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October 14

Lead Cove: White Top Aster, Erect Goldenrod and Curtis Aster.

Bote Mountain: Erect Goldenrod, Curtis Aster, White Top Aster and White Snakeroot.

Anthony Creek: Erect Goldenrod and White Top Aster.

Crib Gap: Erect Goldenrod, White Snakeroot and White Top Aster.

October 10

Mt. Sterling: Mountain Gentian, Curtis Aster, White Top Aster. Southern Harebell, Erect Goldenrod and White Snake Root.

Baxter Creek: Erect Goldenrod and White Top Aster (Note: Undergrowth along the trail has been cut along much of the trail).

October 4

Meigs Creek: White Top Aster, Erect Goldenrod, Teaberry, White Snakeroot (few), Cardinal Flower (2), Curtis Aster and Whitewood Aster.

September 30

Rich Mountain Road, from park boundary to Indian Grave Trail – Pale Jewelweed, White Top Aster (many nice blooms), Mountain Mint (about gone), Flowering Spurge (2), Great Lobelia (past peak but still some nice blooms), White Snakeroot (past peak but still a few blooms), Curtis Aster, False Fox Glove (few), Black Eyed Susan (few), Red Clover, Erect Goldenrod and Smooth Creeping Bush Clover.

Indian Grave Trail, from Rich Mt. Rd. to Rich Mt. Trail – Coreopsis (few), Hawkweed (few), Curtis Aster (peak bloom), White Top Aster (many at peak bloom), Great Lobelia (past peak – few blooming), Erect Goldenrod and Mountain Gentian (few at peak bloom).

Rich Mountain Trail (B-E) – White Top Aster Erect Goldenrod, Curtis Aster and Curtiss Milkwort (1).

September 23

Little River Trail – White Top Aster, White Snake Root, Hearts-a-bustin, Pale Jewelweed, Black Cohosh, Erect Goldenrod, Heal All and Great Lobelia; Huskey Gap Trail – Golden Rod Erect, White Top Aster, Hearts-a-bustin, Mountain Gentian (Peak Bloom – many – nice), Coreopsis (one spot has a good showing at peak bloom about a half-mile from the Little River Trail) and False Fox Glove; Sugarland Mountain Trail – Mountain Gentian (some really nice blooms at peak bloom), White Top Aster (some nice blooms), Erect Goldenrod and White Snakeroot.

September 9

Turkey Pen Trail (B to E) – Cardinal Flower (past peak but still nice blooms – not a lot of them), Great Lobelia (many at peak bloom), Erect Goldenrod, White Snake Root (most just starting to bloom), Coreopsis (some), Hearts-a-bustin (few), Daisy Fleabane (one cluster of them), White Top Aster (many – most at peak bloom), Southern Harebell (past peak but still nice), False Fox Glove (few but nice blooms), Red Clover (1), Pink Turtle Head (few at peak bloom) and Hog Peanut.

School House Gap (B to Turkey Pen Trail) – Cardinal Flower (really nice blooms – good selection), White Top Aster (at peak bloom), White Snake Root (Just starting to bloom), Great Lobelia (good numbers – at peak bloom), Joe Pye Weed (few – past peak bloom), Hog Peanut, Black eyed Susan (past peak), Coreopsis (few), White Clover (1) and Erect Goldenrod.

Bote Mountain (B to Finley Cane Trail) – White Top Aster, Hearts-a-Bustin, Red Clover (few), White Top Aster, Heal All (5 or 6 together), Great Lobelia (Many at full bloom), Tick Trefoil (1) (Past peak), Hairy Milk Pea, Smooth Creeping Bush Clover and Hawkweed (few – at peak bloom).

Finley Cane (B to E) – White Snake Root (just starting to bloom), White Top Aster (at peak bloom), Pale Jewelweed (few) and Erect Goldenrod.

September 2

Rabbit Creek (B to Hannah Mt. Trail) – Wildflowers: Spotted Jewelweed, Black Eyed Susan, Cardinal Flower (really brightly colored), Flowering Spurge. Hog Peanut, Indian Pipe, White Top Aster, Great Lobelia (nice – close to peak bloom), Curtiss Milkwort (past peak), False Fox Glove (nice), Tick Trefoil (about gone), Hawkweed, Southern Harebell (still some nice blooms) and Star Grass (2).

