November 13

Meigs Creek Trail (B-E): Crested dwarf iris blooming

October 31 – Happy Halloween

Ace Gap (B-E):  Mountain Gentian.

October 18

Fork Ridge (B-E) – Whitewood Aster, White Snake Root, Mountain Gentian, Pale Jewelweed, Erect Goldenrod, White Top Aster, Stiff Leaf Aster and Curtis Aster.

Deep Creek (US 441 to Campsite #53) – White Top Aster, White Snakeroot, Mountain Gentian, Stiff Leaf Aster and Erect Goldenrod.

October 7

Gabes Mountain (B-E) – Mountain Gentian, Whitewood Aster, Stiff Leaf Aster, Erect Goldenrod, Black Cohosh, White Snakeroot, Pale Jewelweed, Pink Turtlehead, White Top Aster and Curtis Aster.

Maddron Bald (B to Gabes Mountain Trail)- White Top Aster, Great Lobelia and Whitewood Aster.

Cone Flower (Rudbeckia laciniata) blooms alongside the Le Conte Lodge in mid-July. – GSMA Photo

September 29

Turkey Pen (B-E) – Great  Lobelia, Cardinal Flower (about gone), White Top Aster, Partridge Berry, Erect Goldenrod (about gone), Curtis Aster, False Fox Glove (about gone), Flowering Spurge, Southern Harebell (about gone), White Snakeroot, Coreopsis, Pink Turtlehead (really nice ones), Hearts-a-busting and Mountain Gentian.

School House Gap (B to Turkey Pen Trail) – Erect Goldenrod, Curtis Aster, Great Lobelia, White Top Aster, Cardinal Flower (about gone), Great Goldenrod and Southern Harebell (about gone).

Bote Mountain (B to Finely Cane Trail) – White Top Aster, Flowering Spurge, Curtis Aster and Hearts-a-busting (many at the junction with West Prong Trail).

Finely Cane (B-E) –  Goldenrod Erect, White Top Aster, White Snakeroot, Tick Trefoil (1) and Hearts-a-busting.

Acorn Report – Acorns were scattered all along four trails covered today – first trails this many seen this year – In some locations quiet a few.

September 12

Wildflowers on Roundtop Trail (B-E) – Black Eyed Susan, Ironweed, Flowering Spurge, False Fox Glove (many), Erect Goldenrod, Coreopsis, Curtiss Milkwort, White Top Aster, White Turtlehead (1), Cardinal Flower (past peak but still nice), Dog Fennel, Great Lobelia, Hawkweed, Joe Pye Weed and Wild Golden Glow.

Foliage on Roundtop Trail (B-E) – Sourwood, Red Maple, Sassafras, Blueberry and Dogwood foliage changing to fall wardrobe.

August 29

Old Sugarlands Trail – (B to Bullhead Trail) – Wild Golden Glow, Cardinal Flower (outstanding blooms – many – right at peak), Heal All, Asiatic Dayflower, Tick Trefoil (about gone), Red Clover (1), False Fox Glove (1), Flattop Aster and Coreopsis.

August 22

Bullhead Trail (B-E) – False Fox Glove, Erect Goldenrod, Pale Jewelweed, Wood Nettle, White Top Aster, Summer Sweet, Whitewood Aster, Coreopsis, Filmy Angelica, White Snakeroot, Pink Turtlehead, Indian Pipe, Grass of Parnassus (outstanding – at peak bloom – near the top of LeConte), Wild Golden Glow, Love Vine and Rudgel’s Indian Plantain. 

Rainbow Falls Trail (B to Bullhead Trail junction) – White Snakeroot, Pink Turtlehead, Filmy Angelica, White Top Aster, Whitewood Aster, Erect Goldenrod, Starry Campion, Black Cohosh, Pale Jewelweed, Coreopsis, Southern Harebell, Love Vine and Wild Golden Glows. 

August 15

Meigs Creek (B-E) – Cardinal Flower (very beautiful and almost at peak bloom), Wood Nettle, Mountain Angelica (1), False Fox Glove (few), Coreopsis (2), Reclining Saint Andrews Cross (few) and Curtiss Milkwort (few).  Note:  At one stream crossing there are 8 Cardinal Flowers, at another stream crossing there are 7 Cardinal Flowers and at a third crossing there are 14 Cardinal Flowers – very vivid (one very large) – well worth the trek to them.

