Monongahela's National Forest's Wildflower Viewing Areas
By jan schultz on Jul 7, 2012
Grass Pink Orchid (Calopogon tuberosus). (Photo by B. Eugene Wofford, University Tennessee Herbarium)
Scarlet Bee Balm (Monarda didyma). (Photo by T.G. Barnes, University of Tennessee Herbarium)
Where to find rare native plants and flowers on the Monongahela.
Wildflower Viewing Areas are sites of high botanic interest selected by botanists for the native plants and flowers found within them. Five of these areas can be found on the Monongahela National Forest. Consider visiting these sites during your next trip to the forest. Don't forget your camera!
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area (Gauley District): The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area protects the largest area of bogs in West Virginia. Bogs are acidic wetlands more commonly found in the northern areas of this country and in Canada. The ground in a bog is spongy and consists largely of partially-decayed plant material known as peat. Because of its unique conditions, some unusual plants grow in bogs, including carnivorous or insect-eating plants. The Botanical Area encompasses 750 acres. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center's Native Plant and Pollinator Garden (Gauley District): The newest feature of the nature center is the Native Plant and Pollinator Garden. Planted in May, 2008, the plants have filled the garden with abundant wildflowers, which attract many bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Featured are columbine, wild bergamot, coreopsis, aster, blazing star, beardtongue, oxeye daisy, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, phlox and wild geraniums. A section of butterfly milkweed attracts Monarch butterflies. Wildflower meadow areas will also be featured next spring. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Dolly Sods (Potomac District): Dolly Sods is an area of high elevation windswept plains on the Allegheny Plateau. The area is well known for its extensive rocky plains, upland bogs, and sweeping vistas. With the elevations in this part of West Virginia ranging from 2,600 feet to over 4,000 feet, the climate and plant life resembles northern Canada. It is a unique "island" of wild country surrounded by Appalachian hardwood forests. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Highland Scenic Highway (Gauley and Marlinton Districts): The Scenic Highway traverses high elevation northern hardwood and red spruce forest communities with may opportunities to view flowering shrubs such as serviceberry, mountain laurel, and rhododendron and crosses the Williams River. Along the Williams River and the Highland Scenic Highway, Turk's cap lilies, Canada lilies and white monkshood, among other wildflowers can bee seen. The Mountains surrounding the eastern end of the Highway have a particularly rich geology and abundant moisture creating perfect conditions for many showy wildflowers and shrubs and a diversity of tree species. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Mylius Trail (Cheat-Potomac District): The Mylius Trail (Trail No. 128) is a prime location for viewing the delicate display of spring ephemeral wildflowers, which bloom during the brief, sunny window of time between snowmelt and leaf-out of the hardwood forest canopy. From early April into early May, the ground is awash in subtle hues of white, yellow, pink, and other colors as the small forest floor herbs race to complete their flowering before the emerging tree leaves block the sunlight. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…
Contact person: Kent Karriker, kkarriker@fs.fed.us or (304) 636-1800.