Coreopsis at peak bloom on Turkey Pen Trail

Wildflower Reports – 3 July 2023

Turkey Pen Trail (Beginning-end)

Basil Bee Balm – Few – Slightly past peak bloom.
Black Cohosh – Some – Past peak bloom but still some nice ones.
Coreopsis – Few – At peak bloom.
Heart Leaf Hedge Nettle – Few – In the early blooming stage.
Horse Nettle – Few – Past peak bloom.
Large Bluet – Very few – Past peak bloom (about gone).
Pokeweed – Few – Just starting to bloom.
Rosebay Rhododendron – Many but scattered – AT various stages of the blooming process – still some buds.
Saint John’s Wort – (2) – Just starting to bloom.
Star Grass – (1)
Tick Trefoil – Some – Just starting to bloom.
White Top Aster – (1) – Just starting to bloom.
Wild Hydrangea – Few – Past peak bloom (about gone).
Wood Nettle – Some – Most appear past peak bloom.

Rosebay Rhododendron

Black Cohohs

School House Gap Trail (B to Turkey Pen Trail)

Flowering Spurge – Some – Appear to be at peak bloom or just beyond.
Red Clover – Very few – Well past peak bloom (about gone).
Rosebay Rhododendron – Many but scattered – Most still at peak bloom. Still some budded.
Tick Trefoil – Few – Approaching peak bloom.
Wood Nettle – Some – At or just beyond peak bloom.

Bote Mountain Trail (B to Finely Cane Trail)

Coreopsis – Few – At full bloom – located at junction with West Prong Trail.
Daisy Fleabane – Some – Most past peak bloom but some just starting to bloom.
Flowering Spurge – Some – Appear to be at peak bloom.
Red Clover – Few – Well past peak bloom (about gone).
Rosebay Rhododendron – Many but sporadically located – Most at peak bloom – ample buds seen.
Tick Trefoil – Few – Approaching peak bloom.
White Clover – Few – Well past peak bloom (about gone).

Finely Cane Trail (B-E)

Basil Bee Balm – Few – Most at peak bloom or just beyond peak bloom.
Black Cohosh – Some – At various stages of the blooming process – Some at peak bloom.
Common Elderberry – (1) – At peak bloom.
Flowering Spurge – Few – At or just beyond peak bloom.
Heart Leaf Hedge Nettle – Few – Appear to be just starting to bloom.
Large Bluet – Few – Past peak bloom (about gone).
Rosebay Rhododendron – Many but sporadically spread – Most at peak bloom – some budded.
Tick Trefoil – Few – Approaching peak bloom.
Wood Nettle – Some

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