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KEY: ES=Early Stages; JSB=Just Starting to Bloom; Budded; APB=Approaching Peak Bloom; *=At Peak Bloom; BP=Beyond Peak; AG=Almost Gone; VS=Various Stages
JUNE 3
WEST PRONG TRAIL (TREEMONT TO CAMPSITE #18): MANY BLOOMS—Basil Bee Balm (various stages), Large Bluet*, Wild Hydrangea (various stages). SOME BLOOMS—Canadian Violet (BP), Goats Beard (BP), Pipsissewa*. FEW BLOOMS—Daisy Fleabane*, Fairy Wand*, Galax (AG), Hawkweed (BP), Loosestrife (BP), Rosebay Rhododendron*, Wood Nettle (JSB).
MAY 29
HUSKEY GAP TRAIL (FROM 441 TO HUSKEY GAP): MANY BLOOMS—Canadian Violet (various stages), Large Bluets (BP), Wild Hydrangea (various stages). SOME BLOOMS—Galax (BP), Mountain Laurel (BP), Wood Nettle (JSB). FEW BLOOMS—Flame Azalea*, Goats Beard (various stages), Golden (JSB), Indian Cucumber Root (AG), Loosestrife (BP), Milkweed (JSB).
MAY 20
FINELY CANE TRAIL (B TO 1/10 OF A MILE FROM END OF TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Galax (various stages), Large Bluet*, Partridge Berry*. SOME BLOOMS—Canadian Violet (BP), Mountain Laurel (BP). FEW BLOOMS—Bar Cucumber (BP), Indian Cucumber Root*, Indian Pipe*, Sweet Cicely, Yellow Wood Sorrel.
MAY 13
SCHOOL HOUSE GAP TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Daisy Fleabane (BP), Large Bluet*, Mountain Laurel (APB), Partridge Berry*, Star Grass*, White Clover*. SOME BLOOMS—Common Cinquefoil*, Fairyland*, False Solomon’s Seal (various stages), Galax (various stages), Red Clover *, Yellow Wood Sorrell (APB). FEW BLOOMS—Bar Cucumber *, Bowman’s Root (BP), Carolina Wood Vetch (BP), Canadian Violets (BP), Foam Flower (AG), Golden Ragwort*, Lyer Leaf Sage (BP), Maple Leaf Viburnum*, Meadow Parsnip*, Solomon’s Seal Grande (BP), Sweet Cicely*, Sweet White Violet (BP).
MAY 10
CHESTNUT TOP TRAIL (ABOUT 2 AND A HALF MILES UP THE TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Galax (APB), Hawkweed (various stages), Mountain Laurel (APB), Large Bluet (APB), Partridge Berry. SOME BLOOMS—Star Grass*. FEW BLOOMS—Beard Tongue (various stages), Blackberry (AG), Dog Hobble (AG), Fairy Wand*, False Solomon’s Seal (various stages), Four Leaf Milkweed (ABP), Maple Leaf Viburnum (BP), Vasey Trillium*.
APRIL 29
METCALF BOTTOMS TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Dog Hobble (BP), Wild Geranium (various stages). SOME BLOOMS—Lyre Leaf Sage (BP). FEW BLOOMS—Blackberry (JSB), Carolina Vetch (BP), Common Blue Violets*, Rested Dwarf Iris (various stages), Daisy Fleabane (APB), Foam Flower (AG), Large Bluet (JSB), Meadow Parsnip (JSB), Sweet White Violets (BP), White Clover (JSB), Yellow Trillium*.
WALKER SISTERS CABIN TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Carolina Vetch (BP), Crested Dwarf Iris*, Lyre Leaf Sage (BP), Robins Plantain (BP), Wild Geranium (various stages). SOME BLOOMS—Daisy Fleabane*, Dog Hobble (BP), Yellow Trillium*. FEW BLOOMS—Bed Straw, Blackberry (JSB), Canadian Violet*, Common Blue Violet*, Hawkweed (APB), Miami Mist*, Solomon’s Seal*, Star Grass*, Sweet White Violet (BP), White Clover (JSB), Wood Anemone*.
