Sequatchie Valley and Foster Falls

The Purple Fringeless Orchid and Fameflower

The quest for the very illusive Platanthera peramoena [Purple Fringeless Orchid] led us down the scenic Sequatchie Valley. I find excuses to travel through this peaceful valley. When we received information about possible sites for an orchid that is rarely found south of Virginia, we took the challenge to check out all possibilities. Using coordinates dating back to 1988, we feared the orchid's habitat had been altered or destroyed as had so many native orchid sites. The first site held the most promise. It was a large fenced area along a meandering creek with low marshy spots ideal for the orchid to thrive. We were pleased to note that the owner periodically mowed the field because the typical bushes, small trees and briers were not present. However, the Calamus, a thick-leaved marsh grass, was present as recorded 32 years ago. Alas, after exploring the edges of the field and even the ditches across the highway, we did not spot the bubblegum pink of the orchid we were seeking. 

Our exploring across the highway yielded an interesting plant, Button Bush. I think it looks like the model we frequently see of the Coronavirus, COVID-19. 

 Close inspection provides a study in the bloom's development. 

 American germander's tall purple spires gave us a brief moment of optimism. 

 Roadside botanizing produced no purple orchid. Later we reaped our exploring: chigger bites!

Giving up on finding the orchid, we headed for a lovely park to picnic. 

 Wild petunia can grow in some of the most hostile areas: in deep choking grass or in scuffed bare soil. Often the wild petunia displays dark purple bee guides leading to the pollen in the center of the flower. 

 Our next destination was Foster Falls, located atop the Cumberland Plateau. We arrived at the parking area around 2:00 in the afternoon, the heat of the day. 

 We were hoping to find Fameflower in the sandstone crevices exposed on the plateau. It wouldn't be difficult to miss because like P. peramoena, it is bubblegum pink. Except it has a tiny dime-sized bloom. We saw lots of yellow!

 We found some striking yellow composites, often referred to as DYC, or "darn yellow composites."

 These deep yellow blossoms clustered close to the forest edge. 

 We even found a tiny purple plant. Curtiss' Milkwort enjoys full sun.

 Although pink and fluffy, the sensitive vine flowers was not Fameflower. I think it resembles pompons.

 Pencil flower can thrive is the hottest, driest environments. I have seen it creating yellow carpets along the edge of paved roads. 

 Curtiss' Milkwort attracts interesting pollinators. 

 Not much larger than a quarter, the heads of this interesting flower bear closer inspection.

 A variety of composites grow in profusion under a TVA powerline. 

 Although the velvet ant resembles a colorful, fuzzy ant, it is actually a wingless wasp [Dasymutilla occidentalis]. The female has a very toxic sting but unless stepped on or squeezed, she prefers to escape. They are solitary creatures. This velvet ant scampered across the hot sandy soil bent on a mission. 

 They are such busy creatures, they are difficult to photograph. 

 Foster Fall was spilling lots of water this day. We have seen the falls reduced to a mere trickle during times of low rainfall. 

 Foster Falls is a favorite spot for those who are willing to scramble down to the plunge pool. From the opposite side of the falls, one can appreciate an unobstructed view of the falls and rock face. 

 After hiking for more than an hour, we were disappointed that we had not spotted the Fameflower. We decided to return. 

 The photo below shows upstream. 

 The photo below shows downstream toward the falls. 

 How on earth did we miss this bright pink flower along the side of the trail?!

 It was not in bloom when we passed the spot. 

 In fact, our research revealed that this tiny flower blooms from about 3 to 6 in the afternoon. I supposed it is named Fameflower for its fleeting nature, such is fame. 

 Its tiny leaves resemble those of succulents. Its design allows it to store moisture considering it grows in poor dry soil. Three hours is a short time for a flower to be pollinated. We noticed several tiny bees on the blooms, but if an insect fails to pollinate the flower, it will self-pollinate, thus guaranteeing this lovely, delicate flower will continue to reproduce. What a miraculous design by an amazing Creator!

 Meadow beauty flowers grew in abundance in the sandy dry soil under the powerline. 

 A few years ago, I photographed both kinds of Meadow beauty in Cades Cove where they enjoyed wet feet in a marshy area near a creek. Amazing how some flowers can thrive in all types of conditions and soils. 

Have we given up on our quest for the Purple Fringeless Orchid? Not at all! But our efforts were rewarded with the array of wildflowers and the tiny Fameflower.