August 8

Rabbit Creek (B to Hannah Mountain Trail) – Black Eye Susan, Heal All, Joe Pye Weed, Asiatic Dayflower, Mountain Mint, Spotted Jewelweed, Wild Golden Glow, Starry Campion, Doll Eyes (berries), Rattlesnake Plantain, Tick Trefoil, Flowering Spurge, Coreopsis, Star Grass, Southern Harebell, Curtiss Milkwort, Reclining Saint Andrews Cross and Mountain Angelica.

Hannah Mountain (From Rabbit Creek Trail to Campsite #14) – Flowering Spurge, Tick Trefoil, Rattlesnake Plantain, Coreopsis, Mountain Mint and Starry Campion.

July 25

Chestnut Top (B-E) – Basil Bee Balm, Wood Nettle, Pokeweed, Tick Trefoil, Yellow Fringed Orchid (1 budded), Rattlesnake Plantain, Reclining St. Andrews Cross, Curtiss Milkwort, Purple Flowering Rasberry, Wild Hydrangea, Coreopsis and Narrow Leaf White-top Aster.

School House Gap (B to Chestnut Top Trail) – Coreopsis, Reclining St. Andrews Cross, Mountain Angelica (very pretty), Tick Trefoil, White Clover, Rattlesnake Plantain, Heal All, Wood Nettle, Basil Bee Balm, Rosebay Rhododendron, False Fox Glove (1 budded) and Spiderwort.

Bote Mountain (B to West Prong Trail) – Heal All, Basil Bee Balm, Rattlesnake Plantain, Coreopsis and Reclining St. Andrews Cross.

West Prong (B-E) –  Reclining St. Andrews Cross, Star Grass, Yellow Fringed Orchid (2 budded). Erect Golden Rod, Tick Trefoil, Wood Nettle, False Fox Glove (budded), Pokeweed and Pale Jewelweed.

Tremont Road (From Laurel Creek Road to Institute) – Wood Nettle, Tick Trefoil, Heal All, Pale Jewelweed, Spotted Jewelweed, Mountain Mint,  Mountain Angelica, Horse Nettle,  White Clover, Red Clover and Pokeweed.

July 20

Appalachian Trail (From Clingman’s Dome to Newfound Gap) – Bush Honeysuckle, Crimson Bee Balm (outstanding), Wild Hydrangea, White Snakeroot (just starting to bloom), Queen Anne’s Lace, White Clover, Red Clover, Wood Nettle, Filmy Angelica, Pink Turtlehead (few), Rudgels Indian Plantain (many), Wood Sorrel, Turk Cap Lily (just past peak), Love Vine, White Top Aster,
Rosebay Rhododendron (at or just past peak), Pale Jewelweed (few), Robin’s Plantain, Wild Golden Glow and American Germander.

July 11

Anthony Creek (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Tick Trefoil, Robins Plantain, Heal All, Crimson Bee Balm, Basil Bee Balm and Wood Nettle.
 
Bote Mountain (From Anthony Creek Trail to Spence Field) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Wild Hydrangea, Crimson Bee Balm (outstanding display – at peak), Wild Golden Glow (just starting), White Clover and Love Vine (Just Starting).
 
A T – (From Spence Field to Russell Field ) – White Clover, Rosebay Rhododendron (appears at peak – some of the best blooms that I have seen this year),  Saint Johnswort, Starry Campion, Wild Hydrangea, Basil Bee Balm, Large Bluet and Flame Azalea (about gone). The bear was seen about 30 yards below Trail 3/4 mile from Russell Field Shelter.
 
Russell Field (B-E) – Crimson Bee Balm, Black Eyed Susan (2), Large Bluet, Rosebay Rhododendron, Saint Johnswort, Turk Cap Lily (2), Wild Hydrangea, Black Cohosh, Wood Nettle, White Clover and Horse Nettle.

July 4

Lead Cove (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Large Bluet (1), Wild Hydrangea (few), Basil Bee Balm, Crimson Bee Balm and Black Cohosh. 