Hannah Mountain (From Rabbit Creek to Campsite #14) – Wildflowers: False Fox Glove, Flowering Spurge, White Top Aster, Starry Campion (about gone), Southern Harebell (few), Great Lobelia (nice – close to peak bloom) and Pinesap (One location had the best display of these that I have seen).

August 30

Round Top (B-E) Cardinal Flower (some really nice blooms), Coreopsis, Great Lobelia (at peak bloom), Joe Pyeweed (at Little River), Wild Golden Glow (at Little River), Star Grass (1), Black Eyed Susan (at Trailhead), various kinds of Goldenrod, Flowering Spurge, False Fox Glove (nice – good numbers), White Top Aster (past peak, Curtiss Milkwort (few – past peak) Tick Trefoil (few – past peak), Wood Nettle (past peak) and Mountain Mint (past peak – few).

August 12

Little River (B to Huskey Gap Trail): White Top Aster, Asiatic Dayflower, Doll Eyes (berries), Wood Nettle, Heal All, Pale Jewelweed, Spotted Jewelweed, White Snakeroot (1 Just starting to bloom) and Larkspur (about gone).

Huskey Gap (B-E): Doll Eyes (berries), Asiatic Dayflower, Coreopsis (really nice – appear to be at peak bloom at two locations), Southern Harebell (past peak), Early Goldenrod,Yellow Fringed Orchid (past peak), False Fox Glove (still a lot of buds), Canadian Violet (many – still beautiful blooms), Pale Jewelweed, Wood Nettle, White Top Aster and Tick Trefoil (past peak – few left).

August 9

West Prong (B-E) – Pale Jewelweed, Tick Trefoil, Doll Eyes (berries), Wood Nettle and Southern Harebells. Note: Very few blooms.

August 2

Cooper Road Trail – (From hiker parking lot at Ranger Station to Hatcher Mountain Trail – Butterfly Peas (few), Blackeyed Susans (many – slightly past peak), Flowering Spurge (at peak bloom), Cardinal Flower (1) (beautiful), Coreopsis, Heal All (Many – some of the blooms are very attractive), Yellow Fringed Orchid, Reclining Saint Andrews Cross (many – past peak), Curtiss Milkwort (good number), Doll Eyes (berries), Star Grass (1), Wild Potato Vine, Tick Trefoil (many – past peak), Spotted Jewelweed, Red clover and Queen Ann’s Lace (1).

Hatcher Mountain Trail – (From Cooper Road Trail to Little Bottoms Trail) – Star Grass (many), Curtiss Milkwort, Reclining Saint Andrew’s Cross, Yellow Fringed Orchid, Heal All, Coreopsis, Rattlesnake Plantain (few – past peak) and Tick Trefoil (past peak).

Little Bottoms Trail (B-E) -Reclining Saint Andrew’s Cross, Coreopsis, Star Grass, Tick Trefoil, Curtiss Milkwort, Hawkweed, Wild Potato Vine, Flowering Spurge (nice), Joe Pyeweed, Blackeyed Susan (many – at peak bloom – beautiful), Pencil Flower (few – small but nice – do not see often), Hairy Milk Pea and Rattlesnake Plantain (few – past peak).

August 2

Abrams Falls (B to end- junction with Hatcher Mt. and Hannah Mt. Trails) – Winged Sumac, Flowering Spurge (many – peak bloom), Southern Harebell, Star Grass (3), Mountain Angelica, Tick Trefoil (past peak), Wild Potato Vine (some – nice), Coreopsis, Joe Pye Weed, Saint Andrews Cross (many – past peak but nice), Rattlesnake Plantain (one group nice – rest past peak) and Hawkweed. Some purple asters starting to bloom but not sure of which one that they were.

July 24

Laurel Falls – (B to Little Greenbrier Trail) – Mountain Angelica, Heal All, White Top Aster (about gone), Southern Harebell (just starting to bloom), Winged Sumac, Wood Nettle, Canadian Violet (about gone), Rattlesnake Plantain, Erect Goldenrod, Basil Bee Balm (past peak), Tick Trefoil (Past peak), Reclining Saint Andrews Cross (past peak), Coreopsis, False Fox Glove, Rosebay Rhododendron (about gone), Black Cohosh (about gone), Crimson Bee Balm (past peak) and Starry Campion.

