Common Dittany - that's what it was and here's how I found it

In a previous post I included this image of a plant I saw on my trip to Mount Nebo State Park in Arkansas. It was a small plant with these delicate little lavender flowers that I thought might be a nice native plant addition to my garden. I didn't recognize it from my plant studies in college, so I've been keeping an eye out as I research native plants on various websites. Well, I finally found it while cross referencing the wildflowers available at Missouri Wildflower Nursery in Jefferson City. Here's a link to the plant profile on the USDA plants site http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CUOR. I found another even better description on this site http://www.missouriplants.com/Blueopp/Cunila_origanoides_page.html. This plant has an added benefit of producing frost flowers in the fall. That would be interesting!

I've added links to the Missouri Wildflower Nursery, USDA's plant profile search, and the Missouri Plants site to my links list. These seem to be the sites I've used the most in my recent research. I've had literally hours of fun browsing these sites.

Slideshow of Mount Nebo trip

I've just added a slideshow to share the photos I took on my trip to Mount Nebo, Arkansas. This was in October. I know, I'm pretty slow to get it out here. This is new for me. There's a learning curve :-)

You'll see our cabin in the first photo. It was on the edge of the mountain with a beautiful view. We drove a short distance to Sunrise point the morning after we arrived. I tried to get a photo of the asters, but it was pretty dark. Then we hiked the Waterfall trail that started right next to our cabin. I photographed this small bush with little purple flowers. I haven't had any luck identifying it, yet, but it was pretty and seems to tolerate shade pretty well. It reminds me of something. I hope I figure it out soon. Near the bottom of the trail there was a rock fall of pink sandstone with these beautiful lichen rosettes. And shortly afterward I came across a lovely assortment of moss and lichen growing on the same, seemingly dry rocks.

My husband, Jerry, took a photo of me doing what I always do - plan. I'm looking at the trail map, trying to figure out where we are. The trails were enclosed by trees and much of my time was spent watching my step. But, at every break in the trees there were spectacular vistas and often at your feet would live these incredible mixtures of tiny plants. There were also these towering rock formations. I took a photo of Jerry looking up where I shot the "stack" photo.

The final morning of our trip we spent another sunrise at the point and I learned how all these plants could grow in such a "dry" place. As the sun cleared the horizon mist began to form. The trees appeared to breath out this moist air that the wind would carry up the mountain side. The light formed rainbows right below my feet. Before we started home, I hiked one last trail. It was flanked by gorgeous American Beautyberry that seemed to sprout from the stone. The mix of stone, pine needle, bark, and gravel trail, with the backlit trees in the mist reminds my of Japanese gardens. I'm already thinking of places on the east side of my home where a small garden might recreate that look.

Well, that's the Mt. Nebo trip. Goodbye little cabin.

Mt. Nebo, Arkansas

I just added the favorite photo and just thought I'd explain. Jerry and I took a trip in late October to Mt. Nebo State Park in Arkansas. It was beautiful. The park is at the top of a mountain (more like a huge mound) with cabins and a great hiking trails. I took this photo hiking the "rim trail" shortly after sunrise.
I'll post more when I have time. There were lots of native beautyberry bushes with purple fruits. I also saw asters and verbena and some fascinating moss and lichen. I photographed a few plants that I couldn't identify. I'll post about them soon.