LITTLE BRIER GAP TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Robin’s Plantain (BP), Star Grass*, Wild Geranium*. SOME BLOOMS—Crested Dwarf Iris (BP), Fire Pink*, Yellow Trillium*. FEW BLOOMS—Blackberry (JSB), Common Cinquefoil, Daisy Fleabane*, Galax (JSB), Lousewort (AG), Lyre Leaf Sage (AG).
LITTLE GREENBRIER TRAIL (B TO LITTLE BRIER GAP TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Mountain Laurel (JSB), Star Grass*. SOME BLOOMS—Hawkweed (APB). FEW BLOOMS—Blackberry (JSB), Flame Azalea (BP), Galax – Few (JSB), Large Bluet (JSB), Meadow Parsnip (JSB).
WEAR GAP ROAD (PARK BOUNDARY TO METCALF BOTTOMS): MANY BLOOMS—Crested Dwarf Iris (various stages), Daisy Fleabane (APB), Early Buttercup*, Fire Pink*, Miami Mist (BP), Wild Geranium*. SOME BLOOMS—Carolina Vetch (BP), Lyre Leaf Sage (BP), Robins Plantain (BP), Yellow Trillium*. FEW BLOOMS—Blue Eye Grass (BP), Common Cinquefoil*, Golden Ragwort (AG), Meadow Parsnip (JSB), Red Clove (JSB), Rue Anemone (BP), Star Chickweed*, Sweet White Violet (BP), White Clover (JSB), Wild Strawberry (JSB). SPECIAL NOTES—For folks not able to get out on the trails, the Wear Gap Road presently offers an amazing display of blooming wildflowers. The Fire Pinks, The Wild Geraniums and the Miami Mist are close to outdoing themselves. Park in one of three parking areas and walk short distances along the road (with care) to take advantage of this opportunity.
April 22
LUMBER RIDGE TRAIL (B TO TOP OF RIDGE): MANY BLOOMS—Common Cinquefoil*, Crested Dwarf Iris (various stages), Dog Hobble (APB), Meadow Parsnip (APB), Plantain Leaf Pussytoes (AG), Robins Plantain (various stages), Rue Anemone*, Star Chickweed*, Star Grass*. SOME BLOOMS—Brook Lettuce*, Dogwood*, Hawkweed (JSB), Squaw Root (BP), Sweet Shrub (APB), Sweet White Violet (BP). FEW BLOOMS—Blackberry Few (JSB), Cancer Root*, Common Blue Violet*, Fairy wand (JSB), Foam Flower (BP), Galax (JSB), Long Spurred Violet (BP), Lousewort (various stages), Mountain Laurel (buds), Silver Bells (BP), Wild Oats, Yellow Mandarin (BP). NOTES—About two and a quarter mile up the trail on the left there some Flame Azalea bushes that should be blooming in a week. Just past that, on the left side as well, it appears that the Umbrella Magnolia are starting to bloom. Yellow Trillium are blooming to the left of the walkway headed toward the Tremont dorm.
APRIL 19
ACE GAP TRAIL (B TO OLD CAMPSITE #7): MANY BLOOMS—Carolina Vetch*, Catesby Trillium (various stages), Common Cinquefoil*, Crested Dwarf Iris (BP), Meadow Parsnip (APB), Robins Plantain (AG), Rue Anemone*, Solomon’s Seal*, Star Grass*, Wild Geranium (various stages). SOME BLOOMS—Cancer Root (JSB), Dogwood*, Fire Pink*, Flame Azalea (APB), Halberd Leaf Violet*, Spotted Mandarin*, Sweet Shrub (JSB), Wild Oats (BP), Yellow Mandarin (BP). FEW BLOOMS—Bird foot Violet*, Blackberry (JSB), Common Blue Violet*, Early Buttercup*, Galax (various stages), Hooked Butter Cup*, Long Spurred Violet (BP), May Apple, Mountain Laurel (JSB), Solomon’s Seal Grande (APB), Stone crop (APB), Trillium Erect*, Vernal Iris (BP).