Little Greenbrier (B-E) – Rattlesnake Plantain, Yellow Fringed Orchid (1 blooming – around 10 budded), Indian Pipe, Smooth Phlox, Wood Nettle, Curtiss Milkwort (at peak bloom), Reclining Saint Andrew’s Cross (past peak), Coreopsis, Larkspur (about gone), Star Grass, Basil Bee Balm (well past peak bloom), Black Cohosh (past peak bloom), Tick Treefoil (past peak), Starry Campion, White Top Aster (past peak bloom), Starry Campion and Pale Jewelweed.

July 12

School House Gap (B to Chestnut Top Trail) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Thimbleweed, Rattlesnake Plantain, Basil Bee Balm, Tick Trefoil, Daisy Fleabane, Star Grass, Flowering Spurge, Reclining Saint Andrews Cross, White Top Aster, Coreopsis, and Mountain Angelica

Chestnut Top (B-E) – White Top Aster, Reclining Saint Andrews Cross, Curtiss Milkwort, Coreopsis, Rattlesnake Plantain, Tick Trefoil, Basil Bee Balm (Many – slightly past peak) Lark Spur (about gone), Horse Nettle (past peak) Thimbleweed (1), Saint John’s Wort, Pale Jewelweed and Wood Nettle.

July 8

Appalachian Trail (from Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer Creek Trail) – Rudgel’s Indian Plantain, Wild Hydrangea, Wood Sorrel and Love Vine (just starting to bloom).

Sweat Heifer Creek Trail (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron (many blooms – very beautiful, Love Vine, Indian Pipe, Purple Fringed Orchid (3), Crimson Bee Balm (many – most at peak bloom – very beautiful), Wood Nettle, White Top Aster, Basil Bee Balm,Turk Cap Lily, Pipsissewa, Spotted Jewelweed, Rudgel’s Indian Plantain, Mountain Saint John’s Wort, Partridge Berry and Ramps.

Kephart Prong Trail (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Rattlesnake Plaintain, Black Cohosh (1), Tick Trefoil (just starting to bloom), Daisy Fleabane, Heal All, Wood Nettle, Wild Golden Glow (1) and Crimson Bee Balm (Many – most a full bloom – very beautiful).

NOTE: Along Newfound Gap Road the Black Eyed Susans, Rosebay Rhododendron, Turk Cap Lily and Wild Golden Glows are very nice.

July 5

Jakes Creek (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron, White Clover, Pale Jewelweed, Heal All, Common Elderberry (about gone), Black Cohosh, Wood Nettle, Rattlesnake Plantain (few — just starting to bloom) and Crimson Bee Balm (In spots at peak bloom – very beautiful).

Panther Creek (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron and Rattlesnake Plantain (few).

Middle Prong (B to Panther Creek Trail) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Heal All and Wood Nettle.

July 1

Little River Trail (B to Cucumber Gap Trail) – Rosebay Rhododendron (many – some at peak bloom, some just starting to bloom, some budded and some about gone), Wood Nettle and Turk Camp Lilly (6 plus some buds).

Cucumber Gap Trail (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron (many – various stages of blooming), Wood Nettle and Crimson Bee Balm (peak bloom – very pretty).

June 24

Grapeyard Ridge Trail (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron (Many – most at full peak bloom) – Tall Phlox (just starting to bloom), Coreopsis, Crimson Bee Balm (At peak bloom – beautiful – very colorful), Daisy Fleabane (about gone), Heal All (1), Basil Bee Balm (past peak) and Indian Pipe (few – just started blooming).

June 21

Wildflower Report – Lumber Ridge Trail (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron (still nice – slightly beyond peak), Wild Hydrangea (about gone), Basil Bee Balm (past peak bloom), Flame Azalea (few – past peak), Black Cohosh (3 – past peak bloom), Star Grass (few), Coreopsis (right at peak bloom), White Top Aster (just starting to bloom) and as best as I can determine Spring Ladies’ Tresses (2 stalks of them).

Special Note: Met bear coming down the trail which reversed directions and ran the other way when it saw me.

June 17

Gregory Ridge Trail (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron (at peak bloom -lower elevation), Wild Hydrangea, Pipsissewa (many at peak bloom), Loosestrife, White Top Aster (just starting to bloom), Coreopsis (Just starting to bloom), Star Grass (1), Galax (about gone), Starry Campion, Common Cinquefoil, Prostate Bluet (about gone) and Flame Azalea.

