Small Iris found in GSMNP and in East Tennessee

Several times during April I visited the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to photograph the wildflowers. Although my timing was very close to the wildflower peak in the park there were still lots of evidence of blooms to come in a week or two. I would have liked to returned again, but just did not have time. These first 2 photos are from the park.

The bottom four photographs were from my own yard, 7 days later.

I am no expert and tried to compare the two, and not sure if they are the same or not.

The "Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers" . The title was Crested Dwarf Iris (Iris cristata), it said....Widely distributed at lower elevations of the Smokies, this beautiful iris does much to brighten the roadsides during April and May. The flower is usually a rich blue, but occasionally a light purple or even white. It is 4 to 6 inches tall and is found mostly on open slopes. Spring dwarf iris (I.verna var. smalliana) and southern blue flag (I. virginica) are the only other native species of this genius within the Park and neither are common here. They can separated on the basis that southern blue flag is the only one with a flowering stem more than 6 inches tall and crested dwarf iris has crested sepals whereas spring dwarf iris does not. Iris is the Tennessee State Flower. Look for the crested dward iris in Little River Gorge, Bud Ogle Nature Trail, and Porter Creek Trail.


Reading that and looking at my photos compared to the 2 top ones, taken in the park, I don't have a clue if mine are the same. Nor do I now know which of the iris in the park I photographed, I assume the Crested Dwarf Iris, since it is the more common. I do know I saw evidence in all 3 of the locations they mentioned and only saw actual blooms on the last day I was at the park.

White Wildflowers in GSMNP

All these photos of white wildflowers were taken in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. All except the last one were taken April 2009. The first 2 photos are Foamflower.
Next is Fraser's Sedge

These 2 are Rue Anemone.

Not to be confused with the last 3, which are Great Chickweed.

This last photo of Great Chickweed was taken April 2008,

during the Wildflower Pilgrimage.

Bishop's Cap - Wildflower in GSMNP

Bishop's Cap seems to be abundant in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Very delicate flower that blooms in April and May at elevations up to 2,500 ft.

The stems are 10 to 15 inches.

Dog Hobble -Wildflower in GSMNP

Dog Hobble is only found in the Southern Appalachians

according to the Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers book.

These photographs of Dog Hobble were all taken in the

Great Smoky Mountains National Park April 18, 2009.

I think the flowers are so pretty, but the shrub isn't much to look at.

The book says "In pre-Park days, when bear hunting was practiced, the heavy bears could escape pursuing dogs by forcing their way through dense thickets of these shrubs, whereas the dogs became 'hobbled' by the tangled growth."

Purple Phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida)

I went to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park on Wednesday to capture some last snow photos. I think I waited one day too late. I did get some snow photos, but I was more excited about the wildflowers.

I stopped on the way home at the Chestnut Top Trail

and was able to photograph some wildflowers.

The Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers book says this about the Purple Phacelia..."Reaching a height of 12 to 24 inches, this is the tallest of the four phacelias in the Smokies. Purple phacelia blooms in April and May. It is found in some abundance at the start of the Chestnut Top Trail and along Park roads and trails from the valleys up to 2,000 feet elevation."

More wildflowers in GSMNP

I guess about now you are all wondering if I really went to the Smokies to check out the fall colors since I have shown more wildflowers than the fall colors. I am hoping the peak will hit about Monday, because I get to go back then. In the meantime I decided to take advantage of the wildflowers, because one hard frost and they will be gone until spring. You know me, I love macro photography.

Fall Wildflowers in the Smokies

Just had to stop for a few macro photographs of these in the GSMNP earlier this week. I think the 2 photograph would be cool in one of my cards. Have you checked out my greeting cards? Please click here to visit my selection.

Wilflowers in the fall at GSMNP

These flowers are everywhere in the park right now. All of these photographs were taken yesterday morning. I just can't let the fall colors come and go without getting to the mountains.

But when I am there I don't just take in the fall colors. Notice some of the flowers are through blooming, but I thought this was still neat looking.

Wildflowers in Cataloochee Cove - GSMNP

These wildfowers were in Cataloochee Cove along the streams. I also saw the red flowers in Cades Cove the week before along the streams beside Forge Creek Road.

Dog Hobble - (Leucothoe fontanesiana)

Dog Hobble is another beautiful wildflower. These photos were taken in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park during the 58th annual Wildflower Pilgrimage this past April. It was raining that morning and it created a different appearance in the photographs. Since first seeing in the park I have now seen in landscape.