December 4

Chestnut Top – Some Heart Leaf Asters and 2 Erect Goldenrod in bloom. 

November 5

Rich Mountain Loop Trail (B-E)

Curtis Aster, Whitewood Aster, Erect Goldenrod and Southern Harebell.  Few blooms

Indian Grave (From Rich Mountain Loop Trail to Crooked Arm Trail

No report – No blooms seen

Crooked Arm (B-E)

No Report – One bloom seen.

October 9

Ace Gap (B-E) – Wildflowers

Whitewood Aster, Erect Goldenrod, False Fox Glove (1), Curtis Aster and Mountain Gentian.  Most are past peak; however, there are some really nice Mountain Gentian blooms.

September 25

Middle Prong (B-E) – Pale Jewelweed (Many/nice), White Top Aster, Whitewood Aster, White Snake Root (appears at peak bloom – many), Erect Goldenrod and Goats Beard (about gone/few).

Lynn Camp Prong (from Middle Prong Trail to Campsite #28) – White Top Aster (few), Whitewood Aster (few), Love Vine (about gone), Erect Goldenrod and White Snake Root (appears to be at peak bloom).  Note:  Not many blooms on this trail.

September 19

Turkey Pen (B-E) – Pink Turtleheads, Great Lobelia, White Top Aster, Whitewood Aster, Hearts-a-bustin, Southern Harebell, Curtis Aster, White Snakeroot, Erect Goldenrod, Star Grass (1) and Heal All (1).

School House Gap (B to Turkey Pen Trail) – White Top Aster, Great Lobelia, Cardinal Flower (about gone) and Golden Rod (several different species).

Bote Mountain (B to Finely Cane Trail) – Whitewood Aster, Erect Goldenrod, Heal All, Great Lobelia, White Top Aster, Mountain Gentian (1) (just started blooming), Curtis Aster and Hawkweed.

Finely Cane (B-E) – White Top Aster, Several species of Golden Rod, Hearts-a-bustin, White Snakeroot (appears to be at peak bloom), Whitewood Aster and Curtis Aster.

September 3 

Rabbit Creek – (B to Hannah Mountain Trail) – Wild Golden Glow, Joe Pye Weed, Rose Pinks, Spotted Jewelweed, White top Aster, Coreopsis, Curtiss Milkwort, Hawkweed, Hog Peanut, Whitewood Aster, Tick Trefoil, Great Lobelia (nice) Black Eyed Susan, Hearts-a-bustin, Curtis Aster and Southern Harebell.   

Hannah Mountain (from Rabbit Creek Trail to Campsite #14) – Curtiss Milkwort, Great Lobelia, Southern Harebell and False Fox Glove (1).

August 25

School House Gap (B to Chestnut Top Trail) – Heal All, Southern Harebell, Spotted Jewelweed, Whitewood Aster, Coreopsis, Fox Glove, Cardinal Flower (very beautiful), Ironweed, Joe Pye Weed, Tick Trefoil, Great Lobelia (nice), Flowering Spurge, Pinesap (not many but great to see – peak bloom), Curtiss Milkwort and Rosebay Rhododendron (1 bloom about 3/10 mile up trail on right – had just started blooming).

Chestnut Top (B-E) – Curtiss Milkwort, Southern Harebell, Tall Bell Flower (about gone), Horse Nettle (about gone), Pale Jewelweed, Star Grass (1) and False Fox Glove.  Also the following snakes were seen on this trail:  Copperhead, Garter and Black Racer.

August 20

Little Greenbrier (B-E) – Starry Campion (few – past peak), Tick Trefoil, Erect Golden Rod, Southern Harebells, Smooth Phlox (past peak), Love Vine, Curtiss Milkwort (many – at peak bloom), Flowering Spurge, Pale Jewelweed, False Fox Glove (at peak bloom – many – the quality of the blooms is one of the best that I have seen for this flower), Wood Nettle (about gone), Hog Peanut, Coreopsis, Yellow Fringed Orchid (2) (last mile – will probably be gone in a week to 10 days), Basil Bee Balm (2), Pencil Flower and Great Lobelia.