Bote Mountain (From Lead Cove Trail to Finely Cane Trail) – Rosebay Rhododendron, White Clover, Coreopsis, Basil Bee Balm, Pokeweed (1), Narrow leaf White Top Aster, Robins Plantain, St. Johnswort, Star Grass and Tick Trefoil.

Finely Cane (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Black Cohosh, Basil Bee Balm and Tick Trefoil.

Note:  There is a decent display of Rosebay Rhododendron on the first third of the Lead Cove Trail.  Some blooms are past peak, some areas have few blooms and the first part of Lead Cove has a number of budded Rosebay Rhododendron.  The Rosebay bloom displays on Bote Mountain and Finely Cane trails are rather sparse. Great rosebay rhododendron along Laurel Creek Road, too.

June 27

Little River – (B to Huskey Gap Trail) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Wild Hydrangea, Wood Nettle, Black Cohash, Robins Plantain and Basil Bee Balm.

Huskey Gap (From Little River Trail to Huskey Gap) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Basil Bee Balm, Wild Hydrangea, Star Grass, Coreopsis, Narrow Leaf White Top Aster and Galax (1).

Sugarland Mountain (B to Huskey Gap) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Flame Azalea, Star Grass, Summer Sweet, Pipsissewa, Coreopsis, Wild Hydrangea, Narrow Leaf White Top Aster and Thermopsis.

Special Notes:  At some locations, Rosebays are at peak bloom – other places past peak – still other places buds have not opened – Finally some locations plants do not appear to have buds or blooms.  I am not positive about the Thermopsis identification.  The blooms on the Thermopsis are exactly like those shown in the “Wildflowers of Tennessee” book – page 141; however, the leaves appear different. 

June 20

FLAME AZALEAS – GREGORY BALD –  Blooms are about 15 to 20% past peak – apparently hot weather over the weekend reduced the quality of the blooms.  There are still nice blooms and a good number of buds; however with the hot weather this week probably the blooms will largely be gone by the end of the week.  The blooms along the crest of the bald are more faded than the blooms down close to the woods (toward Fontana Lake).  
 
Gregory Ridge (B-E) – Pipsissewa, Sweet Shrub, Wild Hydrangea,  Large Bluet, Mountain Laurel, Star Grass, Galax, Flame Azalea and Tassel Rue.
 
Gregory Bald (B-E) – Flame Azalea, Large Bluet, Yarrow, Prostate Bluet, Tassel Rue, Wild Hydrangea, Galax, Loosestrife, Canadian Violet, Pipsissewa, Star Grass, Hawkweed and Coreopsis.

June 13

Appalachian Trail (Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer Creek Trail) – White Flame Azalea (1 – right at the beginning), Blackberry, Prostate Bluet, Catawba Rhododendron (not many but at peak), Wood Sorrel, Sweet White Violet, Common Elderberry and Tassel Rue.

Sweat Heifer Creek (B-E) – Prostate Bluet, Catawba Rhododendron (At peak – very pretty), Tassel Rue (nice), Partridge Berry, Mountain Laurel, Wood Sorrel, Common Cinquefoil, Purple Fringed Orchid (most beautiful I have seen), Large Bluet, Basil Bee Balm and Smooth Phlox (nice).

Kephart Prong (US 441 to Sweat Heifer Creek Trail) – Partridge Berry, Blue Eye Grass (1), Purple Fringed Orchid (1), Large Bluet, Wild Hydrangea, Wood Sorrel, Basil Bee Balm, Foam Flower (1), Purple Flowering Rasberry and Robbins Plantain.

June 6

Rich Mountain Loop (B-E) – Pipsissewa, Star Grass, Loosestrife, Galax, Mountain Laurel (about gone), Large Bluet,  Wild Hydrangea, Hawkweed (about gone), Flame Azalea and Beard Tongue.

Crooked Arm (B-E) – Large Bluet, Galax, Wild Hydrangea, Indian Pipe, Robin’s Plantain, Solomon’s Seal (about gone), Star Grass, Pipsussewa and Mountain Laurel (about gone).

