It's time for today's edition of #BenInNature presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust!

April 1, 2021

It's time for today's edition of #BenInNature presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust!

Here's another cool find from the Smith River Trails near Eggleston Falls in Ridgeway: Trillium cuneatum, also known as "little sweet Betsy," "whip-poor-will flower," "large toadshade," or -- if you're in a darker mood -- "bloody butcher."

This plant is one of about 50 species in the genus Trillium, the greatest diversity of which can be found in the southern Appalachians. These beautiful plants can be found throughout most of the southeastern U.S., and they prefer rich limestone soils in upland forests. Much like the trout lily we looked at yesterday, these plants are perennials that flower early in the spring, so if you want to see one in person, now is the time to go hunting!

If you're looking for a good native wildflower for your garden, Trillium cuneatum is a great choice! While they do require a lot of shade, they're pretty low maintenance and are generally resistant to diseases. Just be warned that it takes 5-7 years for them to reach flowering size!

ABOUT #BenInNature
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. In this series of posts, Administrator of Science Ben Williams ventures outdoors to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world. New updates are posted Monday - Friday, with previous posts highlighted on the weekends. This series of posts is made possible thanks to the support of VMNH Corporate Partner Carter Bank & Trust (www.cbtcares.com)

NATURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS
If you discover something in nature that you would like help identifying, be sure to message us right here on Facebook with a picture (please include location and date of picture) and we'll have our experts help you identify it!