Discovering His Creation: Oak-leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

It happened again another discovery I wasn't expecting. I was picking up some pine cones and caught a glimpse of what looked like something blooming over in the woods beside me. It wasn't as tall as a tree but the leaves sure took my interest. I couldn't get very close at the moment and we might say just a little too woodsy for me to romp through. So I got my youngest son to go over with the camera. I kept asking him are you sure those flowers are coming from the leaves? He assured me they were. I wondered because the blooms looked just like the ones I saw from the Wild Hydrangea or Sevenbark. The leaves are different from other hydrangea and it was easy to identify. In fact the Oak-leaf Hydrangea since 1999 has been named the official State wildflower for my state of Alabama. William Bartram first noticed the plant in the 1790's and named it Hydrangea quercifolia. It's also native to the Southeastern United States. I later decided to go back and rake a trail which took a little while. Well, I'd say a little more than rake. With a foot or so of pine straw, leaves and tree branches to move out of the way I finally got to it. I wanted some more pictures and a close-up view of it myself. I'm still amazed at what's growing around here that I never noticed before. I guess Ecclesiastes say it well. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 This has been a season for me of discovering God's creation. I hope you'll take time and discover God's creation as well.