Indian Grave (From Crooked Arm Trail to Rich Mountain Loop Trail) – Mountain Laurel (about gone), Galax, Star Grass, Pipsissewa, Beard Tongue, Large Bluet,  Flame Azalea, Hawkweed (about gone), Wild Hydrangea, Spiderwort (nice), Loosestrife, Fire Pink and Indian Pipe.

May 30

Low Gap (From Hiker Parking Lot to Low Gap) – Wild Hydrangea, Sweet Cicely, Wood Sorrel, Partridge Berry, Canadian Violet, Galax, Sweet White Violet, Indian Cucumber Root, Blackberry, Meadow Parsnip, Clinton Lily, Doll Eyes, Mountain Laurel, Dog Hobble, False Solomon’s Seal, White Fringed Phacelia (about gone), Red Elderberry, Dutchmen’s Pipe, White Clover,  Maple Leaf Viburnum and Solomon’s Seal.

A T (From Low Gap to Mt. Cammerer Trail) – Blackberry, White Clover, False Solomon’s Seal (nice – many at peak bloom), Common Cinquefoil, White Fringed Phacelia (about gone), Red Elderberry, Mountain Laurel, Hooked Buttercup, Prostate Bluet,  EarlyMeadow Rue, Canada Mayflower, Squawroot, Clinton Lily, Indian Cucumber Root, Catawba Rhododendron (some at peak bloom – others have not started blooming) and Yellow Bead Lily.

Mount Cammerer (B-E) –Canada Mayflower, Yellow Bead Lily, Catawba Rhododendron, Dwarf Rhododendron, Early Buttercup, Sweet White Violet and Prostate Bluet.

Crested Dwarf Iris (Iris cristata) blooms along Big Creek.  – GSMA Photo

May 23

Jakes Creek Trail (B-E) – Lyre Leaf Sage, Multi-flora Rose, Honeysuckle, Common Cinquefoil, Blackberry, Bar Cucumber (lots), Partridge Berry, Foam Flower, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Canadian Violet, Doll Eyes, Sweet White Violet, Dog Hobble, Prostate Bluets, Indian Cucumber Root, Wood Sorrel, Mountain Laurel, Meadow Parsnip, Thimbleweed (1), Sweet Cicely,
False Solomon’s Seal and Brook Lettuce.

May 16

Metcalf Bottoms (B-E) – Galax, Hawkweed, Dog Hobble, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Common Cinquefoil, Bar Cucumber, Wild Geranium, Spiderwort, Meadow Parsnip, False Solomon’s Seal and Mountain Laurel.

Walker Sisters Cabin (B-E) – Mountain Laurel, Lyre Leaf Sage, Red Clover, White Clover, Galax (just starting to bloom), Dog Hobble, Sweet White Violet, Canadian Violet, Bar Cucumber, Robin’s Plantain, Solomon’s Seal, Bowman’s Root, Wild Geranium, Vasey Trillium (2 – very nice & large), False Solomon’s Seal, Hawkweed, Golden Ragwort and Multiflora Rose (very nice).

Little Brier (B-E) – Lyre Leaf Sage, Common Cinquefoil, Bar Cucumber, Galax, Mountain Laurel, Fire Pink and Partridgeberry.

Little Greenbrier (From Little Brier Gap to Wear Gap) – Star Grass, Mountain Laurel, Galax, Flame Azalea, Common Milkweed, Golden Ragwort, Lyre Leaf Sage, Goats Rue (1 plant),
White Clover, Hawkweed, Blue Berry, Bowman’s Root, Blackberry and False Solomon’s Seal

Wear Gap Road (From Park Boundary to Metcalf Bottoms) – Lyre Leaf Sage, Wild Geranium, Red Clover (very beautiful), Bowman’s Root, Meadow Parsnip, Golden Ragwort, Fire Pink, Common Milkweed, False Solomon’s Seal, Wood Vetch, Solomon’s Seal, Field Mustard, Star Chickweed, Dog Hobble, Early Buttercup, Robin’s Plantain and Yellow Trillium (1).

The Mountain Laurel are really nice and right at peak.

