Oconee Bell Wildflowers
Photo of the Day: February 20, 2022

February means the end of winter for me:  it signals the start of the great spring bloom.  I don’t much care for the daffodils that decorate suburban lawns and manicured gardens.  I do, however, get very excited about the return of natives like trillium and bluebells.  And, perhaps my favorite–arriving late February and into early March–are the Oconee Bells in Upstate South Carolina.

Oconee Bell wildflowers are rare.  Nearly ninety percent of their habitat can be found along feeder streams to Lake Jocassee in Upstate South Carolina.  Oconee Bells are ephemeral wildflowers, blooming well before the tree canopy above leafs out and blocks ample sunlight from the forest floor.  If you’re unfamiliar with the area, start with the one-mile trail at Devils Fork State Park called “The Oconee Bell Trail.”  

Camera:  Canon 5D Mark II
Lens:  Canon 100mm f2.8L @ 100mm
Tripod:  Really Right Stuff TVC-33

Date taken:  February 27, 2017
Settings:  f5.6, 0.3 second, iso-100

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