We hadn’t visited the Park at Flat Rock in quite a while. Now there’s lots to see. Photography by Ken Borgfeldt, Penny Longhurst, & Lucy Prim. Click on any picture to zoom. Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name.
![Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/eastern-showy-aster-eurybia-spectabilis-asteraceae-.jpg?w=272&h=153&ssl=1 "Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae]")
![Tag Alder (Alnus serrulata) [Betulaceae] Nutlets](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tag-alder-alnus-serrulata-nutlets.jpg?w=179&h=179&crop=1&ssl=1 "Tag Alder (Alnus serrulata) [Betulaceae] Nutlets")
![Wool Grass (Scirpus cyperinus) [Cyperaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wool-grass-scirpus-cyperinus.jpg?w=179&h=179&crop=1&ssl=1 "Wool Grass (Scirpus cyperinus) [Cyperaceae]")
![Three-seeded Mercury (Acalypha rhomboidea) [Euphorbiaceae] Blooms](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/three-seeded-mercury-acalypha-rhomboidea-blooms.jpg?w=179&h=179&crop=1&ssl=1 "Three-seeded Mercury (Acalypha rhomboidea) [Euphorbiaceae] Blooms")
![Foxglove Beardtongue; White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) [Scrophulariaceae] Leaves](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/foxglove-beardtongue-penstemon-digitalis-leaves.jpg?w=233&h=233&crop=1&ssl=1 "Foxglove Beardtongue; White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) [Scrophulariaceae] Leaves")
![Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae] Stem](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/eastern-showy-aster-eurybia-spectabilis-asteraceae-stem.jpg?w=404&h=404&crop=1&ssl=1 "Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae] Stem")
![Peppermint (Mentha aquatica*) [Lamiaceae] Leaves](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/peppermint-mentha-aquatica-leaves.jpg?w=210&h=209&ssl=1 "Peppermint (Mentha aquatica*) [Lamiaceae] Leaves")
![Pale Meadow Beauty (Rhexia mariana) [Melastomataceae] Bloom](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/pale-meadow-beauty-rhexia-mariana-bloom-2.jpg?w=228&h=228&crop=1&ssl=1 "Pale Meadow Beauty (Rhexia mariana) [Melastomataceae] Bloom")
![Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) [Asteraceae; Cichoroideae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wild-lettuce-lactuca-canadensis-plant.jpg?w=122&h=218&ssl=1 "Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) [Asteraceae; Cichoroideae]")
![Slender Bush Clover (Lespedeza virginica) [Fabaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/slender-bush-clover-lespedeza-virginica-blooms.jpg?w=122&h=218&ssl=1 "Slender Bush Clover (Lespedeza virginica) [Fabaceae]")
![Strawcolored Flatsedge (Cyperus strigosus) [Cyperaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/strawcolored-flatsedge-cyperus-strigosus.jpg?w=162&h=218&ssl=1 "Strawcolored Flatsedge (Cyperus strigosus) [Cyperaceae]")
![Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica*) [Taxodiaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/nn-japanese-cedar-cryptomeria-japonica.jpg?w=276&h=494&ssl=1 "Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica*) [Taxodiaceae]")
![Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/eastern-showy-aster-eurybia-spectabilis-asteraceae--1.jpg?w=200&h=200&crop=1&ssl=1 "Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae]")
![Foxglove Beardtongue; White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) [Scrophulariaceae] Seeds](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/foxglove-beardtongue-penstemon-digitalis-seeds.jpg?w=166&h=296&ssl=1 "Foxglove Beardtongue; White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) [Scrophulariaceae] Seeds")
![Peppermint (Mentha aquatica*) [Lamiaceae] Blooms](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/peppermint-mentha-aquatica-blooms.jpg?w=188&h=335&ssl=1 "Peppermint (Mentha aquatica*) [Lamiaceae] Blooms")
![Common Spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) [Cyperaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/common-spikerush-eleocharis-palustris-plant.jpg?w=227&h=405&ssl=1 "Common Spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) [Cyperaceae]")
![Marsh Dewflower; Murdannia (Murdannia keisak*) [Commelinaceae] Leaves and Stem](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/marsh-dewflower-murdannia-keisak-leaves-and-stem.jpg?w=423&h=423&crop=1&ssl=1 "Marsh Dewflower; Murdannia (Murdannia keisak*) [Commelinaceae] Leaves and Stem")
![New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) [Asteraceae] Leaves](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/new-york-ironweed-vernonia-noveboracensis-leaves.jpg?w=209&h=210&ssl=1 "New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) [Asteraceae] Leaves")
![Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica*) [Caprifoliaceae] Blooms](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/nn-apanese-honeysuckle-lonicera-japonica-blooms.jpg?w=189&h=189&crop=1&ssl=1 "Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica*) [Caprifoliaceae] Blooms")
![Hyssop Skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) [Lamiaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/hyssop-skullcap-scutellaria-integrifolia-plant.jpg?w=105&h=189&ssl=1 "Hyssop Skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) [Lamiaceae]")
![Hairy White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) [Asteraceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/white-heath-aster-symphyotrichum-pilosum.jpg?w=189&h=189&crop=1&ssl=1 "Hairy White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) [Asteraceae]")
![Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae] Leaves & Bracts](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/eastern-showy-aster-eurybia-spectabilis-asteraceae-leaves-bracts.jpg?w=153&h=272&ssl=1 "Eastern Showy Aster (Eurybia spectabilis) [Asteraceae] Leaves & Bracts")
![Marsh Dewflower; Murdannia (Murdannia keisak*) [Commelinaceae] Bloom](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/marsh-dewflower-murdannia-keisak-bloom.jpg?w=203&h=272&ssl=1 "Marsh Dewflower; Murdannia (Murdannia keisak*) [Commelinaceae] Bloom")
![Thunberg's Geranium (Geranium thunbergii*) [Geraniaceae]](https://i0.wp.com/wcbotanicalclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/nn-thunbergs-geranium-geranium-thunbergii-plant.jpg?w=636&h=358&ssl=1 "Thunberg's Geranium (Geranium thunbergii*) [Geraniaceae]")
Western Carolina Botanical Club 