Thistle is at peak bloom near Walker Sisters’ Cabin

Wildflower Report – Submitted August 28, 2023 – Metcalf Bottoms Trail (B-E)

• Flowering Spurge – Few – At peak bloom.
• Golden Rod – Few – Past peak bloom.
• Heal All – Some – Mostly past peak bloom.
• Spotted Jewelweed – Some – Past peak bloom.
• Tick Trefoil – Some – Past peak bloom.
• White Top Aster – Few – At or just past peak bloom.

Wildflower Report – Walker Sisters’ Cabin Trail (B-E)

• Cardinal Flower – Many – At various stages of the blooming cycle (Some bright red).
• Daisy Fleabane – Few – Past peak bloom.
• False Fox Glove – Few – At peak boom (very colorful).
• Flowering Spurge – Few – At peak bloom.
• Great Lobelia – Many – Just starting to bloom.
• Iron Weed – Some – At or just beyond peak bloom.  Beautiful!
• Phlox – Few – Appear to be at peak bloom.
• Southern Harebell – Few – Just beyond peak bloom (small but dainty & attractive).
• Spotted Jewelweed – Many – Mostly past peak bloom.
• Thistle – (2) – At peak bloom – Below Walker Sisters’ Cabin
• Tick Trefoil – Many – Past peak bloom.
• Water Hemlock – Some – At peak bloom.
• White Top Aster – Few – Past peak bloom.
• Wild Golden Glows – Many – At peak bloom or just beyond.
• Yellow Asters – Many – At or near peak bloom (several varieties).

Wildflower Report – Little Brier Gap Trail (B-E)

• Cardinal Flower – Few – At peak bloom (so colorful).
• Heal All – Few – Past peak bloom.

Wildflower Report – Little Greenbrier Trail (B to Little Brier Trail)

• Blue Asters – Couple – Appear to be at peak bloom.
• Coreopsis – Few – Past peak bloom.
• Curtiss Milkwort – Few – At peak bloom (very small but beautiful – easy to miss).
• False Fox Glove – Some – Some at peak bloom – some just starting to bloom – bright yellow.
• Flowering Spurge – Few – At peak bloom.
• Golden Rod – Few – Past peak bloom (several kinds of this flower).
• Tick Trefoil – Many – Past peak bloom.

Wild Potato Vine

Partridge Pea

Wear Gap Road – (From Wear Gap to Metcalf Bottoms)

• Asiatic Dayflower – Some – Very small but absolutely beautiful blue bloom.
• Black Eyed Susan – Many – Mostly at peak bloom – some past peak bloom.
• Cardinal Flower – Few – At peak bloom.
• Coreopsis – Few – At or just beyond peak bloom.
• Daisy Fleabane – Few – Past peak bloom.
• Flowering Spurge – Few – At peak bloom.
• Golden Rod – Many – Several varieties – Past peak bloom.
• Great Lobelia – Some – Just starting to bloom.
• Heal All – Some – Past peak bloom.
• Iron Weed – Some – At or just beyond peak bloom.  Vivid Purple.
• Japanese Honeysuckle – Few
• Joe Pye Weed – Many – Some at peak bloom & some beyond peak bloom (some very tall ones).
• Mountain Mint – Many – At peak bloom or just beyond peak bloom.
• Partridge Pea – Few – At peak bloom – Along this road is the only location that I have found these. Neat!
• Ragweed – Many + – At peak bloom.
• Red Clover – Few – Past peak bloom.
• Spotted Jewelweed – Many ++ – Mostly past peak bloom but still some nice ones.
• Tick Trefoil – Many – Mostly past peak bloom.  Small but colorful.
• Water Hemlock – Many – At peak bloom.
• White Clover – Few – Past peak bloom.
• White Top Aster – Few – Past peak bloom.
• Wild Golden Glow – Many – At or just beyond peak bloom.
• Wild Potato Vine – Few – At peak bloom (Morning glory family).
• Yellow Asters – Many – At peak bloom or just beyond.  A number of varieties.
• Yellow Wood Sorrel – Few – At peak bloom.

Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on wildflowers in the Smokies.