We started the trip in fog. Fortunately it never rained, although there were some gloomy moments. Sadly with no sun there were few bees or butterflies. After the field trip we wandered around the Black Balsam area for a while. We checked out the Gentians on Flat Laurel Creek to see if they might be Balsam Mountain Gentians (Gentiana latidens). We think they are. Dan Patillo had previously found specimens in this area (Pringle & Weakley. Rhodora 111:389, 2009). Then we went to Wolf Mountain Overlook to compare the Gentians from the two locations. Photography by John Colson,  Penny Longhurst,  & Joe Standaert. Click on any picture to zoom & enter the slide show. Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name.

Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name.