Anderson Mill Creek Swamp, Wilkes County, Georgia: Wildflowers (Part 1)

September 17th, 2011. There are a couple of swamps on Enoch John Road in Wilkes County, Georgia. The eastern swamp is on a tributary to Fishing Creek; the western swamp is on Anderson Mill Creek. Every time we’re in the area, we drive along this road.

Enoch John Road is a graveled dirt road and often covered with water at the western approach to the bridge over the Anderson Mill Creek swamp. It’s been so dry this summer that there are few wildflowers blooming in our area so we didn’t expect much when we drove through a week ago but we were in for a surprise…

Looking south from the bridge over the swamp

Looking north from the bridge over the swamp.

Looking east from the north side of the bridge over the swamp.

The bridge over the swamp. There’s little traffic on this road so, often, we can park on the bridge. There is an area to park at the east end of the road over the swamp. W is photographing dragonflies. There were quite a few Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis) around the bridge.

Mikania scandens (Climbing Hempvine) was growing in several places by the swamp and was covering several shrubs on the north side of the road

A close up of Mikania scandens (Climbing Hempvine) flowers

Murdannia keisak (Wartremoving Herb) was growing along the south side of the road. When it’s not blooming, Murdannia keisak looks like a broad-leaved grass so it can be a surprise to see these delicate flowers in late summer.

I think this is Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. hexapetala (Common Water-primrose). A few small bushes were growing on the north side of the road.

Verbena brasiliensis (Brazilian vervain) was growing in the south side of the road to the west of the bridge.

Continued at: Anderson Mill Creek Swamp, Wilkes County, Georgia: Wildflowers (Part 2)
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Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Mikania scandens (Climbing Hempvine)
- Alabama Plants: Murdannia keisak (Wartremoving Herb)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. hexapetala (Common Water-primrose)
- Southeastern Flora: Verbena brasiliensis (Brazilian vervain)

Related post:
- 2010: Year of the Wildflower
- Anderson Mill Creek Swamp, Wilkes County, Georgia: Wildflowers (Part 2)