May 10

Cooper Road (From Abrams Creek Ranger Station to Hatcher Mountain Trail) –Low Hop Trefoil, Red Cover, Golden Ragwort, Lyre Leaf Sage, White Clover, Ox Eye Daisy, Meadow Parsnip, Blackberry, Fire Pinks, Robin’s Plantain, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Dog Hobble, Pink Wood Sorrel, Bar Cucumber, Partridge Berry, Early Buttercup, Hooked Buttercup, Solomon’s Seal, False Solomon’s Seal, Mountain Laurel, Wild Geranium, Wood Vetch, Doll Eyes (1), Beard Tongue, Sweet White Violet, American Holly, Common Cinquefoil, Bird’s Foot Violet, Star Chickweed, Catesby Trillium, Star Grass, Hawkweed and Flame Azalea.

Hatcher Mountain (From Cooper Rd. Trail to Little Bottoms Trail) – Star Grass, White Clover, Mountain Laurel, Hawkweed, Catesby Trillium, Flame Azalea, Bristling Locust (the best blooms and the most blooms of this plant that I have ever seen – well worth the distance), Galax, Blackberry, Bar Cucumber, Solomon’s Seal, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Low Hop Trefoil, Common Milkweed, Common Cinquefoil, American Holly, Crested Dwarf Iris, Dog Hobble, Shuttleworth’s  Ginger, False Solomon’s Seal, Partridge Berry, Clinton Lily (one plant with six blooms), Rue Anemone, Cancer Root (1), Sweet White Violet, Early Buttercup, Gaywings, Golden Ragwort, Sweet Shrub, Bird’s Foot Violet and Fire Pink.

Little Bottoms (B-E) – Sweet Shrub (Massive blooms – shrubs just covered – outstanding display), Hawkweed, Bar Cucumber, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Star Chickweed, Crested Dwarf Iris, Wild Potato Vine (1), Star Grass, Shuttleworth’s  Ginger, Sweet White Violet, Lyre Leaf Sage, Beard Tongue, Common Cinquefoil, Mountain Laurel, Blackberry, Fire Pink, Dog Hobble, Bleeding Heart (most of the blooms are badly faded, but on one plant about half of the blooms were decent), Prostate Bluet, Galax, Meadow Parsnip and Common Blue Violet.

May 2

Turkey Pen (B-E) – Squaw Root, Little Brown Jug, Catesby Trillium, Wild Geranium, Foam Flower, Sweet White Violet, Robin Plantain, Yellow Trillium, Hawkweed, Star Grass, Crested Dwarf Iris, False Solomon’s Seal, Solomon’s Seal, Rue Anemone (blooms very small), Blackberry, Galax (just starting), Flame Azalea, Sweet Shrub, Partridge Berry, Yellow Mandarin, Mountain Laurel (just starting), Common Blue Violet, Dog Hobble and Wood Vetch.

School House Gap (B to Turkey Pen Trail) – Robins Plantain, Lyre Leaf Sage, Sweet White Violet, Star Grass, Blackberry, Early Buttercup, Common Blue Violet, Golden Ragwort, Fairywand (outstanding), Canadian Violet, Yellow Trillium, Catesby Trillium, Wood Vetch, Common Cinquefoil, Wild Strawberry, Dog Hobble, Long Spurred Violet, Crested Dwarf Iris, Solomon’s Seal, Foam Flower  and Hooked Buttercup.

Bote Mountain (B to Finely Cane Trail) – Hooked Buttercup, Solomon’s Seal, Long Spurred Violet, Dog Hobble, Early Buttercup, Sweet White Violet, Lyre Leaf Sage, Common Cinquefoil,
Lousewort (very nice blooms), Star Grass, Hawkweed, Crested Dwarf Iris, White Clover, Mountain Laurel (Just starting to bloom), Blue Eye Grass (1), Doll Eyes and Canadian Violet.

Finely Cane (B-E) – Sweet White Violet, Crested Dwarf Iris, Sweet Shrub, Rue Anemone (very small), Vasey Trillium (few – blooms at peak bloom), Yellow Mandarin, False Solomon’s Seal, Foam Flower, Maple Leaf Viburnum,  Dog Hobble, Long Spurred Violet, Blue Cohosh, Sweet Cicely, Solomon’s Seal, Fairywand, Bishop Caps (about gone), Wild Confrey (few), Showy Orchis (1 – about gone), Halberd Leaf Violet and Squawroot.

