Natural History Wanderings

 Great Smoky Mountains Association has the following report for April 11

Porter Creek  –  Yellow Trillium, Common Blue Violet, Trillium Erect,Trout Lily, Squirrel Corn, Rue Anemone, Wild Phlox   and Dutchmen’s Breeches. Many Blooms:  Large Flowered Trillium, Long Spurred Violet, Frazer Sedge, White Fringed Phacelia, Wood anemone, Spring Beauty and Dwarf Ginseng. Few Blooms:  Creamy Yellow Violet,  Sweet White Violet, Common Cinquefoil, Little Brown Jugs, Wild Ginger, Star Chickweed and Hepatica. Just Starting to Bloom:  Foam Flower, Blue Cohosh, Daisy Fleabane, Wild Geranium, Solomon’s Seal, Meadow Parsnip, Bishop Caps and Yellow Mandarin. Past Peak Blooming:  Seersucker Sedge and Toothwort.

Note:  The White Fringed Phacelia is at peak.  The blooms between the long foot log bridge and Fern Falls are fantastic.  Probably a hard rain would greatly reduce the quality of the blooms on many of the plants. Now is an excellent time to view the flowers on this trail.

Follow reports at:  Wildflower Updates | Great Smoky Mountains Association.