The Pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata) seed capsules were still green; they showed no sign of ripening yet.

I found another small bracket fungus on a fallen log just beyond the first bridge. 

I crossed the bridge and continued along the trail.

The fruit on the ‘first’ Eastern Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) had turned completely black. I wondered how long it would remain attached to the bush before it fell; I’ve read that they can hang on into winter.

The seed capsules of the Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) was also unchanged.

The seed capsules on the witchhazel bush (Hamamelis sp.) still showed no sign of ripening; the…

the flower buds developing for this season also remained unchanged from the previous week

The fruit on the second Eastern Sweetshrub was still yellow; it wasn’t showing any signs of turning brown. 

From here, I walked on down to the Fishing Area. 

(To be continued…)

Related posts: 

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 10th, 2015 (Part 2) 

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 10th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 3rd, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, August 3rd, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 27th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 27th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 20th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 20th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 13th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 13th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 6th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, July 6th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort,June 29th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort,June 29th, 2015 (Part 1) 

- Orange Sponge Polypore (Pycnoporellus alboluteus)? 

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 22nd, 2015 (Part 2) 

- Summer At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 22nd, 2015 (Part 1)  

- Black Chanterelle (Craterellus cornucopioides)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 15th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 15th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 8th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The OldFort, June 8th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, June 3rd, 2015 

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 26th, 2015 (Part 2) 

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 26th, 2015 (Part 1) 

- Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 18th, 2015 (Part 2) 

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 18th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 11th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 11th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 6th, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, May 6th, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 30th April, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 30th April, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 22nd April, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 22nd April, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 16th April, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 16th April, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 10th April, 2015 (Part 2)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 10th April, 2015 (Part 1)

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 4th April, 2015 (Part 2)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 4th April, 2015 (Part 1)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 26th March, 2015 (Part 2)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 26th March, 2015 (Part 1)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 20th March, 2015 (Part 2)  

- Spring Walk At Fort Yargo State Park: Shelter A To The Old Fort, 20th March, 2015 (Part 1)

Southern Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum)

August 13^th. I was wandering along the trail on the ledge above our creek photographing fungi. I sat down by a fallen branch to photograph some brackets. I was concentrating so intently that I almost missed the…

fern that blended in with the greenery around it.

The leaves told me it was the Southern Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum).

Closer views of the sporangia (spore packets). 

These ferns have a single sterile frond and a single fertile frond that bears the sporangia (spore packets). The sterile frond is divided into three segments on each side of the stem; the margins of the segments are serrulate. 

The fronds are joined at the base, sometimes below ground level, and sometimes just above ground level.

In this case, they were joined just above ground level.

On September 6^th, the sporangia were ripening and becoming brown in color. Hopefully, we may have more ferns grow in this area.

References: 

- Georgia Native Plant Society. Southern grape fern (Botrychium biternatum) 

- Native & Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas & Georgia: Southern Grapefern (Botrychium biternatum)