Spring Beauties cover the understory of Beach Gap in the higher elevations of the Spruce-fir Forests. – GSMA Photo

April 25

Ace Gap (B-E) – Early Buttercup, Wild Geranium, Rue Anemone, Meadow Parsnip, Yellow Trillium, Sweet Shrub, Catesby Trillium, Crested Dwarf Iris, Star Chickweed, Bowman’s Root, Wild Oats, Solomon’s Seal, Robins Plantain, Stone Crop, Star Grass, Fire Pink, Little Brown Jug, Dogwood, Plantain Leaf Pussytoe, Common Blue Violet, Birdfoot Violet, Common Cinquefoil, Blackberry, Sweet White Violet, Halberd Leaf Violet, Spotted Mandarin, Yellow Mandarin, Flame Azalea, Vernal Dwarf Iris and Squaw Root.  The Vernal Dwarf Iris are at peak bloom.  Some of the blooms are almost as large as the palm of my hands and very beautiful.

April 16

Grapeyard Ridge from Greenbrier to Roaring Fork Motor Trail – Little brown jugs, Blue violet , White violet, Early Yellow Violet, Beaked Violet, Brook lettuce, Yellow Trillium, Wild oats, Crested Dwarf Iris, Whirled pogonia, Vetch, Blue phlox, Rue-anemone, Foam flower,  Star Chickweed, Buttercup, Spicebush, Wild strawberry, May apple, Pussy toes, Raspberry, Fiddleheads ferns (Christmas), Dogwood, Spring beauty, Wild geranium, Robin’s Plaintain, Dog hobble, White Trillium, False Soloman’s Seal, Toothwort, Umbrella magnolia, Bishop cap, Squawroot, Showy orchis, Star grass, Trout lily, Bloodroot, Jack in the pulpit, Lousewort

April 11

Little River (B to Huskey Gap Trail) – Yellow Trillium, Solomon’s Seal, Common Blue Violet, Celandine Poppy, Sweet White Violet, Frasier Sedge, Showy Orchis, Trillium Erect, Toothwort, Star
Chickweed, White Fringed Phacelia, Creamy Yellow Violet, Blue Cohosh, Stone Crop, Wild Phlox, Rue Anemone, Foam Flower, Spring Beauty, Sweet William Trillium, Wild Ginger, Hispid Buttercup, Prostate Bluet, Lousewort, Wood Anemone, Hepatica, Seersucker Sedge, Meadow Parsnip, Large Flowered Trillium, Yellow Mandarin, Squirrel Corn, Large Flowered Bellwort, Squaw Root, Trout Lily and Brook Lettuce.  Note:  Best display of blooms start about 3/4 of the way up the trail.
 
Huskey Gap (B-E) – Large Flowered Trillium, Yellow Trillium, Rue Anemone, Halberd Leaf Violet, Common Cinquefoil, Seersucker Sedge, Sweet White Violet, Wood Anemone, Trailing Arbutus, Star Chickweed, Wild Geranium, Robin’s Plantain, Trout Lily, Blood Root, Bishop Caps, Toothwort, Stonecrop, Brook Lettuce, Foam Flower, Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe, Wild Oats, Spring Beauty, Creamy Yellow Violet, Blue Cohosh, Large Flowered Bellwort, Purple Phacelia, Silver Bell, Yellow Mandarin, Dutchmen’s Breeches, Squirrel Corn, Solomon’s Seal, Trillium Erect, Canadian Violet, Showy Orchis, Dogwood and Crested Dwarf Iris.  Approximately 3/4 of a mile up the trail from US 441 the display of Trillium on both sides of the trail is beyond description – in places approximately 100 feet up the side of the mountain above the trail and a 100 feet below the trail.  Massive blooms – well worth the trip.  Many of the flowers are at peak bloom.  
 
Note:  Little River Road has a wonderful display of Purple Phacelia, Large Flowered Trillium, Trillium Erect, Yellow Trillium and Columbine.  On Laurel Creek Road there is nice display of Wild Phlox, Trillium Erect, Yellow Trillium, Large Flowered Trillium, Rue Anemone and a few Bleeding Heart.
 
