Tom Harrington files this report on May 15, 2023. Flowers to the waterfall. If you are wanting to see a brilliant display of the Mountain Laurel, he says, you should get out on the trail right away.
Mountain laurel
Blackberry- Bar Cucumber – Some – Past peak bloom.
- Blackberry – Many – At peak bloom.
- Bleeding Heart – Some – Just past peak bloom (just beyond the horseshoe).
- Blueberry – Few – Just starting to bloom.
- Blue Violets – Few – At peak bloom (just before getting to the falls).
- Cross Vine – Few – At or just beyond peak bloom.
- Dog Hobble – Few – Past peak bloom.
- False Solomons Seal – Some – Approaching peak bloom (around horseshoe).
- Galax – Many – Approaching peak bloom.
- Golden Ragwort – Some – At peak bloom.
- Hawkweed – Some – Mostly at peak bloom.
- Indian Cucumber Root – Few – Past peak bloom.
- Loosestrife – Few – Past peak bloom.
- Maple Leaf Vibram – Some – At peak bloom (nice).
- Mountain Laurel – Many ++ – At peak bloom (amazing display – a great year for them).
- Partridge Berry – Many + – At peak bloom.
- Prostate Bluet – Few (1 small patch) – Past peak bloom.
- Red Clover – Few – At peak bloom (near beginning of the trail).
- Robins Plantain – Few – Past peak bloom (almost gone).
- Solomon’s Seal – Few – Past peak bloom.
- Solomon’s Seal Grande – Few – Past peak bloom.
- Star Chickweed – Few – At peak bloom (just after the horseshoe).
- Star Grass – Some – At peak bloom (more than halfway to the falls).
- Sweet Shrub – Many ++ – Past peak bloom but still very nice.
- White Clover – Few – At peak bloom (near the beginning of the trail on the left).
Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on wildflowers in the Smokies.