Diminishing Return (tR)

[Dee-Vo]

Yea, so, I busted my ass for not much reward. I had to arrange a drop-off vehicle and a pick-up vehicle to scoop me up when I finished. This area is off-limits. I've looked over these creeks and other neighboring flows for years with curiosity and envy. Rumors, and records, and samplings have tugged me slowly but surely in this direction. Southern strain brookies......the real deal. 1500' in elevation.

The main creek and an untitled tributary were my targets. I thoroughly fished both to the best of my ability. I spent much of the day squatting and drifting small flies through holes only a few feet below low-hanging laurel. My ass was in the water often. Twas a pain. Eventually, I found myself checking out plants, salamanders, frogs, and birds. Towhees were thick here.





I had to hide here for a bit.












Small fish, small creek, small shitty midge.






I scored a few. Lost a few. At least they were here.

















Deadness was here.




The convergence of the two targets.


















For the lack of brookies. Here ya go:

At least that thirst is finally quenched. It's the way this game works.

[DRIFTS]

Very nice...love the ending too! 

[Onslow]

Hate the outcome sukked.

[Dougfish]

 
I applaud the suckage. And fiddleheads.

[Yallerhammer]

Pretty little creek. Awesome shots of the Passalid beetle/betsy bug.

[Dee-Vo]

I'm going to make a stab at some of these plant names.  I suck at this, and I know it. 

In order:

Trout Lily or Dogtooth

Small white flowers behind fern: Bloodroot?

Round leaf plant: Wild Ginger

Yellow flower: Dwarf Cinquefoil or Slender Yellow Wood Sorrell

Purple flower: Birdfoot Violet?


I'll be please and surprised if any of my assumptions are accurate. Skool me.

[Michael Toris]

Trout lily
Great Chickweed
Galax
Green and Gold
Common Blue Violet

[Dougfish]

I'm going to make a stab at some of these plant names.  I suck at this, and I know it. 

In order:

Trout Lily or Dogtooth

Small white flowers behind fern: Bloodroot? Star Chickweed

Round leaf plant: Wild Ginger Galax

Yellow flower: Dwarf Cinquefoil, probably Rough or Slender Yellow Wood Sorrell

Purple flower: Birdfoot Violet? maybe Le Conte's


I'll be please and surprised if any of my assumptions are accurate. Skool me.

My opinions differ slightly from Prof. Weirdbeard's.

[Michael Toris]

I'm going to make a stab at some of these plant names.  I suck at this, and I know it. 

In order:

Trout Lily or Dogtooth

Small white flowers behind fern: Bloodroot? Star Chickweed

Round leaf plant: Wild Ginger Galax

Yellow flower: Dwarf Cinquefoil, probably Rough or Slender Yellow Wood Sorrell

Purple flower: Birdfoot Violet? maybe Le Conte's


I'll be please and surprised if any of my assumptions are accurate. Skool me.

My opinions differ slightly from Prof. Weirdbeard's.

Star Chickweed = Great Chickweed

Idk about the Violet. I was guessing. You're probably right

[Dee-Vo]

I'm going to make a stab at some of these plant names.  I suck at this, and I know it. 

In order:

Trout Lily or Dogtooth

Small white flowers behind fern: Bloodroot? Star Chickweed

Round leaf plant: Wild Ginger Galax

Yellow flower: Dwarf Cinquefoil, probably Rough or Slender Yellow Wood Sorrell

Purple flower: Birdfoot Violet? maybe Le Conte's


I'll be please and surprised if any of my assumptions are accurate. Skool me.

My opinions differ slightly from Prof. Weirdbeard's.

Elaborate further. I scored a 20 by WMT's standards.

[Dee-Vo]

Where's the best ID assistance online? Some sites help, some not so much.

[Onslow]

Start off with a field guide from either Audubon Society or Peterson. This will get one close to the target and then once the family of flower has been established,  One can refine their search by doing a simple Google search. Field guides serve a purpose but are not a comprehensive compendium of all plants our environs.

[Michael Toris]

Start off with a field guide from either Audubon Society or Peterson. This will get one close to the target and then once the family of flower has been established,  One can refine their search by doing a simple Google search. Field guides serve a purpose but are not a comprehensive compendium of all plants our environs.

+1 for Peterson

[Dougfish]

^This^

I always go to Peterson's Wildflowers first. Organized by color, then flower type. Lots of good drawings.
Newcomb's is pretty good, too. Organized by flower and foliage type.

If you desire photos, Smith's Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains and Wemmerly's Appalachian Wildflowers are excellent.

Books trump online. Too much stuff by hacks is online.

[Dee-Vo]

I'll pick one up. I've got others for birds and other things that have been very helpful.

A quick search online instantly produced an Edible Plant guide. Nahhhh.....that'll take a while.