Springtime in the Smokies, A Special Season

Springtime in the Smokies

When I told a co-worker that we planned to spend Spring Break in the Smoky Mountains, he was inquisitive.  He had always been to the Smoky Mountains in the summer and really enjoyed it.  He had not thought about visiting in another season and he asked, "Let me know what the Smoky Mountains are like in the Spring."

How can you explain you've experienced a place where it feels like the whole world is awakening?  The landscape's stretching and yawning and reaching up to the sun.  Blooming with color and innocence.  On the lowest ground level, the wildflowers erupt with pastel colors.  Moss wraps itself around the rocks.  Brand new vibrant green leaves fully clothe the trees at the bottom of the mountain.  Different shades of green slowly crawls up the mountain side.  It's a natural portrait of beauty and health.

How can you explain the magical feeling of observing the world come alive?  Baby bunnies hop with glee.  Wide eyed does jump through the meadow grass.  Oo-waoh, the morning doves call.  Tap tap tap of the busy woodpecker.  Baby bears pounce on it's prey.  Waterfalls stream.  Everything is new, fresh.  The ground that seemed dead and brown transforms into new, strong, and green.

At the very top of the mountain, where Lightning Bug Lodge sits, there's still bare trees.  It creates an open view down the mountain.  Stand still and hear the rushing water moving down the creek.  It's flush with new water.

Do not be satisfied with my words and photos.  You need to discover the world awakening yourself.  Pack your shorts and hiking boots and head out on the trails of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Smell the crisp, clean air.  Feel the cool water rushing through your fingers.  Let the Spring awaken the senses within you and inspire a whole new year of adventure.

For Nature Lovers, The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is a great place to enjoy wildflowers and teach children about them.  My child's alphabet book S is for S'mores, a Camping Alphabet, recognizes the GSMNP for it's wildflowers.  It specifically calls out an annual event, "Each spring wildflowers cover the land with a rainbow of color depending on the area, elevation, precipitation, and other conditions...The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual event of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park."  It made me wonder whether the week long festival still exist since the book publishing (2007).  In 2011, The Spring Wildflower Pilgimage will celebrate it's 61st year.  Past events included a variety of flora & fauna programs:

wildflower photography, wildflower walk,

big trees walk, fern walk

birding for the experienced, beginners photographic workshop, organic gardening, black bear & wild hog walk,

salamander foray, aquatic insects walk, spider walk

http://www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org/wildflower/index.cfm

Visit the website for more details or better, yet, go visit the 2011 festival in April.  Most programs are located within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  If you've attended the festival, please comment and let everyone know what you liked best.

Which park is known as the "Wildflower National Park"?

Yes, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known as the "Wildflower National Park".  And the GSMNP is listed as one of 501 must visit natural wonders in the whole wide world.  My 2007 edition of the book 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders recognizes the park's unique wildflower diversity, "The park is noted for the wealth of its wildflowers, including spectacular meadow flowers, orchids, rhododendrons, and azaleas..."

Why does the GSMNP earn such recognition for wildflowers?  Because more flowering plants are found in GSMNP than any other North American national park (over 1,660 kinds). 

The variety in elevation and rain helps the diversity and can determine when you will best see a variety, for example:  The flame azalea peaks in April & May in low elevation, but at higher elevation, look for them in June & July.

I took this wildflower photo during July.  If you know the names of these flowers, please comment.

Delightful Diversity in the Smoky Mountains

Diversity, it's one of the reasons why the Smoky Mountains is so interesting.  With such variety in flora and fauna, it makes you want to come back again and again and explore more.

The book "Strange but True Tennesse" by Lynne L. Hall notes the diversity too and explains why:  "Because of the park's unique northeast-to-southwest orientation, which kept glaciers from invading the mountains during the last ice age, a huge diversity of plant and animal life migrated here.  More than one hundred thousand species have been documented, and scientists believe that another ninety thousand may also live here.  No other place of comparable size can match the diversity.  So walk softly and carry a big camera.

Wildflower at Lightning Bug Lodge
Photo by Krenda

The camera will come in handy for those gorgeous landscape shots, too.  The scenic beauty of the Smokies is unmatched anywhere.  Especially if you're lucky enough to visit in the fall, when the mountainsides are ablaze wth the brilliant colors of autumn.  But don't despair if summer is your season, for during those warm months, the mountains are riotously splendiferous with carpets of wildflowers and forets of blooming trees.  Don't think that one trip will do it for the Smokies."

Strange But True Tennesse is a book series with wonders & strange sites by state.  Within the Tennesse book, the author also writes about the Dolly Parton statue at the Sevierville courthouse, Forbidden Caverns, Space Needle, and Dollywood.  What do you think is wonderous about the Smoky Mountain region?  Anything wacky?