Posted by Steve Hamley on March 3, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Matthew/Richard,
It's time for a spring wildflower sticky thread - yippee!
Daffodils are blooming 3/2 at the Townsend "Y", and tree limbs are beginning to redden. I was not foolish enough to drive into Cades Cove yesterday afternoon, but would assume there's early springy stuff starting to happen there.
FYI, water volumes in the creeks and rivers are near normal and spring looks to be neither early nor late in the Smokies. There is still a little snow on the peaks, so maybe a good opportunity for foreground-background compositions.
Hey guys, I will be spending 4 days back country camping on the back side of the Smokes (Fontana Lake) next weekend. Hazel Creek area.
I will give you a full report on flowers,trees and stream levels which should hold true through-out the Smokies.
We got over two inches of rain here in East Tn today..... Harold
Posted by Steve Hamley on March 5, 2008 at 2:19 PM
The surface waters are in good shape, which means we'll likely have viable stream shots. As I posted above, Gum Swamp is still dry, and that seems to indicate that the water table hasn't fully recovered. Shouldn't make a difference in the wildflowers I'd think, but if you're hiking or camping, some springs may be low.
The AT 21 miles up from Fontana was posted as no water at all by the Park Service late last year, but that warning was lifted about New Years IIRC.
Glad to hear you are getting some needed moisture. I just hope it dries up like a prune by the end of the summer since I missed the flaming reds this past fall.
John
Posted by Steve Hamley on March 6, 2008 at 7:20 PM
John,
Interesting comment. We've had dry years before with mediocre color, and a news article recently attributed the past 2-3 years' blazing fall colors to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
So greenhouse gases may be a good thing for photographers! Sort of. Maybe.
For those who are interested, the Oconee Bell wildflower at Devils Fork State Park in South Carolina are blooming and should peak in the next 4 or 5 days.
Back from my 4 day back country camping trip on the East Side of the Smokies. Here are the basics. Streams are very full and running clear. Lots or rain in the past 7 days. Leaf buds are just cracking at the 2000 ft level which is where our camp was located. Blood root fronds were just starting to push through the leaves. Moss covered rocks are starting to turn from mustard green to a more luminous green. Did not notice much more than this as far as flora.
We did have many deer and turkey visit our camp over the 4 days. Came across a grouse while out hiking in the rain one afternoon.
Thats about it....Keep the reports coming.
Harold
Posted by Lori Kincaid on March 24, 2008 at 6:32 AM
Matthew,
Is it early for your redbud peak or is this about normal? Just curious.
Posted by Jerry Greer on March 25, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Hey you Georgia photogs! I need a report from the Blue Ridge Mountains of your state. Any news on Spring? How is it progressing? I'm looking at a trip in two weeks, what's your thoughts?
Posted by Steve Hamley on March 26, 2008 at 6:52 PM
Folks,
Went to Elkmont today 3/26, and jonquils are blooming profusely around the old homesites. Spring beauties bloodroot are blooming.
Cheers,
Steve
Posted by Scott Reeves on March 29, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Jerry, et al, I have not been up to the NE GA mtns, but blood roots are fading out around Atl, there are still a few hepatica and srping beauts, and plenty of toad-shade trillium. The white (southern nodding) trillium are trying to bloom, but they are not there yet. Mayapples are busting out of the ground around the 285 area, but my dad said the mayapples were not yet growing in Cherokee Co., as of Easter day. Of course, they don't bloom until, well, May.
Thanks for the thread and please keep the updates coming from the Smokies. Even though I have a very busy month, I am hoping to sneak off toward Tremont Road sometime in the next two weeks. Or do you have any other suggestions? I know Keving Adams' book is full of trails with wildflowers, but I was thinking the Tremont Road area trails might have a good mix of flowers and water comps.
Posted by Steve Hamley on March 31, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Folks,
Porter's Creek, 3/30. Decent blooms around the parking lot, then little until you get above the "dogleg" bridge.
This stretch has patch phacelia, bloodroot, spring beauties, but is likely a week from peak, maybe 10 days if it stays cold. You won't see the carpets of phacelia now.
Nye Simmons and I both think spring is a week to ten days later than a "normal" year like 2006 or earlier years when Nye had notes.
Trillium seem profuse, but none blooming. No sign of the purple ladyslippers; usually we'd see some leaves by now. Also no sign of showy orchis leaves yet.