Metcalf Bottoms (B-E) – Wild Sensitive Plant, Southern Harebell, Heal All, Black Eyed Susan and Spotted Jewelweed.

Walker Sisters Cabin (B-E) – Tick Trefoil, Heal All, Wild Golden Glow, Great Lobelia, Flowering Spurge, Coreopsis, Spotted Jewelweed, Field Thistle (1), False Fox Glove (nice), Cardinal Flower (brilliant – at peak bloom), Whitewood Aster (just started blooming), Thimbleweed (2), Ironweed and Smooth Phlox (about gone).

Little Brier Gap (B-E) – Coreopsis, Tick Trefoil, Star Grass (2) and Curtiss Milkwort.

Wear Gap Road (Wear Gap to Metcalf Bottoms) – Spotted Jewelweed, Wild Potato Vine, Joe Pye Weed, Ironweed, Black Eyed Susan, Brown Eyed Susan, Great Goldenrod, Early Goldenrod, Flowering Spurge, Mountain Mint, Heal All, Field Thistle, Horse Nettle (1), Red Clover, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Asiatic Dayflower, Smooth Phlox (brilliant in full sun), Wild Golden Glow, Partridge Pea, Pencil Flower and Cardinal Flower.

Note: There were some flowers which I did not know the identity for them and was unable to locate them in my wildflower books.

July 9

Chestnut Top (B-E) – Daisy Fleabane, Tall Bellflower (about gone), Horse Nettle, Reclining Saint Andrews Cross, Mountain Angelica, Star Grass, Tick Trefoil, Purple Flowering Raspberry, White Top Aster, Coreopsis, Rattlesnake Plantain, Indian Pipe (about gone) and Wood Nettle.

School House Gap (B to Chestnut Top Trail) – White Top Aster, Reclining Saint Andrews Cross, Rosebay Rhododendron, Coreopsis, Mountain Angelica (many – at peak bloom – one of best displays of this that I have seen), Tick Trefoil, Basil Bee Balm, Heal All, Thimbleweed (about gone), Daisy Fleabane, Loosestrife (2), Summer Sweet and Wood Nettle.

Bote Mountain (B to West Prong Trail) – Rosebay Rhododendron, Heal All (many), Thimbleweed (about gone), Reclining Saint Andrews Cross, Red Clover, Tick Trefoil and Daisy Fleabane.

West Prong (B-E) – Reclining Saint Andrews Cross, Rosebay Rhododendron, White Top Aster, Black Cohosh (1 – about gone), Tick Trefoil, Wood Nettle and Pale Jewelweed (2 – just starting to bloom).

Tremont Road (B to Institute) – Heal All, White Clove, Asiatic Dayflower (very beautiful at one spot), Red Clover, Horse Nettle, Mountain Mint, Summer Sweet, Tick Trefoil, Spotted Jewelweed, Reclining Saint Andrews Cross, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Thimbleweed (about gone) and Purple Flowering Raspberry.

June 11

Anthony Creek Trail (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron (2 blooms at beginning of the trail), Wild Hydrangea (at peak bloom – many), Daisy Fleabane, Ox Eye Daisy, White Clover, Galax, Partridge Berry, Mountain Laurel (Nice at higher elevations of the trail) and Pipsissewa.

Bote Mountain (From Anthony Creek Trail to the A T)- Galax, Mountain Laurel, Partridge Berry, Prostate Bluet (about gone), Blackberry, Wood Sorrel (1) and Starry Campion (Many – peak bloom).

