Tom Harrington hiked on the Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail on Monday, April 15, 2024, starting at the beginning and stopping at campsite #35.
- Bishop Cap – Many – First part of trail, blooms are past peak – mid-part of trail, blooms at peak bloom.
- Blue Cohosh – Many – Most at peak bloom – most shortly after passing Sutton Ridge.
- Canadian Violets – Many ++ – Mostly at peak bloom and majority on section of trail after passing Sutton Ridge.
- Common Blue Violet – Few – Mostly at peak bloom.
- Common Cinquefoil – Many – Mostly at peak bloom and on the first mile and a half of the trail – colorful in sun.
- Dwarf Crested Iris – Many – Mostly peak bloom after Sutton Ridge – in spots like a carpet of blue/purple – great.
- False Solomon’s Seal – Few – Just starting to bloom – many budded.
The foam flower seems to sparkle.
- Foam Flower – Many + – Mostly first mile and a half – about half past peak bloom – rest at peak bloom.
- Golden Ragwort – Some – Mostly just past peak bloom – first half mile of trail.
- Halberd Leaf Violet – Few –
- Hooked Buttercup – Few – Just starting to bloom.
The large flowered bellwort
- Large Flowered Bellwort – Many – Mostly at peak bloom and after Sutton Ridge. Bright yellow blooms.
- Long Spurred Violet – Few – Past peak bloom.
- Meadow Parsnip – Many – Approaching peak bloom.
- Meadow Rue – Some – Mostly past peak bloom.
- Nodding Trillium – Many – Most peak bloom but many buds – starting after Sutton Ridge.
- Purple Wake Robin – 1.03 miles up trail & 1 approx. 3 miles up trail – both on left side of trail.
- Rue Anemone – Many – At peak bloom.
- Service Berry – Few – At or just beyond peak bloom about 2 miles out trail.
- Silver Bell – Some – Down ridge just past Sutton Ridge on the left.
- Solomon’s Seal – Many – At or approaching peak bloom.
- Spotted Mandarin – Many – Mostly at peak bloom & starting after 1-1/4 mile up the trail – most I have seen.
- Spring Beauty – (1) – At peak bloom (not many seen this year except on Chestnut Top Trail).
- Squaw Root – (2 clumps of them) – Not quiet at peak bloom.
- Star Chickweed – Many + – At peak bloom.
- Star Grass – Few – At peak bloom.
- Stone Crop – Many – Peak bloom possibly 5 days away – Mostly first half mile of the trail.
- Sweet White Violets – Many – At peak bloom.
- Sweet William Trillium – Many – Beyond peak bloom first part of trail and at peak last park of the trail before #35.
- Toothwort – Few – Well beyond peak bloom (almost gone).
- Trailing Arbutus – Few – Mostly past peak bloom about 2 miles up trail – 2 clumps of them on left.
- Trillium Erect – Many – first part of trail, most past peak bloom – last part of trail at peak bloom.
- Wild Geranium – Many – Best display first half mile beyond Sutton Ridge – Not at peak bloom – lot of buds.
- Wild Oats – Many – At peak bloom.
- Wild Phlox – Many – Most approaching peak bloom – Most in first 1/3-mile up trail.
- Wood Anemone – Some – Mostly at peak bloom.
- Yellow Mandarin – Few – Not at peak bloom yet.
- Yellow Trillium – Many – Mostly at peak bloom – some really nice ones.
- Yellow Woodland Violet – Many – At peak bloom.
Notes: 1. This trail is a wildflower bonanza at this time – first 3.2 miles.
- With the high temps this week many of the flowers will quickly fade.
- There are 10 blow downs on this section of the trail and some stream crossings without a bridge.
- Photos shown not taken today – photos from files – New camera has not arrived.
Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on wildflowers in the Smokies.