Steve
Posted by Lori Kincaid on March 31, 2008 at 12:44 PM
John and I walked up to Mouse Creek Falls on the Big Creek trail yesterday (3/30). Bloodroot is starting to drop its petals in the flat area near the campground and parking lot, but yellow trillium is just starting to bloom. Further up the trail I saw lots of yellow trillium blooming in the first mile to 1.5 miles or so, some areas at peak, and plenty of star chickweed and rue anemone. Purple phacelia is just starting to bloom and we even saw one wild geranium in bloom (!). The hemlock at the top of the bank across from Mouse Creek Falls is almost devoid of needles thanks to the Balsam Woolly adelgid. It will fall into the creek one of these days.
Stream levels looked good, running at normal full flow.
Lori
Posted by Linda Deaton on April 2, 2008 at 3:37 PM
More updates from the Smokies as of 3/30...Early flowers showing up along Cove Hardwood Nature Trail including Spring Beauty, Hepatica, Trout Lily, a little phacelia. The trillium has buds but not yet blooming. Further down Hwy 441, there are nice patches of Bloodroot & Yellow Trillium which can be accessed from nature walk trail. Same report as above for Porters Creek. Also found nice group of blue phlox behind roadside rest area along the main road to Porters Creek Trail. Baxter Creek Trail is covered up with Spring Beauty & Hepatica early on and another mile or so up the trail, you'll find nice patches of Dutchmans Breeches. Also Rue Anemone and Trout Lily and further up some white trillium starting to bloom.
Hello,
I will be travelling from Ireland to the Smokies during the 3rd week of April. Im particularly interested in flowers and have been told that Cades Cove is very good. Im also interested in Dogwoods and wonder if anyone knows where I might find a nice stand of these? Any help or directions would be most appreciated.
Regards
Richard
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 4, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Richard,
Cades Cove is crowded especially on weekends, and is closed one weekend morning and Wednesday morning (IIRC) to auto traffic. It is not a particularly good location for wildflowers IMO (although trails off of it may be better).
The usual suspects are Tremont, Porter's Creek Trail in Greenbrier, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Road, Chestnut Top trail (Townsend "Y"), the Whiteoak Sink area, and the Cove Hardwood trail at the Chimney's Picnic area.
Most shootable dogwoods will be along rivers and creeks, so try Tremont, Elkmont, Greenbrier. Tremont has been historically very good, but at least one dogwood in a famous location seems to have died last year. Also be aware that wild dogwoods may have few blooms and go directly to leaf in any given year.
For all you folks in the area who know where Laurel Run Park is near Church Hill, TN. the wildflowerw are doing great. Lots of Bloodroot, Spring Beauty, Squirrel Corn, Dutchman's, Blue Phlox, Trout Lily's, Anemome, and Bluebells. The most can be found along the one quarter mile stretch of road just before entering the Park gate. After entering the Park there are many Wood Poppies and Trilliums just budding out.
Hope everyone has a great season !!!!!
Keith
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 7, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Folks,
Did Porter's Flats 4/6 and the phacelia are blooming above the 'dogleg" bridge, not at peak but good. White trillium are blooming at lower elevations and this is one of the few locations that you can put trillium and water together. If you want such a shot, the next few days are the time to go.
Sarvis is at or near peak at the lower elevations; Greenbrier, Little River Road, and Tremont. Dogwoods are just beginning to crack open, and the buds look promising, although a few trees seem to be going straight to leaf. Redbuds are coming along nicely but a few days from peak. There's a possibility of dogwoods and redbuds together it seems, if the weather cooperates. Note all this info is for the lower elevations.
The light on the Little River is sublime around 7:00 p.m., so if you're in the area you could likely shoot sarvis and water after work if you desired.
Cheers,
Steve
Posted by Thomas Biggs on April 7, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Thanks Steve for the update. Heading down that way this weekend.
I'm coming down 4/18, is this going to be too late for good dogwood bloom? Or should I come4/11 ? Would really like to catch full bloom on the dogwoods and redbud. Ron
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 7, 2008 at 7:24 PM
4/11 will be too early for dogwoods. 4/18 would probably be better although the redbuds may be past peak in some locations. Redbuds are earlier than dogwoods. You sort of have to catch an "overlap", and it might be done this year.
