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Mandarin Cove and Vicinity Southern Nantahala Wilderness - Mid April 2019 |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2019) |
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Mandarin Cove and Vicinity Southern Nantahala Wilderness - Mid April 2019 |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2019) |
| On a mid-April trek up to the Mandarin Cove vicinity, I explored some nearby coves, as well as bases of cliffs and boulderfields. It was still early in the season at that elevation, but wildflowers were starting to bloom. |
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| As I began my hike, I noticed that the Catesby's Trilliums (Trillium catesbaei) were coming on strong. |
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| Another Catesby's, just starting to bloom. |
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| Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) was another plant just beginning to bloom. |
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| Foamflowers (Tiarella cordifolia) were also starting to open. |
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| Bear Corn (Conopholis americana) adjacent to a Bloodroot leaf. |
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| Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) |
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| Alongside Mandarin Cove I is a flat spot containing hundreds of these Bellworts with their deep yellow flowers. |
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| Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides). |
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| Cliff Saxifrage, aka Michaux's Saxifrage (Micranthes petiolaris), in bud. |
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| Blue Ridge Bittercress (Cardamine flagellifera) |
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| A group of Trillium cuneatum |
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| Exploring the base of the cliffs above the coves, I spotted a number of Columbine plants: |
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| Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) flower |
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| Columbine plant in typical cliff-side habitat |
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| A few more examples of Columbine flowers... |
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| Trillium cuneatum - yellow form, and a fly |
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| Spotted Mandarin, aka Nodding Mandarin or Spotted Fairy Bells (Prosartes maculata) |
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| A pair of Spotted Mandarin flowers |
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| Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) were still in bud |