#upperhickorynutgorge

[mikepots83]

Clematis virginiana in full bloom! I planted this two years ago. These native clematis grow in such abundance here. I love these plants@ However, if they don't get adequate sunlight they won't flower. I dug this plant up from the field and planted it along the railing of the steps to a friends cabin. It will not be staying here. These clematis produce a lot of seed which allows the plant to spread all over the area. . . . #clematis #clematisvirginiana #nativeclematis #nativewildflowers #wildflowers #wncmountains #blueridgemountains #southernappalachia #upperhickorynutgorge #maker #ilovegardening (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSnhw0AjTo8/?utm_medium=tumblr

[macdonaldforge]

Mountain Runoff from Tropical Storm Fred. This is flowing across an area where we abutt Conserving Carolina's land near the Wildcat Rock Trail. This flow is typically a trickle or less. . . . #blacksmithing #tropicalstormfred #hurricaneseason #climatechange #roadwork #damagecontrol #upperhickorynutgorge #conservingcarolina #mountainlife #faerie #maker (at Gerton Helipad) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSwZ0pMLkAy/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikepots83]

I've been doing all i can to ID this Carex. Everything i'm reading is pointing me to ID it as Carex pseudocyperus. It's growing in a natural bog that is overflow from one of the many springs on our part of Little Bearwallow Mountain. My friends have been doing some maintaining of the bog and selectively eliminating plants to produce a spectacular wetland designed garden. Nothing has been brought from outside sources. Just all plants transplanted from one area of the property to this area or vice versa. . . . #carexpseudocyperus #carex #grass #nativeplant #bog #wetlands #boggarden #swamp #plantidentificationhelp #plantidentification #wncmountains #southernappalachia #upperhickorynutgorge #blueridgemountains #gertonstrong #ilovegardening #ilovewhereilive #mountaingarden #shadeplants #shadegarden #woodland #woodlandplants #woodlandgarden (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPcZJeRDSnn/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikepots83]

Liparis liliifolia aka Large Twayblade or Mauve Sleekwort is a native terrestrial orchid coming into full bloom now. This patch (other outside of frame) is growing along my driveway. Several more patches are thriving elsewhere on my property. I always look forward to seeing every orchid that grows here come into bloom. Twayblades like moist woodland soils which we have an abundance of. It only produces two glossy/fleshy basal leaves . . . #liparisliliifolia #liparis #twayblade #mauvesleekwort #orchidsofinstagram #orchids #orchidspecies #orchid #terrestrialorchid #nativeorchids #wildflower #woodland #woodlandplants #woodlandgarden #shadeplants #shadegarden #wncmountains #blueridgemountains #upperhickorynutgorge #southernappalachia #iloveplants #ilovegardening #ilovewhereilive #gertonstrong #gerton #maker #potter #potterslife #inspiration (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQgkqgWjfR0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikepots83]

I'm grateful to have been discharged from Hospital. Now comes the long road of recovery. The love and support you all have given me has helped me to improve every day. THANK YOU! . . . #heartsurgery #hearthealth #bypass #bypasssurgery #recovery #artist #maker #grateful #gratitude #surgery #avlartist #gerton #gertonstrong #upperhickorynutgorge #blueridgemountains #southernappalachia #longroadahead #secondchance #secondchances (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRFgbzgjuA3/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikepots83]

Giant or Great Solomon's Seal. Polygonatum commutatum is basically the common Solomon's seal on a serious dose of growth hormones. While the more common Solomon's Seal grows between 1-2 ft tall, Giant Solomon's Seal grows to 7 feet tall. Mine are 4.5 ft tall. I planted these plants on both sides at the beginning of my walkway to the house to act as sentinels.The rhyzomes were planted in the fall of 2019 from my buddies house. They were building a deck and basically dug up these rhyzomes as they were digging post holes. Supposedly these plants grow only in part shade to all shade. However, here at 3400 ft they are growing and thriving in full sun. I have yet to find any groeing in the shade. I think they are incredibly architectural plants for landscape design. . . . #solomonsseal #giantsolomonsseal #greatsolomonsseal #polygonatum #polygonatumcommutatum #nativeplants #nativewildflowers #wncmountains #southernappalachia #upperhickorynutgorge #blueridgemountains #mountaingardening #mountaingarden #woodlandplants #shadegarden #ilovegardening #ilovewhereilive #iloveplants (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPpVy78DAfu/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikepots83]

"You lookin' at Me???" . . . #pitbull #pitbullrescue #pitbulllove #pitbullsofinstagram #ilovemypitbull #ourpuppy #chewtoy #dogsofinstagram #doglover #mansbestfriend #wncmountains #maker #gerton #gertonstrong #upperhickorynutgorge (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQU1h1EjxKY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikepots83]