Thanks, Steve. I'll be down week-end of the 18th and hope for the best. Ron
Posted by Robert Cable on April 8, 2008 at 12:28 AM
Hello all,
I spent 4/3 to 4/6 at the Smokies. Rain Friday afternoon; rain, fog, mist, more rain Saturday; Sunday morning rain. (How terrible - he, he, he) Steve is right on with his report. I also agree with the redbud and dogwood coinciding this year, that hasn't happened in a while, that I remember.
The yellow trilliums look good this year. Large white trilliums have bloomed on hillsides along 441 near Chimneys Picnic Area. They have also bloomed on the hillside at the Cove Hardwood nature trail. By the time I got to them they were too water-logged to shoot. Also saw Trout Lily, Sweet White trillium (just starting to bloom), Rue anemone, Bloodroot, Dutchman's Breeches, Squirrel Corn, Hepatica, 4 different voilets... you get the idea. Flowers should be pretty good this year.
I also noticed that the moss in most areas is actually green this year instead of olive-brown like the last 2 or 3 years. Mossy things in Roaring Fork are looking more like they did in 2002 or so. The moss back in Greenbrier still needs more moisture. Seasonal waterfalls/cascades were real dry when I arrived but by Saturday afternoon into Sunday they were flowing better.
To me it does look like a more normal year at this time - a welcomed event. Hopefully the rains keep coming. I'm heading back Thursday and may stay a week or so. I have a gold double-cab toyota tundra with a cap now, so stop and say hey if you see me.
Safe travels to all
Robert
Don't know if I'm too far north for this forum, but I hiked White Oak Canyon in the SNP today. Observed these wildflowers: Spring Beauty, Bluets, Cut-leafed Toothwort, some Trilliums (mostly painted), Trout Lily, Wood Anemone, Yellow Violet (and Common Blue), Bloodroot, Star Chickweed, and Solomon's Seal (just coming out). They were scattered all along the trail from the lower parking lot to the uppermost large fall.
Posted by Thomas Biggs on April 17, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Anybody heard anything good or bad about White Oak Sink this year? May head back down for a day trip Saturday.
Discussion
36 repliesIt's time for a spring wildflower sticky thread - yippee!
Daffodils are blooming 3/2 at the Townsend "Y", and tree limbs are beginning to redden. I was not foolish enough to drive into Cades Cove yesterday afternoon, but would assume there's early springy stuff starting to happen there.
FYI, water volumes in the creeks and rivers are near normal and spring looks to be neither early nor late in the Smokies. There is still a little snow on the peaks, so maybe a good opportunity for foreground-background compositions.
Cheers,
Steve
Steve
I will give you a full report on flowers,trees and stream levels which should hold true through-out the Smokies.
We got over two inches of rain here in East Tn today..... Harold
The AT 21 miles up from Fontana was posted as no water at all by the Park Service late last year, but that warning was lifted about New Years IIRC.
Cheers,
Steve
John
Interesting comment. We've had dry years before with mediocre color, and a news article recently attributed the past 2-3 years' blazing fall colors to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
So greenhouse gases may be a good thing for photographers! Sort of. Maybe.
Good to hear from you!
Steve
Back from my 4 day back country camping trip on the East Side of the Smokies. Here are the basics. Streams are very full and running clear. Lots or rain in the past 7 days. Leaf buds are just cracking at the 2000 ft level which is where our camp was located. Blood root fronds were just starting to push through the leaves. Moss covered rocks are starting to turn from mustard green to a more luminous green. Did not notice much more than this as far as flora.
We did have many deer and turkey visit our camp over the 4 days. Came across a grouse while out hiking in the rain one afternoon.
Thats about it....Keep the reports coming.
Harold
Is it early for your redbud peak or is this about normal? Just curious.
Lori
This is pretty standard timing here.
Dogwoods will be peaking in a week or two.
Went to Elkmont today 3/26, and jonquils are blooming profusely around the old homesites. Spring beauties bloodroot are blooming.
Cheers,
Steve
Thanks for the thread and please keep the updates coming from the Smokies. Even though I have a very busy month, I am hoping to sneak off toward Tremont Road sometime in the next two weeks. Or do you have any other suggestions? I know Keving Adams' book is full of trails with wildflowers, but I was thinking the Tremont Road area trails might have a good mix of flowers and water comps.
