Wildflowers: Coopers Creek Wildlife Management Area, Part I

September 1st, 2012. It was the Labor Day (US) holiday weekend so we took the opportunity to make an overnight trip into the Chattahoochee National Forest. After leaving Dockery Lake, we drove further up GA-60 to the Coopers Creek Wildlife Management Area. There was a seep somewhere uphill of the turn-off that created a permanent flow of water beside the road. We found quite a variety of wildflowers just at the turn-off onto Cooper Creek Road.

Trifolium pratense (Red Clover)

Red clover is still a favorite with its delicately colored florets. It was growing by the road in many areas.

Eutrichium fistulosum (Trumpetweed, Joe Pye Weed, Hollow-stem Joe Pye Weed)

These plants were 8 to 9 feet tall and common along roadsides in the area

Several plants were blooming beside a power pole by the road opposite from the seeps stream

A closer view

Lobelia puberula (Downy Lobelia, Hairy Lobelia)

These plants seem to have been ubiquitous along roadsides for the last couple of months.

The flower stem

Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset, Boneset)

We found a few of these plants; they were about 3 to 4 feet tall

The flowers

The perfoliate leaves  that make identification easy

Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed, Spotted Jewelweed, Spotted Touch-me-not, Orange Jewelweed, Orange Touch-me-not)

These were impressive plants about 6 feet tall

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Impatiens capensis was common along roadsides in many areas

Lycopus virginicus (Virginia Water Horehound)

These were short plants, about 2 feet tall. It would be easy to overlook them

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These plants were growing near a seep by the roadside

Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed)

These plants were also enjoying the moisture. They were about 6 to 7 feet tall.

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Representative flowers

This small crab spider was lying in wait for an unsuspecting insect to come too close.

Next: More wildflowers in the Coopers Creek Wildlife Management Area

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Identification resources:

Southeastern Flora:

- Eutrichium fistulosum (Joe Pye Weed)

- Lobeliapuberula (Downy Lobelia)

- Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed)

Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia:

- Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset)

- Lycopus virginicus (Virginia Water Horehound)

- Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed)

   
Illinois Wildflowers: Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset)

Distribution:

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: 

- Trifolium pratense (Red Clover

- Eutrichium fistulosum (Trumpetweed)

- Lobeliapuberula (Downy Lobelia)

- Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset)

- Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed)

- Lycopus virginicus (Virginia Water Horehound)

- Vernonia noveboracensis (New York Ironweed)