APRIL 15
LOWER MT. CAMMERER TRAIL (B TO CAMPSITE #35): MANY BLOOMS—Bishop Cap (various stages), Blue Cohosh*, Canadian Violets*, Common Cinquefoil*, Crested Dwarf Iris*, Foam Flower (various stages), Large Flowered Bellwort*, Meadow Parsnip (APB), Nodding Trillium (various stages), Rue Anemone*, Solomon’s Seal*, Spotted Mandarin*, Star Chickweed*, Stone Crop (APB), Sweet White Violets*, Sweet William Trillium (various stages), Trillium Erect (various stages), Wild Geranium (JSB), Wild Oats*, Wild Phlox (APB), Yellow Trillium*, Yellow Woodland Violet*. SOME BLOOMS—Golden Ragwort (BP), Meadow Rue (BP), Purple Wake Robin, Silver Bell, Wood Anemone*. FEW BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet*, False Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Halberd Leaf Violet, Hooked Buttercup (JSB), Long Spurred Violet (BP), Service Berry*, Spring Beauty*, Squaw Root (APB), Star Grass*, Toothwort (AG), Trailing Arbutus*, Yellow Mandarin.
APRIL 12
ROUND TOP TRAIL (TO ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILES UP THE TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Bird foot Violet*, Common Cinquefoil*, Rue Anemone*, Star Chickweed*, Star Grass*, Wild Geranium (various stages), Wild Oats*, Plantain Leaf Pussytoes (BP).SOME BLOOMS—Carolina Vetch*, Crested Dwarf Iris (various stages). FEW BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet*, Firepink*, Halberd Leaf Violet (JSB), Meadow Rue (APB), Robins Plantain*, Serviceberry*, Squaw Root (BP), Yellow Trillium*.
APRIL 8
CHESTNUT TOP TRAIL (FIRST 3/10 MILE): MANY BLOOMS—Bishop Caps*, False Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Long Spurred Violets*, Purple Phacelia*, Solomon’s Seal (APB), Star Chickweed*, Stone Crop (JSB), Sweet White Trillium*, Yellow Trillium*.SOME BLOOMS—Crested Dwarf Iris (various stages), Dogwood *, Fire Pinks (APB), Meadow Parsnip (APB), Rue Anemone*, Solomon’s Seal Grande (JSB), Spring Beauty*. FEW BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet (APB), Foam Flower (BP), Hepatica, Toothwort (BP), Yellow Mandarin (JSB).
LAUREL CREEK ROAD: Dogwood, Purple Phacelia, Red Bud, Sweet White Trillium, Yellow Trillium.
LITTLE RIVER ROAD (FROM TOWNSEND WYE TO METCALF BOTTOMS): Dogwood, Purple Phacelia, Sweet White Trillium, Wild Columbine, Yellow Trillium.
APRIL 1
LITTLE RIVER TRAIL (B TO CUCUMBER GAP TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Halberd Leaf Violet*, Large Flowered Trillium (JSB), Rue Anemone*, Sweet White Trillium (APB), Trillium Erect*. SOME BLOOMS—Bishop Caps (various stages), Calendine Poppy*, Common Blue Violet*, Frazer Sedge (BP), Hepatica*, Spring Beauty (JSB), Sweet White Violet*, Trout Lily (various stages), Yellow Trillium (various stages), Yellow Woodland Violet*. FEW BLOOMS—Brook Lettuce (JSB), Dutchmen’s Breeches, Large Flowered Bellwort (JSB), Squaw Root (JSB), Squirrel Corn, Star Chickweed (APB), Toothwort (BP), White Fringed Phacelia*, Wild Geranium (JSB), Wild Ginger (JSB), Wood Anemone*.
MARCH 29
NORRIS RIVER BLUFF TRAIL: MANY BLOOMS—Bishop Caps (various stages), Purple Wake Robin (various stages), Toothwort (various stages), Trout Lily (various stages), Yellow Trillium (various stages). SOME BLOOMS—Calendine Poppy*, Common Blue Violet (APB), Hepatica (APB), Spring Beauty (various stages), Squaw Root (JSB), Wild Phlox (various stages). FEW BLOOMS—Golden Ragwort*, Little Brown Jugs, Purple Phacelia (JSB), Rue Anemone*, Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Star Chickweed*. NOTES—It was a cool morning, so many of the Trout Lilies, Spring Beauties and Toothwort blooms were closed.