Appalachian Trail (From Spence Field to Russell Field) – Blackberry, Mountain Laurel (very beautiful – little past peak bloom), Common Cinquefoil (about gone), Flame Azalea (Close to peak bloom), Wild Hydrangea (just starting to bloom at this elevation), Partridge Berry, Starry Campion (nice – many at peak bloom and Galax (at or just beyond peak bloom at this elevation. Special Note: This display of the Flame Azalea blooms, the Mountain Laurel and Galax was far beyond outstanding. Probably the best description would be “paradise on earth”. Much of the trail was covered in rain; however, the flower display was totally cheerful.

Russell Field Trail (B-E) – Mountain Laurel (nice in higher elevations, Partridge Berry, Galax, Flame Azalea (nice blooms – good numbers), Star Grass (few), Wild Hydrangea (nice), Wood Sorrel (few), Wood Nettle, Rue Anemone (2 very small blooms), Starry Campion and Canadian Violet (few). On this trail the Galax blooms rising above the undergrowth resembled candles – a real treat to see in upper elevations.

Special Notice: Based on the Azaleas along the A T I suspect the Azaleas on Gregory Bald may be blooming or starting to bloom by now. I am unable to schedule getting up there until the 22nd of this month.

June 4

Old Sugarlands Trail (B-E) – Rosebay Rhododendron (2 shrubs with blooms) (just starting to bloom), Mountain Laurel, Bar Cucumber, Partridge Berry, Galax (about gone), Loosestrife, Ox Eyed Daisy, Daisy Fleabane, Golden Ragwort, White Clover, Red Clover, Wild Hydrangea (just starting to bloom), Hispid Buttercup, Yellow Wood Sorrel and Sweet Shrub. Note: Not many blooms on this trail.

May 28

Indian Grave (B to Rich Mountain Trail) – Star Grass, Galax (Peak bloom), Mountain Laurel (Full bloom – nice – many), Sweet Shrub (few), Blackberry (few), White Milkweed, Spiderwort (very nice), Hawkweed, Red Clover, Ox Eyed Daisy, Flame Azalea (few), Canadian Violet, Loosestrife (about gone), Bowman’s Root, Solomon’s Seal, Goats Beard and False Solomon’s Seal.

Rich Mountain (B-E) – Goats Beard, Star Grass, Hawkweed, Galax, Mountain Laurel (massive numbers in full bloom – excellent display), Flame Azalea (many nice blooms), Spiderwort (very beautiful), Beard Tongue and Indian Pink (Many –at peak bloom).

Rich Mountain Road (from Park Boundary to Indian Grave Trail) – Indian Pink, Wild Hydrangea (just starting to bloom), Goats Beard, White Milkweed, Galax, Mountain Laurel, Solomon’s Seal, Hawkweed, Ox Eyed Daisy, Star Grass, False Solomon’s Seal, Red Clover, Partridgeberry, Bowman’s Root, Sweet Shrub and Flame Azalea (1 shrub in bloom).

May 25

Low Gap (From Cosby Campground to Low Gap) – Mountain Laurel (Right at peak bloom on lower part of trail), Partridge Berry, Bar Cucumber, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Sweet Cicely, Wood Anemone, Canadian Violet, Foam Flower, Sweet White Violet, Indian Cucumber Root, Clinton Lily, Meadow Parsnip, Galax (Just starting to bloom), Vasey’s Trillium (2), Golden Ragwort, Stone Crop, Dog Hobble, False Solomon’s Seal, Common Blue Violet (few), Prostate Bluet, Solomon’s Seal, Hispid Buttercup, Squaw Root and Waterleaf.

Appalachian Trail (Low Gap to Mt. Cammerer Trail) – Common Cinquefoil, White Clover, Blackberry, Indian Cucumber Root, Sweet White Violet, Prostate Bluet, Umbrella Leaf, Catawba Rhododendron, Canadian Mayflower, Yellow Bead Lily (at peak bloom – outstanding display), Foam Flower (few), Squaw Root, Hispid Buttercup and Clinton Lily (few).