Gregory Bald – Flame Azaleas are right at peak bloom on the bald (some past peak – some budded).

Note: With high temps predicted this week, the quality of the blooms will likely fade quickly. Secondly, it appears that the blackberry plants are making significant inroads among the Azaleas and Blueberry bushes.

June 10

Lead Cove – Rosebay Rhododendron (Peak bloom), Pipsissewa, Basil Bee Balm (Just Starting to bloom), Daisy Fleabane, Loosestrife, Valerian, Indian Cucumber Root (about gone) and Wild Hydrangea (Peak bloom).

Bote Mountain (From Lead Cove Trail to Finely Cane Trail) – Rosebay Rhododendron (Mostly at peak bloom), White Clover, Red Clover, Galax (1), Flame Azalea (few – very beautiful), Daisy Fleabane, Star Grass, Pipsissewa, Wild Hydrangea (Peak boom), and Valerian.

Finely Cane – Rosebay Rhododendron (mostly at peak bloom), Pipsissewa, Wild Hydrangea (peak bloom) and Valerian. Other than Rosebay Rhododendron not many blooms on this trail at this time.

May 27

Low Gap (B to Low Gap) – Galax (many) , Indian Cucumber Root (past peak), Meadow Parsnip (few), Blackberry, False Solomon’s Seal, Solomon’s Seal (few), Sweet White Violet (few), Canadian Violet (few) , Partridge Berry (Many – peak bloom), Mountain Laurel (few in bloom), Wild Hydrangea and Dutchmen’s Pipe 

Appalachian Trail (From Low Gap Mt. Cammerer Trail) – Blackberry, Indian Cucumber Root, Mountain Laurel, Prostate Bluet, False Solomon’s Seal (Many but in various stages of blooming), Catawba Rhododendron (some at peak bloom – some past peak bloom), Dwarf Rhododendron, White Clover (few at gap), Common Cinquefoil (few – past peak), Squaw Root (few – past peak), Canadian Mayflower (many – some at peak bloom – some past peak bloom), Sweet White Violet (few – past peak) and Meadow Rue (appear at peak bloom) 

Mount Cammerer (B-E) – Canadian Mayflower (many – at peak bloom), Yellow Bead Lily (few – about gone – well past peak), Blackberry, Catawba Rhododendron (some at peak – some beyond peak), Dwarf Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel (It appears that many of the buds are turning brown before blooming; hot weather may be a factor)

Cosby Entrance Road (B-E) – Mountain Laurel (Few), Catawba Rhododendron (at beginning of the road – few) and Wild Hydrangea

Special note: Saturday, I (Tom Harrington) found three Deptford Pinks in bloom on the right side of the small road that goes to the Cades Cove stables about 20 feet from Campground Road. They are exceptionally beautiful and are very small. I am not sure how long that they will last with this hot weather, but if you are in the area you might see if you can locate them. This is the first time that I have found them.

May 20

Jakes Creek (B-E) – Mountain Angelica, Bar Cucumber,White Clover,Daisy Fleabane, Multi-Floral Rose, Japanese Honeysuckle, Common Cinquefoil, Red Clover,Blackberry,Mountain Laurel,Partridge Berry,Canadian Violet,Foam Flower (about gone), Dog Hobble (about gone), Sweet White Violet (higher elevation),Meadow Parsnip (mostly higher elevation),Prostate Bluet (higher elevation),Wild Phlox (just about gone – higher elevation), Tassel Rue (higher elevation), False Solomon’s Seal (ones in full bloom at higher elevation), Indian Cucumber Root (higher elevation), Brook Lettuce (about gone).

