Smokies Report

Back from 3 days shooting in the Cherokee area. Under 4000 feet is gorgeous – trees are leafed out but it’s still early enough that they have a vivid almost transluscent light green color causing the forest to absolutely glow. (Jump over to the SENP gallery where I posted “Forest Green”.) Above 4000’ is still pretty bare so I stayed low.

Not a lot of wildflowers where I was. Just a few here and there. The ferns are out but haven’t completely unfolded. Water in all of the rivers and streams are running high and fast and waterfalls seem to be at peak waterflow. (Check out my other image posted in the Landscape gallery: “Spring Rapids” on Chasteen Creek.)

Thanks for the report Barry. I was in the Greenbriar and Townsend area on Thursday and Friday and it was georgous. As you said, the leaves have that bright green of spring. There were many wildflowers along the Porter Creek trail and in White Oak Sinks. White, Pink, Painted, and Yellow Trillium, Pink and Yellow Ladies Slippers, Phlox, Geraniums, Bishops Caps, and a fewl Shooting Stars. The Dogwoods still had thier flowers but they won't last much longer. Plenty of water in the streams and waterfalls.

Forgot to mention the Dogwoods. On the Cherokee side they are still flowering and looks like they will stick around for at least a few more days or longer.

Great report, guys. I think it would help this forumn to post some of your pics here with your posts! And if you reply to your own post you can post more than one!!

Good suggestion Ed;
Here's some of the Painted Trillium from Porters Creek.

Here's what White Oak Sinks looked like on Friday.

I especially like the 2nd one, Richard. I like that you let the background go out of focus so the flowers sort of fade out. Maybe a slight crop at the top but I'm not sure. I'm working on a couple more from my trip that I'll try to post later.

Nice photos and update. Thanks!