Photo Gallery of Tennessee Wildflowers

The most current version of the Guide to Tennessee Wildflowers can be found at http://www.blueshoenashville.com/wildflowers.html

See you there and on the trails!

Editor: Cheryl Hiers
BlueShoe Nashville Travel Guide

Warner Parks are among the closest and richest sites for wildflowers in Nashville. The Warner Park Nature Center will be conducting FREE wildflower hikes and programs on these days:

Spring 2006
Mar. 16, 9-10:30 a.m.: Spring Wildflower slide show. Leader Deb Beazley
Mar. 23, 9 a.m. to noon: Wildflower hike. Leader Deb Beazley
Mar. 25, 9 a.m. to noon: Wildflower hike. Leader Deb Beazley
Mar. 30, 9 a.m. to noon: Wildflower hike. Leader Deb Beazley
Apr. 1, (9 a.m. to noon): Wildflower hike. Leader Deb Beazley
Apr. 1, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wildflowers "a la Cart": Join a naturalist for a golf cart wildflower "hike" on the Old Roadway in Edwin Warner Park. Intended for people who find walking the trails too difficult.
Apr. 1, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. No Fooling Wildflower Hike: Join the naturalist for an April Fool's Day Hike.
Apr. 11, 1-3 p.m. Bluebells and Wildflowers "a la Cart": Join a naturalist for a one-hour guided wildflower tour on a golf cart through Edwin Warner Park. Intended for people who find walking the trail too difficult.

Fall 2006
Sept. 2, 10-11:30 a.m.: Fall field flowers. Leader Heather Gallagher. Call to register.
Sept. 14, 9-10:30 a.m.: Fall Wildflowers on the Big Screen. Slide show. Presenter and photographer. Call to register.
Sept. 23, 9-11:00 a.m.: Fall Wildflower Walk. Leader Deb Beazley. Call to register.
Sept. 23, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.: Landscaping with Native Plants Workshop. Call to register. The program cost is $35 with an optional box lunch for and additional $8.
Sept. 29, 9-11:00 a.m.: Fall Wildflower Walk. Leader Deb Beazley. Call to register.
Oct. 26, 9-11:00 a.m.: Fall Colors at Warner Park. Leader Deb Beazley. Call to register.

These hikes are led by park naturalists, so you'll learn as you go. Call for more information and to reserve a spot: 352-6299. Warner Park Nature Center, 7311 Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221. Note: You must reserve a place in order to participate in these hikes.

Spring 2006
Mar. 15, 9-11 a.m.: Hepatica Hunt at Beaman Park. Leaders: Sandy Bivens and Bob Brown
Apr. 14, 9 a.m. to noon: Wildflowers at Beaman Park. Leader Deb Beazley
Apr. 15, 9 a.m. to noon: Beaman Park Wildflower Walk. Explore a Henry Hollow and discover the stunning array of flowers, ferns, sedges, and mosses gracing this spectacular Nashville park. A prime place to see Shooting Star. Leader Amy Wallace
May, 6: First Saturday Hike. Led by volunteers from Friends of Beaman Park.

Fall 2006
Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to noon: Beaman Park Creek Walk. Leader Vera Vollbrecht. Call to register.
Oct. 7 , 9 a.m. to noon: Beaman Park First Saturday Hike. Led by volunteers from Friends of Beaman Park.
Oct. 19 , 9-11:00 a.m.: Fall Colors at Beaman Park. Leader Deb Beazley. Call to register.
Oct. 21: Friends of Beaman Park 10 Year Anniversary Celebration features the following:

• 1:00 p.m.: Guided park hikes
  
• 4-6 p.m.: Entertainment
  5:00 p.m.: Dinner on the grounds. Call to register. For more information, contact the Warner Nature Center at 352-6299.
  

Nov. 4, 9 a.m. to noon: Beaman Park First Saturday Hike. Led by volunteers from Friends of Beaman Park.

Unless otherwise noted, these hikes are led by Warner Park naturalists. Call for more information and to reserve a spot: 352-6299. Warner Park Nature Center, 7311 Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221.

Join the Radnor Park staff for a walk through the spring wildflowers and learn their names, uses, and other interesting tidbits. Walks start at the Radnor Park Visitor Center and will proceed on whichever trail is determined to be best for flowers that day. Phone: 615-377-1281. Location and map.

Hikes and excursions for March and April 2006 TBA.

Call 615-377-1281 for more information and to sign up for free hikes. Reservations are often required for hikes because of limited space.

Fall 2006

Sept. 16, 10 a.m.: Kelly Creek Seeps.
Sept. 30, 10:00 a.m.: Blazing Stars and Butterflies. Land Between the Lakes.
Oct. 21, 10 a.m.: Carrol Cabin Barrens—Bath Springs.

See web site for Tennessee Native Plant Society for contact information and more details on hikes.

April 8-9, 2006: A variety of wildflower hikes, workshops, driving tours, and slideshows will be featured during this 25th anniversary pilgrimage. For more information, call 423-881-5298.

Apr. 6, 1-3 p.m.: Wildflower Walk in Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary.
Apr. 7-9: Wildflower Fair
Apr. 8, 10 a.m. to noon: Wildflower Day Hike at Owl's Hill
Apr. 13, 1-3 p.m.: Wildflower Walk in Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary
Apr. 20, 1-3 p.m.: Wildflower Walk in Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary
Apr. 27, 1-3 p.m.: Wildflower Walk in Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary

WILDFLOWER AFTERNOONS at Cheekwood during April is a series of four afternoon walks for ADULTS ONLY which follow the bloom of spring wildflowers as they appear throughout the season. Walks begin promptly at 1 pm. Wear sturdy walking shoes and dress for the weather. Cost is $6/walk. Advanced registration is required by calling 353-9827.