Porter's Creek, 3/30. Decent blooms around the parking lot, then little until you get above the "dogleg" bridge.
This stretch has patch phacelia, bloodroot, spring beauties, but is likely a week from peak, maybe 10 days if it stays cold. You won't see the carpets of phacelia now.
Nye Simmons and I both think spring is a week to ten days later than a "normal" year like 2006 or earlier years when Nye had notes.
Trillium seem profuse, but none blooming. No sign of the purple ladyslippers; usually we'd see some leaves by now. Also no sign of showy orchis leaves yet.
Steve
Stream levels looked good, running at normal full flow.
Lori
Linda
I will be travelling from Ireland to the Smokies during the 3rd week of April. Im particularly interested in flowers and have been told that Cades Cove is very good. Im also interested in Dogwoods and wonder if anyone knows where I might find a nice stand of these? Any help or directions would be most appreciated.
Regards
Richard
Cades Cove is crowded especially on weekends, and is closed one weekend morning and Wednesday morning (IIRC) to auto traffic. It is not a particularly good location for wildflowers IMO (although trails off of it may be better).
The usual suspects are Tremont, Porter's Creek Trail in Greenbrier, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Road, Chestnut Top trail (Townsend "Y"), the Whiteoak Sink area, and the Cove Hardwood trail at the Chimney's Picnic area.
Most shootable dogwoods will be along rivers and creeks, so try Tremont, Elkmont, Greenbrier. Tremont has been historically very good, but at least one dogwood in a famous location seems to have died last year. Also be aware that wild dogwoods may have few blooms and go directly to leaf in any given year.
Good luck!
Steve
Hope everyone has a great season !!!!!
Keith
Did Porter's Flats 4/6 and the phacelia are blooming above the 'dogleg" bridge, not at peak but good. White trillium are blooming at lower elevations and this is one of the few locations that you can put trillium and water together. If you want such a shot, the next few days are the time to go.
Sarvis is at or near peak at the lower elevations; Greenbrier, Little River Road, and Tremont. Dogwoods are just beginning to crack open, and the buds look promising, although a few trees seem to be going straight to leaf. Redbuds are coming along nicely but a few days from peak. There's a possibility of dogwoods and redbuds together it seems, if the weather cooperates. Note all this info is for the lower elevations.
The light on the Little River is sublime around 7:00 p.m., so if you're in the area you could likely shoot sarvis and water after work if you desired.
Cheers,
Steve
Steve
I spent 4/3 to 4/6 at the Smokies. Rain Friday afternoon; rain, fog, mist, more rain Saturday; Sunday morning rain. (How terrible - he, he, he) Steve is right on with his report. I also agree with the redbud and dogwood coinciding this year, that hasn't happened in a while, that I remember.
The yellow trilliums look good this year. Large white trilliums have bloomed on hillsides along 441 near Chimneys Picnic Area. They have also bloomed on the hillside at the Cove Hardwood nature trail. By the time I got to them they were too water-logged to shoot. Also saw Trout Lily, Sweet White trillium (just starting to bloom), Rue anemone, Bloodroot, Dutchman's Breeches, Squirrel Corn, Hepatica, 4 different voilets... you get the idea. Flowers should be pretty good this year.
I also noticed that the moss in most areas is actually green this year instead of olive-brown like the last 2 or 3 years. Mossy things in Roaring Fork are looking more like they did in 2002 or so. The moss back in Greenbrier still needs more moisture. Seasonal waterfalls/cascades were real dry when I arrived but by Saturday afternoon into Sunday they were flowing better.
To me it does look like a more normal year at this time - a welcomed event. Hopefully the rains keep coming. I'm heading back Thursday and may stay a week or so. I have a gold double-cab toyota tundra with a cap now, so stop and say hey if you see me.
Safe travels to all
Robert
Don't know if I'm too far north for this forum, but I hiked White Oak Canyon in the SNP today. Observed these wildflowers: Spring Beauty, Bluets, Cut-leafed Toothwort, some Trilliums (mostly painted), Trout Lily, Wood Anemone, Yellow Violet (and Common Blue), Bloodroot, Star Chickweed, and Solomon's Seal (just coming out). They were scattered all along the trail from the lower parking lot to the uppermost large fall.
Mustuv all gone to White Oak Sink....
I was at the sink Friday and Saturday.
Pretty nice. There were areas not at peak yet, but worth going to.