Mountain Laurel

• May 10, 2015

• #1

Clipper

Senior Member

The main reason I hunt and fish is because I just love to be in the woods. I've been hunting Pine Log WMA this spring and the woods have gotten really pretty the last week or so with the Mountain Laurel blooming. I always thought what I was seeing was Rhododendron but after taking photos and an internet search realize I have been enjoying Mountain Laurel blooms. It grows along most major creeks and gets so thick you can't even crawl through it in places. Here are a couple of photos for your enjoyment.

 

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• May 10, 2015

• #2

Todd Cook

Senior Member

Yessir, that's some pretty stuff. Pine Log's a pretty WMA for sure.

 

• May 10, 2015

• #3

Ellbow

Senior Member

I to love to just walk in the woods and enjoy the moment. It's not always about the actual hunt just the moments. Glad you had a nice time.
El

 

• May 10, 2015

• #4

jerry russell

Senior Member

Pretty to look at but pure heck to follow my bear tracking dog through.

 

• May 10, 2015

• #5

NE GA Pappy

Mr. Pappy

and extremely poison. Never eat the leaves or flowers

 

• May 12, 2015

• #6

Clipper

Senior Member

I happened on a tree I've never seen in the woods before and not sure what it is. At first I thought it was a shrub but then realized it was a 30' tall tree that had fallen over and lived. I thought it pretty enough to photograph. Blossom was 8" across and the leaf had to be 18" long. Also thought the snake was pretty as well. Plenty of hog sign but no hogs. Pine Log WMA.

 

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• May 12, 2015

• #7

Clipper

Senior Member

I looked the snake up on the internet and it resembles an Eastern Ribbon Snake.

 

• May 12, 2015

• #8

jerry russell

Senior Member

Eastern Garter snake most likely but sometimes impossible to tell without seeing bottom jaw. Cool snakes.

 

• May 12, 2015

• #9

jjy

Senior Member

Tree is a Big Leaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla)

 

• May 13, 2015

• #10

Clipper

Senior Member

jjy said:

Tree is a Big Leaf Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla)

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Thanks for the ID. I must have happened on an old homestead for it to be there.

 

• May 13, 2015

• #11

NCHillbilly

Administrator

Staff member

Clipper said:

Thanks for the ID. I must have happened on an old homestead for it to be there.

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No, they're native in that area. The woods are full of similar species up here in the mountains.

 

• Jun 18, 2015

• #12

The mtn man

Senior Member

I've always know that tree as a cucumber tree, I never understood why folks around here call it a cucumber tree. I guess generations ago someone thought the flowers resembled cucumber blooms,

 

• Jun 20, 2015

• #13

TIMBERGHOST

Senior Member

Looks like a garter to me too. Nice photos. Thanks for posting.

Some real beautiful Mountain Laurel can also be found in the mountains of NE TN, up around Mountain City.

 

• Jun 20, 2015

• #14

Clipper

Senior Member

cklem said:

I've always know that tree as a cucumber tree, I never understood why folks around here call it a cucumber tree. I guess generations ago someone thought the flowers resembled cucumber blooms,

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I did a search on cucumber tree and came up with this article. I have not been able to find a photo of a bloom that looks like mine, however.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_acuminata

 

Last edited: Jun 20, 2015

• Jul 1, 2015

• #15

Bill Mc

Senior Member

Here you go, I found one many years ago and wondered just what is was.

American Magnolia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_grandiflora