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After reviewing 8 previous iNaturalist observations of firs on Apple Orchard Mountain, I decided to go up and investigate for myself. Apple Orchard Mountain is the highest point in Botetourt and Bedford Counties at 4225 feet of elevation. While it is only ranked as the 40th highest peak in the Commonwealth, it ranks as the most prominent peak in Virginia, with 2825 feet of clean prominence. This high level of exposure creates a unique microclimate where wind, ice, and snow from raging winter storms gives most of the trees a gnarled “apple orchard-like” appearance.
While surveying the exposed ridge top, I measured and recorded a total of 37 trees (42 stems ranging from 0.6 to 15.2 inches diameter) of what I believe to be a reproducing population of Fraser firs. Whether this is a relict population or was originally planted by the Forest Service, my findings were inconclusive. However, the presence of numerous unplanted saplings and seedlings in the understory and vicinity of the stands combined with the suitable habitat for firs, indicates a self-sustaining reproducing population. In determining this was Fraser fir as opposed to balsam fir, I noted the toothed reflexed bracts on cone fragments found on the forest floor, which were consistent with photos of past observations at this site.
@steinm
https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=7687
https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/abies/fraseri.htm

Morning: Indiana Dunes NP
Evening: Sleeping Bear Dunes NP
https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/lincolndurey/2019/7/29

w/ typical Dune Trail community:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32175177 Gypsophila paniculata (Baby's Breath)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32174340 Centaurea stoebe (Spotted Knapweed)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32171296 Silene vulgaris (Bladder Campion)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32176195 Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32174187 Ammophila breviligulata (American Marram Grass)

Edisto Island, day 4: https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/lincolndurey/2018/11/21

The geo marker on this tree marks the location of Bache monument #6 of the Bache survey baseline used to establish the first accurate surveys of the East Coast. A. D. Bache was a West Point 1825 grad.

Edisto Island, day 3: https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/lincolndurey/2018/11/20

Tricolor. So I climbed out about 30' on a stout live oak branch so I could shoot downwards, and then it finally came back to my side.

Jekyll Island https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/lincolndurey/2018/9/14

Not a sponge, hard as cement to the touch (you can see the sand gains they have glued into the tubes). This is like the sandcastle worm from CA, but the eastern one. Ref: Florida's Living Beaches by Witherington

Swampy shore / bog plants of Crocodile Lake
https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/lincolndurey/2018/8/3

So this is my "swamp vole". I was crawling on hands and knees to get my tiny bog plants, when a little blur ran over. I then noticed its pile of cut sedge stems. I got these pics after finding its foot and tail left out of the hole it tried to hide in in the sphagnum bog.

I arrived at the Bruce Peninsula unclear on how to differentiate the yellow Lady's Slippers and after 4 days of looking at thousands and thousands of blossoms I left just as confused. There appear to be every gradation of size and sepal/petal color. I never imagined seeing Yellow Lady's Slippers in such numbers, covering the roadsides. These were roadside as I entered the park.