MARCH 25
PORTER CREEK TRAIL (B TO FERN FALLS): MANY BLOOMS—Halberd Leaf Violet*, Large Flowered Trillium, Long Spurred Violet*, Star Chickweed*, Sweet White Violet*, White Fringed Phacelia*. SOME BLOOMS—Bent Trillium (various stages), Bishop Caps (APB), Common Blue Violet (APB), Dutchmen’s Breeches*, Robins Plantain (APB), Round Leaf Violet*, Rue Anemone*, Trout Lily*, Wild Phlox*, Wood Anemone*, Yellow Trillium (JSB), Yellow Woodland Violet*. FEW BLOOMS—Bird Foot Violet*, Blood Root (various stages), Brook Lettuce (JSB), Foam Flower (JSB), Golden Ragwort (JSB), Hooked Buttercup*(AG), Trillium Erect*, Wild Geranium (JSB). NOTES—There is an outstanding display of Wild phlox along Greenbrier Road. A few of the Stone Crop are budded the last quarter of mile before the falls on the left.
March 18
WEST PRONG TRAIL (B TO CAMPSITE #18): MANY BLOOMS—Blood Root (budded), Halberd Leaf Violet (JSB), Hepatica*, Long Spurred Violet*, Rue Anemone*, Spring Beauty (budded), Yellow Trillium (budded).SOME BLOOMS—Dutchmen’s Breeches*, Seersucker Sedge (various stages), Star Chickweed*, Sweet White Violets*, Toothwort (APB). FEW BLOOMS—Blue Cohosh (budded), Frazer Sedge*, Solitary Pussytoe*, Stone (JSB), Trailing Arbutus*. NOTES—Evidence of recent activity of wild boars on the first three-fourths of the trail. The trail crew has done an amazing job removing debris on this trail (appears to have been done in the last couple of weeks).
MARCH 11
METCALF BOTTOMS TRAIL (B-E): SOME BLOOMS—Solitary Pussytoes (JSB) on the left a short distance up the trail.
WALKER SISTERS CABIN (B-E): SOME BLOOMS—Halberd Leaf Violet about 2/10 of a mile up the trail on the left; Solitary Pussytoes (JSB) left at different locations on the trail.
LITTLE BRIER GAP TRAIL (B-E): SOME BLOOMS—Trailing Arbutus (ES) on the left, last tenth of mile coming from Walker Sisters Cabin trail.
LITTLE GREENBRIER TRAIL (B TO LITTLE BRIER TAP TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Trailing Arbutus* on the left coming from Wear Gap at different locations on the trail.
WEAR GAP ROAD (PARK BOUNDARY TO METCALF BOTTOMS): SOME BLOOMS—Hepatica on embankment on the right coming from the park boundary first tenth of a mile; Rue Anemone (budded) should be blooming right away with warm days coming mid-week, on right first tenth of mile coming from the gap.
MARCH 4
CHESTNUT TOP TRAIL (B TO APPROXIMATELY 2.5 TO 3 MILES UP THE TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Hepatica, Seersucker Sedge*, Spring Beauty*. SOME BLOOMS—Long Spurred Violet*, Solitary Pussytoes (JSB), Star Chickweed, Sweet Pinesap (JSB), Trailing Arbutus.
FEBRUARY 26
ANTHONY CREEK TRAIL (B TO CAMPSITE #9): Approximately two miles up the trail there are around 20 Hepatica blooming and there are several flowers with buds on them. With the temps coming mid-week there should be more blooms soon.
FEBRUARY 17
CHESTNUT TOP TRAIL (1ST 3/10 MILE): Hepatica (3 blooms, 10 buds), Long Spurred Violet (2 blooming), Seersucker Sedge (2 blooming), Spring Beauty (2 budded), Star Chickweed (3 blooming).
FEBRUARY 14
Lower Mount Cammerer Trail (B to campsite #35): Three Hepatica were found in bloom about .03 of a mile out the Lower Mount Cammerer Trail on the left. There were several of the flowers budded nearby. About two and a half miles out the trail, two Spring Beauties were budded on the right.
