Natural History Wanderings

Great Smoky Mountains Association posted the following wildflower bloom update for April 2, 2012

SPECIAL WILDFLOWER NOTICE: The first half mile of the trail from Newfound Gap Road has amazing displays of Crested Dwarf Iris. About 3/4 of a mile up the trail from 441 many of the flowers are at peak. This trail would be well worth hiking for those wanting to see a good variety of wildflowers at this time. Especially beautiful right now are the Large Flowered Trillium, Trillium Erect, Canadian Violets, Purple Phacelia, Common Blue Violets, and the Crested Dwarf Iris. At places the hillsides are covered with trillium in full bloom.

Sugarland Mountain Trail From the Appalachian Trail to Huskey Gap – Spring Beauty, Common Blue Violet, Sweet White Violet, Serviceberry, Prostrate Bluet, Trout Lily, Seersucker Sedge, Trailing Arbutus, Squirrel Corn, Large Flowered Trillium, Squaw Root, Star Chickweed, Witch Hobble, Wild Oats, Daisy Fleabane, Wood Anemone, Rue Anemone, Blue Cohosh, Yellow Trillium, Large Flowered Bellwort, Wild Geranium, Early Meadow Rue, Yellow Mandarin, Stonecrop, Lousewort, Bishop Caps, Silver Bell, Toothwort, Pennywort, Solomon’s Seal, Canadian Violet, and Star Grass 1.

Huskey Gap Trail From Huskey Gap to US 441 –  Frazier Magnolia, Creamy Yellow Violet, Halberd Leaf Violet, Squaw Root, Rue Anemone, Star Chickweed, Trillium Erect,  Silverbell, Yellow Trillium, Birdfoot Violet, Large Flowered Trillium, Large Flowered Bellwort, Early Meadow Rue, Bishop Caps, Blue Cohosh, Yellow Mandarin, Toothwort, Purple Phacelia, Foam Flower, Crested Dwarf Iris, Canadian Violet, Squirrel Corn, Wild Ginger, Solomon’s Seal, Showy Orchis 2, Stonecrop, Common Cinquefoil, Wild Geranium, and Sweet White Violet.