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Flora

Little gardens beneath our feet

Cheerful faces of speedwells are a sure sign of spring. Photo by Ken Moore Signaling spring’s arrival, those blue speedwells are flowering now in many yards throughout our neighborhoods. You may even spot patches of blue in the medians as you drive around our towns on Fordham Boulevard. Full Story »
Mar 19, 2010 • Posted in: Features, Flora • 0 Comments

A Southern tree for all seasons

By Ken Moore, columnist “A beautiful and popular shade tree throughout the [Cape Fear] Valley and the south. It has become a sort of cognomen for … Full Story »
Dec 25, 2009 • Posted in: Community, Flora, Top Story • 0 Comments

Wild oregano

Square-stemmed, opposite-leaved wild oregano flowers more robustly in cultivation than in the wild. Photo by Ken Moore.By Ken Moore Don’t go looking for wild oregano, Cunilla … Full Story »
Aug 14, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments

By whatever name, Polymnia makes a show

A close look at the composite flower head of Polymnia reveals that only the outer circle of ray flowers produces seed. Photo by Ken Moore.By … Full Story »
Aug 6, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments

A story of Gray’s lily and mountain balds

Rare Gray’s lily on Roan Mountain’s open grassy balds. Photo by Ken Moore. By Ken Moore Once in a while, I take leave of the wealth of … Full Story »
Jul 30, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 1 Comment

Shy little ruellia

Ruellia flowers are a welcome surprise wherever they occur. Photo by Ken Moore.By Ken Moore An unassuming little wildflower that always surprises and delights me whenever … Full Story »
Jul 23, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments

Admiring bigleaf

Looking down upon umbrella whorls of leaves of bigleaf magnolia. Photo by Ken Moore.By Ken Moore Gardening friends Sally Heiney and Bill Bracey live on opposite … Full Story »
Jul 16, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments

Immersion in the nature of our communities

Frances Shetley, holding a purple coneflower, cherishes the sea of Queen Anne’s lace surrounding her. Photo by Dave Otto.By Ken Moore Carrboro’s own Frances Shetley is … Full Story »
Jul 9, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments

Celebrating and helping pollinators

Pollen on the back of a carpenter bee is carried from passion flower to passion flower.It’s National Pollinator Week and the third annual National Pollinator … Full Story »
Jun 25, 2009 • Posted in: Flora, Top Story • 0 Comments

Step softly among the water-dragons

Lizard’s-tail flowers seem left over from prehistoric landscapes. Photo by Ken Moore.By Ken Moore Though I’ve never heard it used locally, the common name, water-dragon, appeals … Full Story »
Jun 18, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments

Out standing in the fields

Moth mullein flowers hover above the tall grasses in a field near Carrboro. Photo by Ken Moore.By Ken Moore Even at speeds of 50 or more … Full Story »
Jun 11, 2009 • Posted in: Flora, Land and Table • 0 Comments

Yard-weed of the week

A closer look at cat’s-ear reveals a head of tightly clustered ray flowers. Photo by Ken Moore.Every week, some little weedy wildflower will appear in … Full Story »
Jun 4, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments

There’s still time for winter botany

I tagged along with a friend last weekend in his search to rediscover a favorite very early spring wildflower. Along the way, he came to … Full Story »
Mar 24, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments

Winter green, but not evergreen

By Ken Moore Winter in the woods is the best time to appreciate land contours, the striking differences of tree bark, the stature of individual specimens … Full Story »
Jan 31, 2009 • Posted in: Features, Flora • Tags: , , • 0 Comments

Four Easy-to Spot Evergreen Wildflowers

Flower buds of liverleaf signal spring’s early emergence in the dead of winter. Photo by Ken Moore.By Ken Moore I was not alone on the Adams … Full Story »
Jan 15, 2009 • Posted in: Flora • 0 Comments