Field Trip Report: Springtime Stroll Through Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve
By Margaret Sirois
On Saturday April 13th, a small group of us made the long drive to Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve in Modoc, SC. We met up in Clinton where five kindred souls piled into Dan Whitten’s truck for the hour and a half ride. The trail was an easy two-mile walk, but not, of course, a quick one for a group traveling at a naturalist’s pace!
Interesting finds included:
Southern Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), which had a handful of flowers left for us to admire.
Southern Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)
Photo Credit: Janie Marlow, namethatplant.net
We later saw its kin, sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), sparkling in the sun.
Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)
Photo Credit: Patrick McMillan
Florida gooseberry AKA Miccosukee Gooseberry (Ribes echinellum). Found only in two places on this Earth: Lake Miccosukee, Florida and Stevens Creek!
Florida gooseberry (Ribes echinellum)
Photo Credit: Margaret Sirois
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea). I will be looking more closely on wildflower walks for ten or more primary rays and the central flower of each umbellet, which is usually on a very short stalk or stalkless.
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)
Photo Credit: Stephan Bloodworth, wildflower.org
Preacher John (Arisaema quinatum). This variety appears five-leaved whereas the Jack-in-the-Pulpits (Arisaema triphyllum) have three.
Preacher John (Arisaema quinatum)
Photo Credit: Margaret Sirois
A very large Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) tree. Hmmm… could it be a champion?
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
Photo Credit: L. Dunal, wildflower.org
Phacelia dubia and Nemophila aphylla.
Phacelia dubia
Photo Credit: Janie Marlow, namethatplant.net
Nemophila aphylla
Photo Credit: Janie Marlow, namethatplant.net
You may be aware that Stevens Creek is famed for its Shooting Stars (Primula meadia). They were a week or more past prime, but we spotted one lovely specimen.
Shooting stars (Primula meadia)
Photo Credit: Bill Sharpton, namethatplant.net
Note to self: try for a late March visit to Stevens Creek.