I bought this kiln back in 2000 when i needed a larger kiln. I had never expected i'd not be able to reach the bottom....loading glaze tests for my project with Ceramic Materials Workshop taught by Rose and Matt Katz. . . . #potterslife #potterystudio #kiln #ceramics #glazetesting #whatidoforaliving #selfemployed #short #shortpeopleproblems #gertonstrong #wncmountains #upperhickorynutgorge #gerton #ilovemyjob #ceramicmaterialsworkshop (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CK4kac0DFme/?igshid=334jt5n6trsi

[mikepots83]

This Trillium cuneatum or Little Sweet Betsy, grows right in the center of my driveway. They grow in the more shaded and rocky areas of my property. I love the variegation on the leaves. I'm always on the lookout for it as a sign spring is here! These are the first trillium to sprout and bloom. The other Trillium have not even poked out of the ground yet. . . . #trilliumcuneatum #trillium #springephemeral #springflowers #woodland #woodlandgarden #shadegarden #shadeplants #wncmountains #mountaingarden #gardening #garden #blueridgemountains #southernappalachia #upperhickorynutgorge #gerton #gertonstrong #ilovegardening #ilovewhereilive (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNNajxmjuzJ/?igshid=gevhd5zp65g1

[mikepots83]

The other day Rhody and I took our regular break from work and walked to the stream. The day was beautiful and we took advantage and followed the stream a while up mountain. . . . #workbreak #dailywalk #maker #inspiration #upperhickorynutgorge #wncmountains #southernappalachia #blueridgemountains #gerton #ilovetohike #ilovewhereilive #mountainforest #mountainstream #dogwalk #mountainliving #hiking (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKP3SYDgBd/?igshid=13dq45hxcc2ix

[mikepots83]

The other day an owl flew directly in fron of me and landed on a branch ahead of me. I thanked it for allowing me to see and watch it. . . . #owl #owlsofinstagram #wncmountains #upperhickorynutgorge #blueridgemountains #southernappalacia #wncwildlife #birdwatching #ilovewhereilive #grateful (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDwFTQNDvtg/?igshid=vhujecb9mell

[mikepots83]

I've not been keeping up with posting daily photos to IG of my life or pottery business. Here's to a new start. Asclepias tuberosa, aka butterfly weed or commonly milkweed, is in full bloom up here on our mountain. When it's time we collect the seed and spread it around to sprout and grow the following spring. It is one (though not the favored) of the many host plants in the Asclepias family that Monarch caterpillars feed on. The flowers are a great source of nectar for the Monarch butterfly, dogbane tiger moth, and the milkweed tussock moth. . . . #asclepias #asclepiastuberosa #milkweed #orange #nectar #foodsource #monarch #butterfly #wildflower #mountaingarden #mountainliving #nativewildflowers #nativegarden #upperhickorynutgorge #blueridgemountains #southernappalachia #gertonstrong #ilovegardening #ilovewhereilive (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCY1RXUj-TM/?igshid=18nnwqi3rgebt

[mikepots83]

I think i have a spider nest on my MILT. It's about 2" long. UGH... . . . #arachnophobia #arachnid #spider #spidereggs #nursery #menolikey #mountainliving #mountaingarden #wncmountains #wncwildlife #upperhickorynutgorge #blueridgemountains #southernappalachia #maker #inspiration (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCD51fNDEd2/?igshid=17b4rhbwtq4v5

[mikepots83]

Whenever you think you're having a bad day just be glad THIS didnt happen to you! (Neighbor livinv up the mountain road from me was locking the gate to his driveway and the emergency break ceased to work' the truck began rolling downhill. The decline is steeper than it looks and the truck was rolling at a fast pace. The driver door was open and slammed into a tree where the road starts to curve. The truck veered to the right; went up the bank until it was at 45 degree angle and flipped over one and a half times) . . . #shithappens #mountainliving #mountainlife #southernappalachia #blueridgemountains #upperhickorynutgorge #accident #accidentshappen #ilovewhereilive #gertonstrong #payattention (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBo-316D9mV/?igshid=xl9zwn6qtvvs

[mikepots83]

Two falls ago I planted three cyclamen bulbs adjacent to stepping stones leading to my porch. There are large pine tree roots which keep the soil dry. The only water they receive is from rainfall or snow melt.. Last fall they did ok with only one bloom. This fall and winter they took over and just keep giving, sending up more buds every couple days. I was surprised they did not bloom before the leaves emerged like other cyclamen bulbs i grow. Also, blooming in the coldest time of winter. . . . #cyclamen #bulb #flowers #cyclamens #winterflowers #coldhardy #winterblooms #ilovegardening #wncmountains #upperhickorynutgorge #nonnative #pink (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Ng0enAvaT/?igshid=1mpo1hjyoiuhn

[mikepots83]

This view is just a five minute walk from my house. Spring is a beautiful time of year. Remember, be grateful and helpful to your neighbors! . . . #wncmountains #southernappalachia #blueridgemountains #upperhickorynutgorge #mountainliving #rural #rurallife #ilovewhereilive #lovethyneighbor #grateful #neighborshelpingneighbors #neighbor #friends #maker #inspiration #springishere (at Gerton, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_aPBoAjTnh/?igshid=320f9c2tw4md