Tom Harrington hiked the Ace Gap Trail from beginning to old campsite #7 on April 19, 2024.
- Bird foot Violet – Few – At peak bloom.
- Blackberry – Few – Just starting to bloom.
Cancer Root
- Cancer Root – (10) – After first mile – just beyond peak bloom. Neat!
- Carolina Vetch – Many – Mostly at peak bloom (first half mile).
- Catesby Trillium – Many ++ – Most at peak bloom – some past peak bloom.
- Common Blue Violet – Few – At peak bloom.
- Common Cinquefoil – Many – At peak bloom (mostly first mile).
- Crested Dwarf Iris – Many + – Most past peak bloom (believe rain and/or heat affected blooms).
- Dogwood – Some – At peak bloom (first mile).
- Early Buttercup – Few – At peak bloom (first mile).
- Fire Pink – Some – At peak bloom – brilliant red – very cheering – first half mile.
- Flame Azalea – Some – A few days to a week away from peak bloom. Very colorful.
- Galax – (1 just starting to bloom) – Some budded.
- Halberd Leaf Violet – Some – At peak bloom – after first mile.
- Hooked Butter Cup – Few – At peak bloom.
- Long Spurred Violet – Few – Slightly past peak bloom.
- May Apple – Saw only 1 bloom – did not look under the leaves for more blooms – at beginning of trail.
- Meadow Parsnip – Many + – Just before peak bloom – first mile.
- Mountain Laurel – Couple of shrubs starting to bloom – Probably be blooming in a few days to a week.
- Robins Plantain – Many – Well past peak bloom – about gone – first half mile.
- Rue Anemone – Many – At peak bloom – mostly after first mile.
- Solomon’s Seal – Many – At peak bloom.
- Solomon’s Seal Grande – Few – Approaching peak bloom – first quarter of mile.
- Spotted Mandarin – Some – At or just beyond peak bloom – after first mile.
- Star Grass – Many + – At peak bloom – mostly first mile.
- Stone Crop – Few – Approaching peak bloom – first tenth of mile.
- Sweet Shrub – Some – Just starting to bloom – at the trail head.
- Trillium Erect – (1) – At peak bloom.
Vernal Iris
- Vernal Iris – (1) – Slightly past peak bloom – very beautiful – approximately 2 miles in.
- Wild Geranium – Many – Mostly at peak bloom but many buds – first mile.
- Wild Oats – Some – Appear just past peak bloom – first half mile.
- Yellow Mandarin – Some – Past peak bloom – after first mile.
Notes: 13 blow downs – one is challenging to get through or around.
Photos are from photo files.
Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on wildflowers in the Smokies.