Carolina Anemones of DFW's Boletim

Look what I found in North Richland Hills today....

While this project is specific to Anemone caroliniana, it's good to see when all 5 Texas species are blooming! -kimberlietx

Here's a list of firsts-in-bloom for 2020 thus far:
1st Anemone berlandieri (Jan 6, San Antonio): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37473672
1st Anemone caroliniana (Feb 8, near Brenham): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/38431999
1st Anemone edwardsiana (Feb 8, SW of Kerrville: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/38443098

Still waiting on first-in-bloom for these:
Anemone okennonii
Anemone tuberosa (only 1 observation on iNat, near El Paso)

Link to all 5 Texas species:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=18&subview=grid&taxon_id=883652&view=species

Here's data on bloom times for Texas comparing berlandieri and caroliniana:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o7aDn7e_tvmkY7EkiYBB7n45VPphl7VbBaSiSMg6PSg/edit?usp=sharing

(Originally posted by @pfau_tarleton at https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/kimberlietx/30516-the-anemones-are-coming)

It’s time again for the Anemones to start blooming! We are seeing lots of observations of the leaves, so keep your eyes open for those beautiful blooms to come any time now!

Thank you to everyone who helped us last year to document the less common Carolina Anemone (A. caroliniana). We collectively documented 46 observations by 15 observers at ~19 locations! That’s quite an increase from the previous year of 4 total observations! Are you ready to make 2020 an even better year?

We would love for everyone to join us in looking for the Carolina Anemone! All you need to do is learn what to look for and post your observations to iNaturalist. That’s it! Your data is automatically included.

On the DFW Carolina Anemones project page there are links to all the important information, such as how to tell them apart from Tenpetal Anemones, where to look for them, and locations still needing to be checked. You can find all of that here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/carolina-anemones-of-dfw/journal/22090-important-links

Don’t think you’ll remember all that while you are skipping through the wildflowers? It’s ok! Take photos of the flower, entire stem, and leaves. Post your observation ID as “Anemone” and we’ll tell you which species it is.

If you are interested in coming to a field information session once the Carolina Anemone is in bloom, leave a comment below or email Kimberlie at kimberlietx@gmail.com to receive announcements on the date and location. (To be determined once Mother Nature gives us the go-ahead.)

Thank you for helping us to learn more about this lesser known Windflower! Your efforts are invaluable and greatly appreciated!

@kimberlietx and @pfau_tarleton

The anemone season will be winding down over the next few weeks, so if you want to explore some more, now's the time! Here's a review of what's happened over the past couple of months. It's been pretty remarkable. Prior to January 2019, there were 11 observations of Anemone caroliniana in the DFW area made by 4 observers at 4 locations. Since January 1, 2019, there have been 46 additional observations by 15 observers at ~19 locations!
Before January 2019: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d2=2019-01-01&nelat=33.4340569&nelng=-95.8586449&place_id=any&swlat=32.052087&swlng=-98.06854499999997&taxon_id=128651
After January 2019: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2019-01-01&nelat=33.4340569&nelng=-95.8586449&place_id=any&swlat=32.052087&swlng=-98.06854499999997&taxon_id=128651

On the project page, there are maps showing potential new locations to explore!

Great job folks!

Unfortunately, we are going to cancel the BioBlitz for this blooming season. I didn't get the memo that mother nature had the sprinklers set to run every Saturday, so we are once again rained out by 90% chance of thunderstorms. Next weekend is predicted to be the same.

Please review the links post for the training information and links to maps of where we are needing searchers to check.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/carolina-anemones-of-dfw/journal/22090-important-links

If there is interest, I can arrange a short webinar to talk through the information about identifying Amenones and locations to check. Comment below if you would like to be notified. It will depend on the number of interested participants.

Thank you to everyone who planned to join us! We will try for the BioBlitz again next year!

Here are some of the documents you might be looking for during the Anemone BioBlitz:

Anemone Comparison
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xRWgRBEEYWpbZu6Xv6YnJ3gSEEJ-XbpZoXgelkLu1qE/edit?usp=sharing
Once you know what characters to look for, distinguishing A. caroliniana from A. berlandieri is fairly easy. Use this link for a quick way to compare the main differences of the two species.

How to ID Anemones in TX
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1llZApbJ29F2h9w7EYA7D3B-cDAcQra0GC01zWMCvVc8/edit#slide=id.g356db3e51b_0_13
Interested in learning more about the characteristics of Anemones beyond our DFW species? This identification guide gives more detail on the two species of DFW, as well as introduces the other Texas species and basic botanical terminology.

Map of Anemone Search Locations
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=15Aw7rFcaagPH2kQ6ZAklt_6L0aSEB2kP&ll=32.57945730870446%2C-97.24197340546874&z=9
Our goal for this BioBlitz is to visit each of the locations on the map during this blooming season. If you come across anemones of either species, please upload photos to iNat (separate observation for each flower,) making sure to photograph at least the flower stem below the leafy bract. If you visit a location on the map and don't find any Carolina Anemones (A. caroliniana), send a message to @pfau_tarleton to let us know you looked and didn't find anything so we can update the map.

Stars on the map indicate sandy soils.

Red = A. caroliniana present
Grey = A. caroliniana NOT present
Blue = Cemetery to be searched
Yellow = Park or other location to be searched

DFW Sandy Soils Map
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1L3dYHYc5UX-EX_dN9ckxpl0i9aro77Nt-LCzeN00QTc/edit?usp=sharing
A. caroliniana seems to favor sandy soils instead of those with more clay or loam. This link will show you the sandy soils around DFW to help narrow your search if you visit locations beyond those on the map (which would be VERY helpful!)