Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers and Ecosystems

Monday-Friday, April 15-19, 2019

Leader: John Harrod

Each year, spring crowns the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with a dazzling display of over 1,400 wildflower species you will find breathtaking. Five species of trillium, stands of dwarf crested iris, beautiful showy orchis, carpets of foamflower, fringed and purple phacelia, and many, many others are yours to discover. The Great Smoky Mountains is also the salamander capital of the world. Find over a dozen species including Jordan’s Salamander, a large black species with a red check patch, whose range is restricted to the park. Hike along tumbling waterfalls, learn about pioneer life, and experience the overwhelming beauty of the Smoky Mountain ecosystems. Enjoy exploring sites selected for their beauty and diversity by experienced trip leaders. At night, relax in the hot tub with a glass of wine, review sightings of the day. Lodging is in a large, mountain chalet with hot tub and balconies in the mountains. Daily walking totals range from 3 to 8 miles. Travel to Gatlinburg is 11 or 12 hours by van from Ashland Nature Center. A pre-trip meeting will be held. Fee includes van transportation, lodging, fees, meals, and leadership.

Fringed Phacelia

Yellow Trillium

Monday, April 15 Meet at Ashland Nature Center. Today, let us do the driving as we make our way by van to Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. Arrive in time for dinner at one of our favorite establishments. Afterwards, relax at our mountain chalet in the foothills. Tuesday - Thursday, April 16 - 18 Venture into the Park each day focusing on wildflower appreciation, identification, and photography. Experience an explosion of wildflowers along the Chimney Tops Trail, Porter’s Creek Trail, Schoolhouse Gap, and many other smaller roadside pullovers and shorter trails. This is the best location in eastern North America to witness the spring wildflower bloom, and one of the greatest spring spectacles nature has to offer. Friday, April 19 Return home from the southern Appalachians.

View from Chalet Showy Orchis

Yellow Lady Slipper

Experience Cades Cove during part of one day. This area has been preserved to represent what 19th and early 20th centu-ry life was like prior to the Park’s creation. Here you can visit old churches, cabins, and experience open vistas in the otherwise

Visit the highest point in the park at Clingman’s Dome. Here is like visiting Canada, going from spring to winter in a short 30 minute drive. It may still be chilly in this beautiful, isolated high-elevation bo-real forest.

Most of our adventures will take place at mid to low elevations featuring the fresh rebirth of spring, a carpet of diverse wildflower species on the forest floor, and birds singing on territory. This will be a banquet of sights for winter-weary eyes, and will give you a jump-start on spring which will be in full swing, while back at home, just beginning.

Reserve your spot on this incredible trip!

-Register www.delnature.org or call 302.239.2334 X134 -Delaware Nature Society Members: $900 -Payment due by Jan 14. After Jan 14, trip fee is refundable only if a replacement for you is found. -To ensure the trip runs, the minimum number of registrants needs to be met by Jan 14. Additional registrants are allowed after Jan 14. -Includes all transportation from Ashland Nature Center, lodging, leadership & meals except first night.

Maidenhair Fern

Red-eared Salamander

Millipede