April 28

Ace Gap

MANY BLOOMS: Wild Geranium, PB; Meadow Parsnip, PB;Yellow Trillium, BP; Sweet Shrub, PB; Catesby Trillium, V; Crested Dwarf Iris, V; Star Grass, PB;Robins Plantain, BP;Common Cinquefoil, PB (very bright & beautiful); Rue Anemone, PB (Blooms on this trail are smaller than what have seen on other trails); Little Brown Jugs, PB 

SOME BLOOMS: Hispid Buttercup, PB; Solomon’s Seal, BP; Fire Pinks, PB; Flame Azalea, V; Blackberry, PB; Dogwood, BP; Sweet Yellow Violet, PB 

FEW BLOOMS: May Apple (1); Common Blue Violet, PB; Stone Crop, BP;Wild Oats;Star Chickweed, BP; Hawkweed, JS; False Solomon’s Seal, JS; Squaw Root, JS; Yellow Mandarin, BP; Maple Leaf Viburnum, JS; Birdfoot Violet, PB; Clinton Lily, JS; (2 plants with blooms just starting to bloom);Umbrella Magnolia, BP; Indian Cucumber Root, JS; Wood Vetch, PB; Vernal Iris

BUDDED: Fairwand (1 plant with 2 buds)and Mountain Laurel

Notes: It appears that there may not be as many Mountain Laurel and Rosebay Rhododendron blooms on this trail this year. Only one Vernal Iris bloom found on this trail this year so far.

April 22

Middle Prong Trail (B-E)

MANY BLOOMS: Sweet White Violets – V, Toothwort – V, Foam Flower – V, Trillium Erect – V, Canadian Violet – BP, Wild Ginger – V, Hispid Buttercup – AP, Showy Orchis – AP, Miami Mist – BP, White Fringed Phacelia – BP

SOME BLOOMS: Common Blue Violets – AP, Sweet Shrub – AP, Star Chickweed – V, Wild Strawberry – AP, Meadow Parsnip – JS, Brook Lettuce – BP, Common Cinquefoil – AP

FEW BLOOMS: Doghobble – JS, False Solomon’s Seal – JS,Bishop Caps – BP, Rue Anemone – AP, Doll Eyes (2) – JS, Jack-n-pulpit (6) – AP, Creamy Yellow Violet – AP, Frazier Sedge – BP, Prostate Bluet – AP, Blue Cohosh – AP, Dwarf Crested Iris – AP, Bed Straw JS,Quaker Lady – AP, Trillium Erect – AP

Lynn Camp Prong (from Middle Prong Trail to Campsite 28)

MANY BLOOMS: Sweet White Violets – AP, Miami Mist

SOME BLOOMS: Toothwort – V, White Fringed Phacelia – AP, Solomon’s Seal – AP, Foam Flower – V, Creamy Yellow Violet – V, Brook Lettuce – BP, Silver Bells – AP, Dogwood – AP, Umbrella Magnolia – JS 

FEW BLOOMS: Meadow Parsnip – JS, Common Blue Violet – AP, Spring Beauty – BP, Star Chickweed – AP, Yellow Mandarin – AP

NOTE: On the Lynn Camp Prong Trail about a half-mile from Middle Prong Trail the Miami Mist are putting on a spectacular show. The ground is almost totally covered in spots with these small lavender/purple blooms. It is especially beautiful where they go down embankments to the edge of streams. It is well worth the 4.6-mile trek from the parking lot at the end of Tremont Road to see them.

April 17

Lower Mount Cammerer Trail (B-E)

MANY BLOOMS: Foam Flower,Trillium Erect, Sweet White Violet, Rue Anemone, Star Chickweed, Bishop Caps, Yellow Trillium, Blue Cohosh,Wild Phlox,Canadian Violet, Wild, Geranium, Hispid Buttercups, Large Flowered Bellwort, Wood Anemone,Nodding Trillium (many blooming – many buds), Silver Bells, Yellow Mandarin, Dwarf Crested Iris (The colors of some of the blooms are breathtaking – very beautiful), Dogwood, Dutchmen’s Breeches, Spotted Mandarin (This is the only trail that I have seen this in bloom)

SOME BLOOMS: Golden Ragwort, Stone Crop, Solomon’s Seal, Showy Orchis (plants seem smaller than usual), Wild Oats, Common Cinquefoil, Vernal Iris, Spring Beauty, Summer Sweet

FEW BLOOMS: Common Blue Violet,Creamy Yellow Violet, Squaw Root (just starting to come up), Purple Wake Robin (4 Blooms – Some budded),Long Spurred Violet, Birdfoot Violet, Dwarf Ginseng, Trout Lily (4) (About gone), Seersucker Sedge (about gone), Smooth Yellow Violet, Wood Violet

Note:  Some of the flowers on the Cosby end of the trail are past peak while on the far end some of the same flowers are just starting to bloom. In the midsection of the trail many of the flowers are at peak bloom. There is approximately 1,200 feet elevation gain from the beginning of the trail to the highest point on the trail. Some of the hillsides are spectacular with a thick covering of Trillium Erect and Rue Anemone with a number of the other flowers sprinkled in to delight the hiker. The Vasey Trillium are budded but not in blood yet.

