March 2025
Jocassee Gorges
South Carolina / Early Spring / Mountains
As late winter wanes and early spring comes on, I usually make an annual trip to the base of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment, South Carolina. I’m in search of spring ephemerals, the rare and beautiful Oconee Bell in particular. The opportunity to witness and photograph one of the rarest plants in the country is a strong pull. This year my timing was early; or nature’s was late. I found myself on the front end of the first wave of ephemerals, lots of buds and first starts. Conditions were dry, the state as a whole in drought conditions. Downed trees and access issues remained a constant feature of the landscape as a result of Hurricane Helene in 2024. My goal, as with all trips, was to bag at least one frame per day that was inspirational. With macro, however, I have to admit I was hoping for many more keepers! Below are some of my results.
March 11, 2025
Moisture beads atop the rare Oconee Bell wildflower, Jocassee Gorges, South Carolina.
March 12, 2025
(Left) The beautiful bud of the rare Oconee Bell wildflower. (Right) Macro of the hairy stem and bud of Hepatica.
March 13, 2025
Shealy’s Saxifrage, a rare plant growing nowhere else but this one known location.
March 14, 2025
(Left) Early Rue Anemone wildflower. (Right) Early Bloodroot flower.
March 14, 2025
The fascinating decay of last season’s leaf like a plot map from high above.
March 15, 2025
Rue Anemone wildflower, Jocassee Gorges, South Carolina.
March 15, 2025
Beautiful, pink-tinged Hepatica wildflower buds, Jocassee Gorges, South Carolina.
March 15, 2025
Rue Anemone, a spring ephemeral wildflower, Jocassee Gorges, South Carolina.
March 15, 2025
The rare and beautiful Oconee Bell wildflower, Jocassee Gorges, South Carolina.
March 16, 2025
Heavy raindrops on the rare Oconee Bell wildflower, Jocassee Gorges, South Carolina.
March 17, 2025
Early buds of Shealy’s Saxifrage, a rare plant found only in one location, South Carolina.
March 17, 2025
Southern Cricket Frog found near a waterfall on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, South Carolina.
March 17, 2025
Rue Anemone, a spring ephemeral wildflower growing in South Carolina’s Jocassee Gorges.
March 18, 2025
Brook Saxifrage, a rare wildflower growing within the Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve, South Carolina.
March 19, 2025
(Left) Bud of a Foam Flower. (Right) Juvenile Maidenhair Fern.
March 19, 2025
Juvenile Maidenhair Fern growing along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, South Carolina.
March 19, 2025
(Left) Rue Anemone wildflower. (Right) Blue Cohosh spring ephemeral wildflower.