Beautiful shades of blue lupine in South Walton

Walton Outdoors · 04-20-2009, 03:43 PM

Blue lupine in bloom along the dunes at Camp Helen State Park. Lori Ceier/WaltonOutdoors.com

The sand dunes along the beaches in the area are dolloped in blue lupine. The gulf coast lupine (Lupinus westianus) is threatened and endemic to Florida.
Their habitats are sand hills, scrubs and coastal dunes. Some say that this rare perennial shrub is only found in a few counties with Walton fortunate enough to be one.

Early explorers to the panhandle did see Blue Mountain covered in Lupine and gave it the affectionate name that we now call it, even though this plant is becoming more rare due to habitat loss.

Thank goodness we have state parks that protect this beauty. Do not to try to dig up this plant to transplant in your yard. It is instant death, and also against the law to remove protected plants, which this one is.
I understand that there is a symbiotic relationship with micro-organisms in the soil that works with this plant so it is very habitat specific. Many times after a lot is cleared near the beach you will see this plant spring up due to seeds being exposed and the site being just right.

Information courtesy of Snookie Parrish, master gardener. In addition to a gardening consultant and native garden specialist, Snookie teaches at Seaside Neighborhood School. You can contact Snookie via email at: gonative@knology.net

lerxst · 04-20-2009, 04:05 PM

Across from Eastern Lake nursery where Collaborations used to stand there is a field of lupine in full bloom.

Rita · 04-20-2009, 04:14 PM

I just put that gorgeous pic on my desktop!

Susan Horn · 04-20-2009, 04:18 PM

I've been told that this plant is a "pioneer" that is one of the first to colonize disturbed ground. I have been told that it is difficult or impossible to propagate from seed, cuttings or other methods, and that transplanting is absolutely futile, wasting the plant and the hopeful gardener's time.

However, I've also been told that if the seeds are scattered in a sandy barren area, the chances are good that some will sprout and start the work of reclaiming the disturbed earth.

Since it is called lupine, I assume it is a nitrogen fixer. Lots of pioneer and early successional species share that trait, I think. Sorry if my lingo isn't quite right about pioneers and succession, but it's about the order in which plants tend to colonize land, from mosses and lichens to pioneers to scrub and ultaimtely to mature forest. I've been reading a lot of Michael Pollan lately

gardening1970 · 04-20-2009, 04:38 PM

I adore this plant and wish very much that I could grow it in my yard in suburbia. Alas, I will have to be content with beach trips and photos. Thanks for the info.

gardening1970 · 04-20-2009, 04:50 PM

Pics of blue lupine taken last week.

TreeFrog · 04-20-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lerxst

Across from Eastern Lake nursery where Collaborations used to stand there is a field of lupine in full bloom.

That one just popped up this year, I think. I don't remember them being there last year.

lerxst · 04-20-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeFrog

That one just popped up this year, I think. I don't remember them being there last year.

come to think of it I dont remember so many plants being there either.

jjnole04 · 04-21-2009, 05:19 PM

it was across from eastern lake nursery that i saw some folks in a red toyota camry digging one up just two days ago

NotDeadYet · 04-21-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

it was across from eastern lake nursery that i saw some folks in a red toyota camry digging one up just two days ago

I so wish people would not do that!

I noticed driving around today the lupines do seem to be doing especially well this year. Maybe they like a late cold snap followed by a deluge.

Thanks for the grayt photos!

kurt · 04-21-2009, 08:58 PM

They do not transplant!!! Do not dig!

ItzKatzTime · 04-22-2009, 02:54 AM

They are so beautiful.....I smile everytime I pass them. Monet would have made them famous! Or, maybe someone else already has.

jodiFL · 04-22-2009, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjnole04

it was across from eastern lake nursery that i saw some folks in a red toyota camry digging one up just two days ago

I hate to see folks that dont really know much about gardening ruining it for everyone. Bay Drive used to covered on both sides with beautiful liatris but people (including one owner of a local florist) would come and cut them while in full bloom. Dont think that they knew that the plant needed to "go to seed" to replenish themselves and now there is rarely one to be found.

Susan Horn · 04-22-2009, 10:10 AM

All the connector roads between 30A and 98 used to have liatris in abundance. I know 395 best, and the variety there was a VERY tall cultivar, and it was beautiful for weeks late in summer or fall each year.

I remember being horrified, way back in the early 90s I think, to see a woman with a van full of buckets she was loading with cut liatris. Like enough to do the flowers for a royal wedding or something. I was not confident in myself at the time and didn't say anything, didn't know what to say. Might be different today, but the liatris are long gone thanks to her and others doing the same thing.

Some states actually have laws prohibiting the harvesting of wildflowers, which are regarded as part of the public commons, owned by all and therefore harvestable by none. Ladybird Johnson got that whole thing started, as I recall.

Anybody know if we have such laws here? And if we do, does anyone really think the Sheriff would enforce them?

kurt · 04-22-2009, 10:22 AM

I believe the county sometimes mows shoulders at the wrong times. Let them know to stop if you see it happening.

mikecatadjuster · 04-22-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lerxst

Across from Eastern Lake nursery where Collaborations used to stand there is a field of lupine in full bloom.

Every time I pass that area I view them on my travels. What a lovely site. It's thick there and the first time I noticed it this season I was astonished and for a second, wondered if it was wild or planted by the nursery.

I still haven't stopped off for a picture. And thanks, Kurt, for letting people know of the plant being protected and about it not being transportable. I noticed some beautiful flowers along a trail that I walk that were cut recently. I was upset. I understand the temptation, but when so many people can pass along and enjoy something, it makes no sense to steal that view. That's why I walk around with my shirt off

j/k

florida girl · 05-05-2009, 10:18 PM

I understood Blue Mountain to be called that because the Spaniards planted Rosemary in their gardens which naturalized, and covered the dunes with blue.