Cove Hardwoods Wildflower Trail © William Britten use with permission only
For ten months of the year the Cove Hardwoods Nature Trail is a short unassuming excursion that is part of the Chimneys Picnic Area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But come April, this trail is transformed into a fairyland of wildflowers. You could hike the Cove Hardwoods Trail every few days during wildflowers season and see something new each time. While there are other top wildflower trails in the Smoky Mountains, such as Porters Creek in the Greenbrier or Chestnut Top Trail near Townsend, nothing can top Cove Hardwoods for sheer density of wildflowers in such a small area. The display is breathtaking.
Bunches of Trilliums on the Cove Hardwoods Trail © William Britten use with permission only
In the picture above not only is there a densely packed hillside of White Trillium, there is also a ground-cover of Fringed Phacelia beneath them! What a bargain it is to spend some time walking among this display on a gentle spring day. Below is a similar super-sized group of Yellow Trillium found nearby.
Yellow Trillium on the Cove Hardwoods Trail © William Britten use with permission only
On a hike a few days ago I found the Trillium above, the Fringed Phacelia, hundreds of perfect Squirrel Corn specimens, Bishops Cap, Spring Beauty, Bleeding Heart, Rue Anemone, Toothwort … too many to recall.
Please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN. If you are a Facebook user, you can get my daily Smoky Mountains news and photos by becoming a fan of the William Britten Photography Facebook Page.
Fringed Phacelia carpets the Smoky Mountains © William Britten use with permission only
I live in Gatlinburg TN, on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Smokies are a very spiritual place, and I attempt to capture some of that spirit in each of my photographs.
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