Mount Cammerer (B-E) – Yellow Bead Lily (really nice – peak bloom), Prostate Bluet, Fire Cherry, Dwarf Rhododendron, Sweet White Violet, Canadian May Flower and Hispid Buttercup.

May 14

Little River – (B to Huskey Gap Trail) – Lyre Leaf Sage, Dog Hobble (nice fragrance along trail), Common Cinquefoil, Sweet White Violet, Doll Eyes, Foam Flower, Robins Plantain, Blackberry, False Solomon’s Seal, Hooked Buttercup, Clinton Lily, Bar Cucumber, Solomon Seal , Stone Crops, Canadian Violet, Wild Geranium, Golden Ragwort, Vasey Trillium, Jack-in-the-pulpit (1), Meadow Parsnip, Brook Lettuce, Umbrella Leaf, Wild Phlox, Wild Ginger, Wild Strawberry and Sweet Cicely.

Huskey Gap – (From Little River Trail to Huskey Gap) – Bar Cucumber, Stone Crop, Sweet Cicely, Sweet White Violet, Dog Hobble, False Solomon’s Seal, Bowman Indian Cucumber, Yellow Trillium (few), Meadow Parsnip, Common Blue Violet, Clinton Lily, Mountain Laurel (just starting to bloom – many buds), Star Grass, Wild Geranium, Blackberry, Vasey Trillium (12 blooming – 2 budded), Bishop Caps, Robins Plantain, Solomon’s Seal, Doll Eyes, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Canadian Violet and Toothwort (few).

Sugarlands Mountain – (B to Huskey Gap) – False Solomon’s Seal, Star Grass, Carolina Vetch (one plant), Sweet White Violet, Rue Anemone, Clinton Lily, Wild Geranium, Vasey Trillium, Hawkweed, Mountain Laurel (just starting to bloom), Flame Azalea (few – just starting to bloom), Solomon’s Seal, Star Chickweed, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Toothwort (few), Blackberry and Trillium Erect (1).

May 11

Lower Mount Cammerer (B-E) – Foam Flower, Meadow Parsnip, Stone Crop (many), False Solomon’s Seal, Solomon’s Seal (few), Canadian Violet (many), Yellow Trillium, Clinton Lily, Bishop Caps (few), Sweet White Violet (many), Nodding Trillium (past peak), Squaw Root, Wild Geranium, Vasey Trillium (at peak bloom – great), Wood Anemone (few), Sweet Cicely, Crested Dwarf Iris (past peak), Toothwort (few), Rue Anemone (past peak), Star Grass, Brook Lettuce (at peak bloom), Hooked Buttercup (few), Trillium Erect (past peak – in high elevation of the trail), Bed Straw, Common Blue Violet, Star Chickweed (few), Halberd Leaf Violet (few – past peak), Vernal Iris (past peak), Silver Bells, Umbrella Magnolia (few), Painted Trillium (2), Hispid Buttercup (few), Yellow Wood Sorrel, Creamy Yellow Violet (few), Golden Ragwort (past peak) and Wild Phlox (few – past peak).

April 30

Cooper Road (Abrams Creek Ranger Station to Hatcher Mountain Trail) – Hispid Butter Cup, Low Hop Trefoil, White Clover, Stone Crop, Robins Plantain, Rue Anemone, Star Chickweed, Foam Flower +, Meadow Parsnip, Carolina Vetch, Fire Pinks + (slightly beyond peak bloom), Lyre Leaf Sage, Crested Dwarf Iris, False Solomon’s Seal (JS), Solomon’s Seal, Wild Geranium + PB, Yellow Trillium, May Apple -, Prostate Bluets, Purple Phacelia, Dog Hobble (JS), Little Brown Jugs, Sweet White Violet +, Catesby Trillium + BP, Common Cinquefoil, Wild Phlox (BP), Doll Eyes (JS), Vasey Trillium (2 ) PB, BlackBerry + JS, Star Grass + PB, Wild Oats, Shuttleworth’s Ginger, Halberd Leaf Violet, Long Spurred Violet – BP, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Violet Wood Sorrel, Birdfoot Violet, Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe BP, Gay Wings and Trailing Arbutus AG.

