Dogwood

VA's beautiful state flower, the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). Generally a small tree, the true flowers number about 30 and are in the center of the four white "petals" which are actually bracts. Fruit is a small red berry. The trees are prone to blight (a type of fungal infection) that has killed many wild trees. The wild trees are white, the pink cultivated.

Indian Strawberry

Indian Strawberry Duchesnea indica (country of India). Similiar to American Wild Strawberry but yellow. Fruit tasteless.

Wild Strawberry

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) similiar to our domestic Strawberry but the flower and fruit are much smaller although said to be sweeter. Pretty common in roadside ditches (where else!) A member of the Rose family

Bluets

This is Houstonia, commonly called "Bluets". These also will grow about anywhere there's dirt even hard packed road shoulders. Flowers range from blue to white and occasionally have 5 petals

Bluets size comparison

Reuella

This is Reuella, commonly called "Mexican Petunia" or "Wild Petunia" and it is an "illegal alien"! Extremely hardy, it grows almost anywhere (we need some!). It is attractive and the plants we have are garden escapes. It's also considered an undesirable invasive species that smothers native plants by the USDA. Hopefully I'll get the spring flora outa the way soon and move on.

Solomon's Seal

Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is commonly found in dry to moist wooded areas where the soil is rich. It is widespread in eastern North America and found throughout most of VA. where it is easily overlooked because the flowers are green. The flowers typically grow in pairs as the two in the right of the photo.