Into the Swamp

No, I did not go to Washington D.C. today, but rather to The Great Dismal Swamp, where I explored, by bike, The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. This relatively new trail is actually the old Rte. 17 that runs through here into North Carolina and other points south. When a new, safer 17 was built, people with vision decided to turn the old tree-lined road into a recreational trail, straight and flat for easy biking. It parallels an older route opened in 1805, that of the canal, which was hand dug by slaves through the eastern edge of the swamp. The Dismal Swamp Canal connected the port of Norfolk with northeastern North Carolina, facilitated decades of lumber extraction, and offered an inland alternative to the unpredictable Atlantic.

Even though I was in a swamp, it was evident that the area is in the midst of a severe drought. However, the edge of the trail offered a surprising number of late summer blooms. There were huge blue swaths of Wild Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum), some of it mixed with Goldenrod (Solidago).

Wild Ageratum also offered a nice background to the bolder color of American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana).

There were a couple of wildflowers I did not immediately recognize. I think this is Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) ...

... and this may be Slenderleaf False Foxglove (Agalinis tenuifolia). I hope someone will let me know if my ID is wrong.

I posted a picture of Passiflora lutea for this month's Bloom Day post and noted its weediness. I have also grown Passiflora incarnata (pictured below), which while showier, is just as weedy, but more difficult to pull up.

The Great Dismal Swamp is perhaps better known for its animal communities. There is a sizable population of black bears, as well as over 20 snake species, including all three of Virginia's venomous ones. Fortunately all I saw were birds and a disinterested rabbit.

There are still a few reminders of busier times on the canal. The building below is the house where the toll taker lived. It is right on the edge of the water and the back half will likely be in the water given a strong enough wind. Hopefully some funding will be secured to preserve it, but it is fairly far gone.

These days the canal is used mostly by pleasure boats travelling between the Chesapeake Bay and the sounds of North Carolina.

Sailors in another age would put this swamp's water in barrels to drink on ocean voyages. The acids and tannins from tree bark inhibited the growth of bacteria making it safe to drink long after it was put on board. Even though too many of its trees have been felled, and much of the land that was once part of The Great Dismal Swamp has been ditched and drained for soybeans and tract houses - the water still retains its characteristic strong tea color.

Bloom Day - September, or August 2.0

Several of the bloggers I follow have mentioned a change in the air and are looking forward to fall. Here in Tidewater September is usually just an extension of August. In fact, I am thinking about petitioning the U.N. to have the first three weeks of the month ceded to August and October can get the fourth. Other than seeing school buses on the road and mums appearing outside the grocery store, there are few signs of a change here. The same can be said of my garden. Most of the players from Bloom Day August are still going strong, so I will spare you more Lantana and Zinnia shots.

Our often hot and dry summer was of no consequence to Portulaca 'Rio Scarlet'. My only issue with this plant is that the flowers keep banker's hours and do not open until mid-morning and close by mid-afternoon, so I rarely saw them bloom this summer.

Another annual that has not been so stingy with its blooms are Impatiens. I know they are used ad nauseum, but some things are common for a reason.

One plant that I wish would not bloom so much is one of my worst weeds, Passiflora lutea.

I will repeat a photo of Asclepias curassavica, mainly because it is such a good annual. Most of mine were stripped of foliage and flowers by the caterpillars in August. Now they have recovered, re-leafed and re-bloomed.

Another repeat is this unknown Dahlia, that rather than stake, I run up through other shrubs.

Several years ago a co-worker and I noticed that one Liriope muscari out of hundreds seemed to bloom with an extra effort in an extra purple color. We pooled our money together and bought this one for the extravagant sum of $3 and divided it in two.

Abelia x 'Sunrise' is no stranger to my Bloom Day posts.

I do have a couple of things that say "September is here". This is Poncirus trifoliata ...

... and Fireworks Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks').

If you would like to see what is blooming in other blogger's gardens, then you should visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens who hosts Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. She always knows what month it is.