Hatcher Mountain (From Cooper Road Trail to Little Bottoms Trail) – Star Grass + PB, Trailing Arbutus AG, Halberd Leaf Violet BP, Common Cinquefoil, BlackBerry + JS, Common Blue Violet, Wild Oats, Catesby Trillium + BP, Dogwood PB, Solomon’s Seal, Gay Wings PB, Sweet White Violet + PB, Crested Dwarf Iris + BP, Dog Hobble JS, Vernal Iris (BP), Robins Indian Plantain, Little Brown Jugs, Rue Anemone PB, Pinxter Flower (2) BP, Flame Azalea -, Fire Pink + BP, Star Chickweed, Golden Ragwort BP, Umbrella Magnolia – and Sweet Shrub -.

Little Bottoms (B-E) – Star Grass + PB, Common Cinquefoil + PB, Solomon’s Seal, Catesby Trillium + BP, Golden Ragwort BP, Common Blue Violet, Sweet Shrub PB, Crested Dwarf Iris + BP, Gay Wings + PB, Robin’s Indian Plantain BP, Star Chickweed, Dog Hobble JS, False Solomon’s Seal JS, Hawkweed – JS, Bleeding Heart BP, Alum Root, Shuttleworth Ginger, Prostate Bluets, Sweet White Violets + PB, Hispid Butter Cups PB, Meadow Parsnip JS, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Violet Wood Sorrel, Stone Crop – BP, Lyre Leaf Sage, Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe BP and Carolina Vetch BP.

A superbloom of white and yellow trillium grows in the Chimney 2 burn zone. – GSMA Photo

April 16

Turkey Pen (B-E) – Catesby Trillium +, Little Brown Jugs, Wild Geranium -, Long Spurred Violets +, Foam Flower +, Common Cinquefoil, Dogwood, Sweet White Violets +, Wild Phlox -, Robins Plantain +, Yellow Trillium (one area hillside both below and above the trail are covered with Yellow Trillium – a sight to see), Wood Anemone, Rue Anemone +, Dog Hobble (Just starting to bloom), Star Chickweed, Wild Oats, Star Grass, Dwarf Crested Iris, Cancer Root (2), Frazer Sedge (one clump), Toothwort (about gone), Large Flowered Trillium -, Halberd Leaf Violet -, Trailing Arbutus -, Trillium Erect, Bird foot Violet, Wood Violet, Hooked Buttercup, Hispid Buttercup, Common Blue Violet and Carolina Vetch +.

School House Gap (B to Turkey Pen Trail) – Sweet White Violet +, Common Blue Violet, Long Spurred Violet, Star Grass -, Dogwood, Toothwort (about gone) -, Dog Hobble (just starting to bloom), Star Chickweed, Bishop Caps -, Wild Phlox -, Catesby Trillium +, Common Blue Violet, Rue Anemone, Robins Plantain +, Little Brown Jugs, Golden Ragwort, Solomon’s Seal (just starting to bloom), Trillium Erect -, Foam Flower, Wood Anemone -, Hooked Buttercup, Yellow Trillium and Lousewort (most beautiful display of these that I have seen).

Bote Mountain (B to Finely Cane) – Sweet White Violet +, Long Spurred Violet +, Yellow Trillium, Golden Ragwort -, Dog Hobble (just starting to bloom), Dogwood, Wild Oats -, Common Cinquefoil, Star Grass -, Wild Strawberry -, Trillium Erect, Robins Plantain, Lousewort (very nice display) + and Pennywort -.