April 13

First mile of Cucumber Gap, starting at junction with Jakes Creek Trail.

AG: Trout Lily, +White Erect Trillium, -Seersucker Sedge, Fraser Sedge, Cut-leaf Toothwort, +Yellow Trillium, -Large Flowered Bellwort, Rue Anemone, Wood Anemone, Star chickweed

AG: Spring beauty, – Squirrel Corn, -White Baneberry

JS: Blue Cohosh, Foam Flower, Creeping Phlox

JS: Bishop’s Cap, Dogwood, May Apple, Serviceberry, -Purple Wake Robin

JS: Solomon Seal

JS: False Solomon Seal; Violets, Canada, Common Blue, Smooth Yellow; – Wild Geranium

Wild Ginger and Crested Dwarf iris in leaf, not yet blooming.

Along River Road between Townsend Wye and Meigs Falls, we were seeing Fire Pink, Columbine, Dogwood, Redbud, White and Purple Phacelia and Stonecrop from the car.

April 12

Porter Creek (B-E)

Legend:  At peak bloom (PB), Beyond Peak (BP), Just starting to bloom (JS), Varying stages of blooming (V)

MANY BLOOMS

Yellow Trillium – PB, Large Flowered Trillium – PB, Star Chickweed – PB, Sweet White Violet – PB, Bishop Caps – PB, Robin’s Plantain – V, Trillium Erect – PB, White Fringed Phacelia – BP (slightly), Wild Phlox – PB, Wood Anemone – PB, Long Spurred Violet – PB, Dwarf Ginseng – PB (Upper end of trail), Trout Lily – V (Upper end of trail)

SOME BLOOMS

Blue Cohosh – BP, Foam Flower – V, Rue Anemone – PB, Dogwood – JS, Common Blue Violet – PB, Canadian Violet – PB, Toothwort – BP, Meadow Parsnip – JS, Brook Lettuce – PB, Halberd Leaf Violet – PB, Hispid Buttercup – PB, Wild Ginger – PB, Squirrel Corn – PB, Witch Hobble – PB – (Upper end of trail), Yellow Mandarin – JS, Frazier Sedge – BP, Seersucker Sedge – BP (about gone), Wild Geranium – JS, Golden Ragwort – PB, Vernal Iris – PB, Crested Dwarf Iris – PB

FEW BLOOMS

Spring Beauty – PB, Lousewort – JS, Meadow Rue – 1 plant covered with blooms, Squirrel Corn – JS, Wild Oats – PB, Daisy Fleabane – PB, Common Cinquefoil – JS,SolomensSeal – JS, Creamy Yellow Violet – PB, Stone Crop – V, Little Brown Jugs – PB, Showy Orchis – BP, Dutchmen’s Breeches – BP

SPECIAL NOTES:  After crossing the two-sectioned foot log bridge about a mile and a half up the trail, there is an amazing displayofLargeFloweredTrillium, Trillium Erect, Yellow Trillium, Bishop CapsandWhite Fringed Phacelia.  The flowers cover much of the ground above and below the trail for a substantial distance.

For all who are able and have the time, not far after FernFallsthe hillsides above the trail are covered with Large Flowered Trillium for about 100 yards, and below the trail the ground is covered for about 50 to 60 yards with these flowers in full bloom. AdditionallyinthisareatheWild Phlox are putting on a great display as well.

On the first mile of the trail, many of the Large Flowered Trillium are well past their peak time of blooming. Heavy rain and or high temperatures could shorten the time that these blooms will be at their current stage of blooming.

April 8

Turkey Pen Trail (B-E) -Long Spurred Violet, Wood Anemone, Common Blue Violet, Sweet White Violet, Spring Beauty (few), Catesby Trillium, Rue Anemone, Foam Flower, Star Chickweed, Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe, Robins Plantain, Yellow Trillium, Crested Dwarf Iris, Common Cinquefoil (Just starting to bloom), Squaw Root (Just starting to bloom), Wild Oats, Halberd Leaf Violet, Hairy Buttercup, Wood Violet and Trailing Arbutus.