Call 615-356-8000 for more information and for admission fees.

Unique Cedar Glades Wildflower Celebration in its 29th year
April 28 & 29, 2006

Some of the rare and endemic plant species of the limestone glades, including Nashville Breadroot (Pediomelum subacaulis), can be seen during this festival. Thomas Hemmerly, one of the country's foremost experts on cedar glade flora will speak Friday night. For more information, contact Cedars of Lebanon State Park, 328 Cedar Forest Road, Lebanon, TN 37090. 615-443-2769.

April 28-29. 2006: Wildflower hikes, bird walks, a photography workshop and an owl prowl are part of this year's pilgrimage.

Call for more information: 615-443-2769.
Cedars of Lebanon State Park is located at 328 Cedar Forest Road, Lebanon Park, 37090.

The knowledgeable Herbarium staff at the University of the South conduct a number of stellar wildflower hikes on the Cumberland Plateau during March and April. Some of the outstanding ones you shouldn't miss include BlueBell Island (replete with Virginia Bluebells), Shakerag Hollow on the Perimeter Trail at Sewanee, and Collins Gulf in South Cumberland State Park(this section is the only other local spot that rivals Shakerag Hollow for numbers and diversity of spring wildflowers).

Spring 2006

Sat., Mar. 25, 10 a.m.:BlueBell Island Annual Trek
Sat., Apr. 1, 1:30 p.m.: Shakerag Hollow, led by George Ramseur
Sat., Apr. 8, 1:00 p.m.: Shakerag Hollow, led by Jon Evans
Sat., Apr. 9, 10:00 a.m.: Collins Gulf, led by Mary Priestley
Sat., Apr. 15, 1:00 p.m.: Shakerag Hollow, led by Mary Priestley
Sat., Apr. 22, 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m.: Trails & Trilliums: A Celebration & Sale of Native Plants

Fall 2006

Sun., Sept. 17, 2 p.m.: The "Rez" at St. Anderw's-Sewanee School. Yolande Gottfried.
Sat., Sept. 23, 8:00 a.m..: Abbott Cotten martin Ravien Garden, led by Mary Priestley
Sat., Sept. 30, 1:30 p.m.: Piney Point Shakerag Hollow, led by George Ramseur
Sat., Oct. 28, 10:45 a.m. to noon: Beckwith's Point Trail, led by Jon Evans
Sun., Nov.5, 2:00 p.m.: Lake Dimmick, led by Mary Priestley

For more information on these events, contact the Herbarium at 931-598-3346. All hike times are CST. Some hikes require that you bring lunch and extra water; please call and confirm dates and times and special instructions.

April 24 to April 30, 2006
Online Registration Begins March 13, 2006 at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

This is Mecca for wildflower lovers: the variety of species and the abundance of native plants in bloom during this week of well-conducted hikes will leave the wildflower enthusiast in awe. Travelers come from around the world to participate.

"The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual seven-day event in Great Smoky Mountains National Park consisting of a variety of wildflower, fauna, and natural history walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes, and indoor seminars. Most programs are outdoors in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, while indoor offerings are held in various venues throughout Gatlinburg, TN."

This festival attracts botanists (amateur and professional) from all over the country; you should visit the web site, review the hike schedule, and be prepared to reserve your spot via web registration. The program of hikes is online.

Tennessee Wildflower Hikes by location (Photo Galleries):

Sept. 16 , 2006: Kelly Creek Seeps, Williamson County, TN
July 15 , 2006: Roan Mountain (Tennessee-North Carolina stateline)
Apr. 28 , 2006: Sevier County Hike, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mar. 18 , 2006: Mossy Ridge Trail, Percy Warner Park, Nashville
Apr. 27, 2003: Abrams Falls Trail, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mts. National Park
Apr. 26, 2003: Great Smoky Mts. National Park
Apr. 25, 2003: Chimneys Trail, Great Smoky Mts. National Park
Apr. 25, 2003: Courthouse Rock hike, Great Smoky Mts. National Park
Apr. 24, 2003: Bud Ogle Nature Trail, Great Smoky Mts. National Park
Apr. 24, 2003: Sugarland to Ash Hopper Branch Trail, Great Smoky Mts. National Park
Apr. 19, 2003: Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Lebanon, TN
Apr. 18, 2003: Beaman Park, Nashville, TN
Apr. 12, 2003: Standing Stone State Park, near Livingston, TN
Apr. 05, 2003: Shakerag Hollow, Perimeter Trail, University of the South, Sewanee, TN
Apr. 03, 2003: Mossy Ridge Trail, Percy Warner Park, Nashville, TN
Mar. 29, 2003: BlueBell Island & Collins Gulf in Savage Gulf Wilderness Area, South Cumberland State Park
Mar. 28, 2003: Mossy Ridge Trail, Percy Warner, Nashville, TN
Mar. 22, 2003: Radnor Lake State Park, Nashville, TN
Mar. 20, 2003: Mossy Ridge Trail, Percy Warner Park, Nashville, TN
Mar.15, 2003: Long Hunter State Park, Lebanon, TN

Thumbnail Index of All Hikes