Skyblue lupine

Here is a few photos from my early to mid-March outings. I was determined to get to Washington Oaks Gardens knowing the azaleas and camellias would be out in full display and was able to get there twice. What a show! These are azaleas that are probably too big for most gardens, although there are plenty of newer types grown for their shorter stature and even reblooming.

In moving to Florida and being an avid lover of all things flora and fauna, I have been gradually learning the new plant material, so different from the conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest or the sagebrush grass steppes outside of Walla Walla. I watch a couple of YouTube channels including Gardening with Creekside (Charlotte, NC) and Horttube (Raleigh NC) to give me information on some of the plants that can grow in the South (U.S. Hardiness Zones 7-9). At least now I can recognize the plants when I visit a plant nursery now and then. Although I don’t have a garden right now, I still enjoy learning about plants.

This morning on my walk, I stumbled across the wild lupine, which surprised me. I was on a trail I hadn’t been on for a long time, Hominy Branch at Princess Place, for an assortment of reasons. The trail used to be a loop, but is now truncated at the old bridge. I guess someone has taken up residence in the old lodge that is on the island nearby. Foot traffic is blocked by signs and fences on the eastern end of the creek crossing. The loop used to be 2.5 miles, a fine hike through the woods on an old road, cross a couple of bridges, then onto a park road and then through some open woods alongside the main park access road. Still, today, I probably hiked close to 3 miles, with some mild hills up and down on sandy trail — a good workout for my calves.

When I was walking along this morning (the 17th), I spied a huge patch of lupine, Lupinus diffusa which grows in open woods and blooms in the spring… the exact plant I saw. After spotting the first patch, I found several others. The reason I was not aware of the presence of this lovely vigorous native, was the fact I wasn’t on this trail in March before. Last year there was a ton of logging in the area and the trail, what’s left of it, was closed to foot and horse travel. Then, when I originally took the trail before leaving for South Florida, I was gone before March. The lupine was a reminder of the glorious lupines of the Pacific NW, ranging from white and yellow, to shades of blue and magenta.

I didn’t see anyone on my hike, which often occurs on at least portions of my walks. I must say I am completely at ease out in the woods. There are snakes, racoons, opossums, bobcat, armadillos, feral hogs, squirrels, and an assortment of birds as the fauna. I didn’t really see anything today, but heard the birds calling. It is nesting season for the cardinals and mockingbirds.

If you’re not a resident of the area, you may wonder how I know when to visit Washington Oaks. I simply observe the local azaleas in the neighborhood gardens. Few have such huge shrubs as Washington Oaks Gardens, but still it’s an indication when the blooms have started. It is also not rose season since they were recently pruned, with the garden blocked off. As for the nature trail, it was out of commission for nearly four months after the hurricanes of 2024. Some huge trees had come down and the forest path had to be rerouted in a couple of spots. Large equipment was brought in to remove the heavier chunks of oak, an extremely dense wood. The trail is open now and is nearly 2 miles in length.

Well, that’s for today, folks, hope you enjoy the photos.

Eliza Ayres

https://sunnysjournal.com