School House Gap (B to Turkey Pen Trail) – Toothwort, Golden Ragwort (Just starting to bloom), Catesby Trillium, Trillium Erect, Rue Anemone, Bishop Caps (few), Sweet White Violets, Long Spurred Violets, Common Blue Violet, Star Chickweed, Yellow Trillium and Wild Phlox (few).

Bote Mountain (B to Finely Cane Trail) – Long Spurred Violet, Sweet White Violet, Catesby Trillium, Halberd Leaf Violet, Pennywort, Toothwort, Golden Ragwort (Just starting to bloom), Common Cinquefoil and Common Blue Violet.

Finely Cane (B-E) – Trailing Arbutus, Halberd Leaf Violet, Sweet White Violet, Long Spurred Violet, Rue Anemone, Yellow Trillium, Creamy Yellow Violet, Toothwort, Blood Root, Catesby Trillium, Star Chickweed, Trillium Erect (few), Blue Cohosh (Many – just started blooming), Foam Flower (Just started blooming), Shuttleworth’s, Ginger, Large Flowered Bellwort (very beautiful – at peak bloom), Bishop Caps (Few), Hepatica (few), Squaw Root and Wood Anemone.

Star Chickweed
Star Chickweed
Squawroot
Squaw Root

March 29

Gabes Mountain Trail (B-E)

Many Blooms – close to peak bloom: Hepatica, Spring Beauty, Halberd Leaf Violet, Frazier Sedge

Some Blooms: Rue Anemone

Flew Blooms: Trout Lily, Common Blue Violet, Blood Root, Trailing Arbutus 

Special Note:  This trail has 100blowdownsofwhich some are challenging to cross over, crawl under, go through or go around.

March 15

Toothwort flower photo by Gary Wilson
Toothwort

West Prong (B to Campsite #18) 

Many blooms, which appear to be at peak bloom: Rue Anemone, Spring Beauty, Toothwort, Hepatica (Some of the pink blooms are outstanding), and Halberd Leaf Violet

Some blooms: Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe, Long Spurred Violet

Few Blooms: Blood Root (3), Sweet White Violet, Common Blue Violet, Trailing Arbutus, Seersucker Sedge (well past peak)

Note: Bestdisplayofblooms first half mile up the trail.

March 7

-Porter Creek Trail (B-E):

Many Blooms:  Hepatica (also lot of buds) (most of them drooping – Probably because of freeze) Seersucker Sedge (past peak and/or freeze effected)

Few Blooms:    White Fringed Phacelia (3)

Budded:  Spring Beauty, Yellow Trillium (few), Blood Root (3)

-Budding on Gatlinburg Trail: Yellow Trillium

March 5

Footnote from Tom: I checked out Chestnut Top again today to see what the cold weather did to the wildflowers shown on last weeks report.  The Seersucker Sedge appears well past the peak bloom.  The other flowers appeared a little wilted.   Additionally the following flowers are budded which were not last week:  Blood Root, Toothwort and Yellow Trillium.  A couple of warm days would probably open the buds on the Blood Root and Toothwort.

March 2

Hepatica, Spring Beauty, Seersucker Sedge in bloom on Cucumber Gap Trail about 3/4 mile in from Jakes Creek junction; Trout Lily leaf emerging

February 28

Spring Beauty flowers photo by Gary Wilson
Spring Beauty

Chestnut Top Trail (B-E) (Firsthalfmileexcept for the Trailing Arbutus).

Many Blooms:  Seersucker Sedge (Full bloom), Spring Beauty, Star Chickweed and about a mile and a half up the trail Trailing Arbutus.

Decent number of blooms:  Hepatica, Long Spurred Violet and Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe.

February 26 

Old Sugarlands (B-E) – Hepatica (36 in bloom at the same spot), Trailing Arbutus (one clump of blooms), Long Spurred Violet (close to a dozen of them in bloom) and Plantain Leaf Pussy toe (many budded – far endoftrailhassome in bloom).

Trailing Arbutus photo by Gary Wilson
Trailing Arbutus

February 14

On the Lead CoveTrailthere were two Hepatica in full bloom, and one bud was ready to burst open.  On the FinelyCaneTrailtheDwarf Crested Iris were sprouting.

Great Smokies

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The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.

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