First Jack in Jackson County, North Carolina

This infant Jack in the Pulpit just popped up along the driveway at

my home in Balsam, NC. The first time I'd ever heard of this

wildflower was in a line of wildflower themed t-shirts we used to

carry in our camping and backpacking shop, Venture Out. Once I

became familiar with this very cool shaped flower, I'd see it quite

often when out hiking or camping in the Pisgah or Nantahala

 National Forests or The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

This other baby Jack in the Pulpit is growing up

with a lush batch of Hostas. Funny thing about

Jack in the Pulpits, once you find them in a

given spot, you can pretty well expect to see

them in the same place the following year.

Usually, with a little brother or sister in tow!

Towards the end of summer, the Jack in the

Pulpit will drop the little hood and start sporting

dozens of bright red seeds as the new head

covering. The are a brilliant red and as soon as the first Jack covered in seeds presents itself, I'll get the

photo and bring it to ActiveRain Show and Tell.

I really love living in this Appalachian Region right in the backyard of The Great Smoky Mountains here in

North Carolina.  In fact, did you know the reason for the name of The Great Smoky Mountains?  We have

the highest diversity of plant life in the United States.  All those plants breathing and exhaling produce the

"smoke" that is the Smoky in the Great Smoky Mountains!