Phlox

4/28/06


4/28/06

4/28/06


4/28/06

4/28/06

Repost from April of last year, as I am beging to see them sprout with great force along the hiway from Mayflower to Conway.

I am not sure which of the many varieties of Phlox these are, however a quick photo comparison suggests "Blue Phlox" - which is odd, given that these (including the pictures of known Blue Phlox) are all purple. These are wild variety, however, I also see phlox of various hues as a vital part of Arkansas landscape gardens.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlox_divaricata

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ericales
Family: Polemoniaceae
Genus: Phlox
Species: P. divaricata

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Of note, the flower has a 5 "lobed" Corolla. The lobes are not the same a petals, in that -- if you look at the flower from the back, all five lobes are part of the same funnel shaped "mono-bloom"

Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

We happen to have one of these in our side yard, and I just now found out what it is. Thanks Joannie of the AR State Parks (and friends) for the help. As is, the Wild Black Cherry is coated in finger length floral plumes, that will soon replace berries where the individual flowers are found. The berries are supposed to edible, and good for jam, though somewhat bitter for a direct taste.
The other standout of this tree is its smell. I rather like it, but it is potent and some folks may find it overbearing.