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Early American Mill c.1806/34, and large shop/studio located on Secaca Creek.
Country living at its best, surrounded by nature where one can peacefully observe nature's flora and fauna.
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The Old Mill sits on the Seneca Creek and the pond in a typical low valley.
This low valley is cool in the winter and shady in the summer which is an idea environment for a wide variety of plants.
The surrounding forest is typical mixed second growth forest.
There are ash, oaks, hickory, gum, mountain maple, black walnut, dogwood, red bud, tulip poplar, sycamore, black wild cherry, cedar and pines.
There are also many typical Eastern forest growths including
wild grape vines, honeysuckle, poision ivy, Virginia creeper, running cedar and the plants and wild flowers shown below.
This few acres is as rich an echo-system as you will find in North America.
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Yuca looks like a western or tropical plant but it is native to Virgina forests.
In the spring they bloom with bunches of tall white flowers.
There are a half dozen or more of these growing in the yard around the old mill.
Small Mimosa, Yuca and Pines: We have had several small mimosa trees in the yard.
These oriental imports have a very tropical look when growing with the yuca.
Although mimosa is an import it grows wild in Virginia.
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My daughter the landscape designer calls these "weeds".
I suspect they could be easily cultivated into a beautiful hardy garden.
Ten of these photos were taken on a short walk in early September 2004.
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Black Eyed Susans
Redbeckia hirta are a common wild flower of the Eastern forests
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Small Yellow Flower ??
Full bloom
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Another Yellow Flower
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Daisys are a common in Virginia.
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Chickory
Cichorium intybus
is a hardy road side flower common in Virginia. Inported from Europe.
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Small Yellow Flowers ??
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Small White Flowers ??
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Blue Wood Aster
Aster cordifolius
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Touch-me-not or Jewelweed:
Impatiens capensis
This flower grows in wet or shady swampy areas and still water.
The flowers were used to make a yellow dye and the stems to relieve poision ivy.
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All are shade loving plants but they like differnt soil conditions.
Ferns like moist cool soil and grow on the shady side of the hill.
Running Cedar likes drier soil under diciduos trees and tends to grow where it is sunny in winter.
The Lesser Periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus, Vinca minor is an import from Madagasgar that has been used for both medicinal purposes and a decorative ground cover for hundreds of years.
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Ferns
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Running Cedar
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Lesser Periwinkle
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