On the Cades Cove Loop Road a little over a tenth of a mile beyond the turnoff to the Primitive Baptist Church there are beautiful Virginia Blue Bells in bloom on an embankment on the left side of the road. 

April 3

Little River to Cucumber Gap (thanks to volunteers Dana Murphy and Becky Nichols)
Yellow and White Trilliums (Not certain which species of white); Yellow Violet (Again, there are a few species to choose from and I didn’t look at leaves to determine); Purple/Blue Violet (Same as above); Beaked Violet (or Long-Spurred); Foam Flower; Large-Flowered Bellwort; Bishops Cap; Saxifrage; Wild Ginger; Blue Phlox; Solomon’s Seal; False Solomon’s Seal with buds; Starry Chickweed; Firepink; Rue Anemone; Early Meadowrue; Squawroot; Sharp-Lobed Hepatica; Dwarf Ginseng; Squirrel Corn; Blue Cohosh; Trout Lily; Wild strawberry

April 1

Chestnut Top (B-E) – Sweet White Violet (P –), Solomon’s Seal ( P), Foam Flower (BP –), Star Chickweed (P+), Purple Phacelia (BP-), Trillium Erect (BP-), Rue Anemone (P+), Yellow Trillium (BP-), Large Flowered Trillium (BP-), Spring Beauty (AP-), Stonecrop (BP-), Hepatica (AP-), Dogwood (BP-), Redbud (AP-), Long Spurred Violet (P+), Common Blue Violet (BP-), Bishop Caps (P-), Toothwort (AG-), Fire Pink (BP-), Seersucker Sedge (AG-), Squaw Root (BP-), Lousewort (1), Common Cinquefoil (BP-), Plantain Leaf Pussytoe (AP), Trailing Arbutus ( P), Halberd Leaf Violet (after first half-mile P+), Wild Oats (2) and Service Berry (-). 

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) are a common sight along many mid- to higher elevation trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. – GSMA Photo

March 21

Porters Creek – Seersucker Sedge (BPB +), Blood Root (B) Common Blue Violet (-), Star Chickweed (PB), Robbins Plantain (FB –), Sweet White Violet (FB), Wild Geranium (-), Rue Anemone (PB +), Long Spurred Violet (-), Halberd Leaf Violet (-), Hepatica (PB +), Creamy Yellow Violet (-), White Fringed Phacelia (+), Foam Flower (JS –), Wood Anemone (-), Wild Phlox (-), Large Flowered Trillium (JS & B –), Bishop Caps (-), Dutchmen’s Breeches (PB –), Dwarf Ginseng (-), Spring Beauty , Frazer Sedge (JS –), Brook Lettuce (JS –) and Wild Phlox (-).

Special Note:  At trailhead scattered patches of around a quarter-inch of snow.  Above Fern, Falls ground was covered with snow and eventually was two and a half inches to three inches deep by the time campsite #31 was reached.  Not possible to report on blooms above the falls (ground covered).  Below the falls many of the flowers were drooping or lying on the ground.  The Dutchmen’s Breeches and Rue Anemone looked great.

March 17 – Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Laurel Falls (B to Little Greenbrier) – Halberd Leaf Violet (few), Trailing Arbutus, Common Blue Violet (2), Bed Straw (few), Squaw Root (just coming up at one spot), Plantain Leaf Pussytoe (just starting to bloom),   Smooth Yellow Violet (2), Spring Beauty (a decent number) and Hepatica (many).

Little Greenbrier (B-E) – Common Cinquefoil, Plantain Leaf Pussytoe (budded), Trailing Arbutus and Common Blue Violet (1).  Very few blooms on this trail.

February 29
Lead Cove (B-E)  – Hepatica (10 budded soon be blooming – one in full bloom).
Finely Cane (B-E) – One hepatica and one Long Spurred Violet in bloom.

February 2
Meigs Mountain (from Jakes Creek Trail to Curry Mountain Trail) – 5 Hepatica in bloom within a mile of the Curry Mountain junction.

January 4
Porter Creek Trail (B-E) – 6 Hepatica budded (look very healthy and as if they would pop open with just a couple of days of warm weather, 1 White Fringed Phacelia in full bloom and 2 Sweet White Violets that appear as the cold weather has done them in.