Juvenile rattlesnake, dwarf St. John’s wort, and a rare fern …
This juvenile timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is nicely colored because it’s so young. (Photo: Nick)
See how small it is, dwarfed by the surrounding galax (Galax urceolata).
This dwarf St. John’s wort (Hypericum mutilum) on the forest floor is not the same as the bushy St. John’s wort (Hypericum densiflorum) that grows on the gorge’s high rock outcrops. (Photo: Nick)
These small shrubs are called buffalo nut (Pyrularia pubera). (Photo: Nick)
This rare climbing fern (Lygodium palmatum) is particular about its habitat, but if conditions are right will grow these little “fertile leaves” dotted with the spores for reproduction. The larger “sterile leaves” are in the photo background. UPDATE: Came back a few days later for a close-up of the spores. (Photo: Kevin)
Chimaphila maculata has several common names, including spotted wintergreen and pipsissewa. It has interesting flowers in early summer, but now those are passing, leaving these berries behind. (Photo: Kevin)
