Red Bud (Cercis canadensis): One of the first trees to bloom in the region. Grows as understory in the wild. These were seen along the C&O Canal along the border with Green Ridge State Forest, MD.

Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana): Might have different names in different states. Blooms in summer. These were on the Mill Mountain Trail, GWNF, VA on the approach to Big Schloss.

Daisey Fleabane (Erigeron annuus). Comes in white and pink. Found in sunny areas. Blooms June through October. The dried flowers were thought to prevent fleas in homes, hence the common name. Location: Mountainside Tr, Canaan Mt, MNF, WV.

Gaywings or Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia): 2-3 inches tall. Blooms in May-June. Grows in the shade of trees in moist forests. Location: AFT, PA.

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia): Pink or white. These can be found almost anywhere in the region. These are on Mill Mountain Trail, GWNF, VA on the way to Big Schloss. Bloom in June.

Bouncing Bet or Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis): Tall plant with clusters of white to light pink Phlox-like flower clusters. The petals are bent back upon the flower. Found in sunny waste places, fields and roadsides. Location: Pocosin Hollow Trailhead on Rt664, SNP, VA.

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium): Gets its name from its ability to quickly colonize recently burned areas. Reproduces via underground runners forming huge thickets. The deep fuchsia petals with deeper colored, thinner petals in between, the red stems and often red tinge in the leaves only add to the name. The red tinge is not always present. Location: Cranberry Overlook on Highland Scenic Highway, MNF, WV.

Wild Pink or Catchfly : There are several varieties. Silene caroliniana shown here is pink. S. virginiaca is red. Its sticky stem gives rise to the name Catchfly.

Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica): Almost the first flower of spring. Found in shady trail-side areas. These were encountered on Jeremy's Run Trail on the last weekend of March.

Pink Lady Slippers (Cypripedium acaule): This odd orchid is found in dry forests, usually in colonies. Blooms April-July. Location: Stack Rock Trail on the Great North Mt., GWNF, VA/WV.

Goat's Rue or Devil's Shoestrings (Tephrosia virginiana). The roots used to be feed to goats to increase milk production until it was found to contain rotenone, an insecticide and fish poison. Location: Green Ridge State Forest, MD.

Common Milweed (Asclepias syriaca): Disturbed, moist, sunny areas. Butterflies love them! Location: Lake Sherwood Dam, MNF, WV.

Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium): Shrub-like relative of the Milkweeds. Fragrant clusters of nodding pink bells. Long seed pods. This specimen appears to be in its second bloom. Location: AT - Reeds Gap, GWNF, VA.

Maryland Meadow Beauty (Rhexia mariana) - Found in sandy swamps from Massachusetts south to Fla. Location: Cape Henlopen, DE. Photo by Ken Clark.

Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi): In the Pink family. Flowers atop tall, sticky stems. Five petals each divided into 4 thin lobes making the flower appear "ragged". Opposite, lanceolate leaves. Found in moist fields and medows. Blooms May - July. Photo by Anita Mueller.

Mountain Wood Sorrel - Oxalis montana: Grows in moist, shady forests, usually at higher elevations. Location: Rohrbaugh Plains Trail, Dolly Sods, MNF, WV.

Rose-pink/Bitterbloom (Sabatia angularis) : Moist fields and roadsides. Location: Long Pond Trail, GRSF, MD. Photo by Ken Clark.

Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra eximia): Found along many trails in the MNF. These were along the forest road in Dolly Sods. Bloom late spring, early summer but earlier at lower elevations.

Japanese Spirea (Spirea japonica): Considered invasive. These were found growing along the Gun Powder River. MD above Pretty Boy Reservoir. They were at their peak in June.

Pinxter Flower/ Wild Azalea (Rhododendron nudiflorum): Blooms May-June. Latin name refers to the fact that it often blooms before setting leaves. Location: AT/James River Face.

Catawba Rhododendron or Mountain Rosebay (Rhododendron catawbiense): Evergreen Shrub with large oval leaves and Rose to deep purple funnel -shaped flowers. Blooms in May. Northern limits is the southern SNP. Location: Belfast Tr, James River Face, Glenwood RD, JNF, VA.

Dense Blazing-Star (Liatris spicata): Dense wand of Thistle-like blossoms w/grasslike leaves. Location: AT on Three Ridges, GWNF, VA.

Common (purple) Foxglove (Digitalis purpuraea): A biennial introduced from Europe and Asia. The extract is used to make cardiac medicines. The entire plant is extremely toxic. A rosette of broad lancelet leaves form the first year followed by the flower stalk the next year. Blooms late spring to early summer. Location: Sugarloaf Mt, MD.

Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum): Deep pink clusters of flowers supported on dark red stems. Note the whorls of 5 leaves. Location: All along Tea Creek and its Right Fork, MNF, WV.

Wild Sweet William or Meadow Phlox (Phlox maculata): Found along the banks of Fifteen Mile Creek, GRSF, MD. Photo by Ken Clark.

Pale Corydalis (Corydalis sempervirens): Irregular pink flowers with yellow tips. Very dissected, irregular leaves. Location: Old Rag, SNP, VA. Photo by Ken Clark.

Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata) : Grows over 4 feet in height. Grows in wet but sunny areas. Location: Old Rag Fire Road, SNP, VA.

Smooth Phlox (Phlox glaberrima): Similar to Garden Phlox but blooms in May. Location: Allegheny Tr, WV. Photo by Pat Roberts.

Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutis) Pink to violet/blue flowers atop woolly stems. Note the white lips. Gray Beardtongue will have blue veins here. Blooms June to July on dry, rocky ground. Photos by Ken Clark. Location: Great Falls National Park, MD, Billy Goat Trail.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): An alien in the mint family. Large, heavily veined, 3-pointed leaves with small pink flower whorls around the leaf axils. Grows to 3-4 feet along roadsides and spoiled areas. Used as a stimulant (name means "of the heart") and to treat menstrual disorders. Blooms June - August. Location: Flat Top Mountain, SNP, VA.

Deptford Pink (Dianthus armaria): Very small. Clusters along the C&O Canal, Great Falls National Park, MD. Photo by Ken Clark.

Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) - Small, paired, delightful flower with darker lines on the petals. Blooms May to October. Location: Jeremy's Run Tr, SNP, VA.

Pink (Lyon's) Turtlehead (Chelone lyons): In the Snapdragon family. Grows in high elevations along edges in Spruce/Fir forests. Location" Hidden Passage, MNF, WV.

Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cernuum), in the Lily family. Grows in open woods. Pink to purple, occasionally white. Blooms August - September. Location: Shenandoah Mt Trail, Ramsey's Draft Wilderness, GWNF, VA.

Naked-Flowered Tick Trefoil (Desmodium nudiflorum) : Grows in rich woods. Blooms in July. This plant has a leaf stalk and a seperate flower stalk. The two are joined together underground giving the appearance of a flower with no leaves. Close-up by Ken Clark. Location: Nicholson Hollow Trail, SNP, VA.

Bristly Locust (Robinia hispida): Also cultivated. Flowers similar to Everlasting Pea. Tree/shrub growing upright to 9 feet. Stiff hairs on trunk and stems. Photo by Anita Mueller. I've seen thousands of these on Gunter Ridge in the James Rive Face Wilderness Area on VA. They seemed to be taking over a large burned area.