Finely Cane (B-E) – Dog Hobble (Just starting to bloom), Sweet White Violet +, Yellow Trillium ++ (a number of hillsides covered with Yellow Trillium – outstanding to see), Foam Flower +, Showy Orchis, Toothwort (about gone) -, Frazer Sedge -, Halberd Leaf Violet, Crested Dwarf Iris +, Rue Anemone ++, Long Spurred Violet +, Blue Cohosh +, Trillium Erect, Dogwood, Canadian Violet, Little Brown Jugs ++, Catesby Trillium +, Star Chickweed, Bishop Caps, Yellow Mandarin, Cancer Root -, Wood Anemone -, Wild Oats -,
Doll Eyes (2), Squaw Root – Hooked Buttercup, Large Flowered Bellwort (just starting to bloom) and Bird foot Violet.

Note: A number of blooms seem to be adversely affected by the cold weather (Crested Dwarf Iris, Common Cinquefoil, Wild Phlox, Wild Geranium, Trillium Erect, Golden Ragwort, Wood Anemone and Halberd Leaf Violet. The Dogwood blooms on the trails today are the most beautiful that I have seen on the trails – clear bright white blooms – could see no signs of the blight. Many of them. Sections of both Turkey Pen and Finely Cane Trails have amazing displays of Yellow Trillium covering the hillsides. I may have missed some plants with the snow, sleet and rain falling off and on today.

April 2

Rich Mountain Loop Trail (B-E) – Common Blue Violet, Wood Violet, Bird Foot Violet, Plantain Leaf Pussy toe, Common Cinquefoil, Rue Anemone (at peak bloom – many – very beautiful), Star Chickweed, Trailing Arbutus, Wild Oats (few), Blood Root, Halberd Leaf Violet, Yellow Trillium (budded – no blooms found), Serviceberry and Hispid Buttercup.

Indian Grave (From Rich Mountain Loop Trail to Crooked Arm Trail) – Trailing Arbutus, Common Blue Violet, Wood Violet, Bird foot Violet, Spring Beauties (some of the blooms appeared almost totally maroon with their large maroon veins), Plantain Leaf Pussy toe, Blood Root, Toothwort (many) and Rue Anemone (many at full bloom).

Crooked Arm (B-E) – Plantain Leaf Pussy toe, Bird Foot Violet, Wood Violet, Common Blue Violet, Star Chickweed, Halberd Leaf Violet, Common Cinquefoil, Carolina Vetch, Rue Anemone, Yellow Trillium (1), Hispid Buttercup and Serviceberry.

March 13

Crib Gap (From Anthony Creek Trail to Turkey Pen Trail) – Sweet White Violets, Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe, Rue Anemone, Common Blue Violets and Long Spurred Violets. Note: Not many blooming plants on this trail.

Finely Cane (B-E) – Sweet White Violets, Plantain Leaf Pussy Toes, Long Spurred Violets, Rue Anemone (many), Hepatica (many), Common Blue Violets, Creamy Yellow Violets, Spring Beauties, Wood Anemone and Toothwort.

West Prong (B-E) –Trailing Arbutus, Plantain Leaf Pussy Toes, Halberd Leaf Violets (many budded), Rue Anemone, Common Blue Violet, Hepatica, Long Spurred Violet, Toothwort, Bird Foot Violets and Seersucker Sedge.

February 27

Chestnut Top Trail (B-E) – Star Chickweed (full bloom +), Blood Root, Spring Beauty, Hepatica (many blooms +), Rue Anemone, Toothwort (1), Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe, Trailing Arbutus, Long Spurred Violet and Seersucker Sedge (past peak bloom).

Bote Mountain (B to West Prong Trail) – Few Plantain Leaf Pussy Toes (either budded or blooming).

West Prong (B-E) – Plantain Leaf Pussy Toe, Star Chickweed, Common Blue Violet (3), Creamy Yellow Violet (1), Halberd Leaf Violet (many – full bloom), Blood Root (1), Hepatica, Seersucker Sedge (many blooming), Spring Beauty (few), Trailing Arbutus (few blooming – many budded), Rue Anemone and Toothwort (1).