Photo Gallery of Tennessee Wildflowers

Editor: Cheryl Hiers
BlueShoe Nashville Travel Guide

Here's where and when to see wildflowers in Middle Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Notice regarding hikes: some hikes require advance registration. Phone the sponsoring organization or the leader listed to confirm the date, location, and time of hikes. Trips are rarely cancelled, but sometimes changes are unavoidable. Call ahead to make certain of the precise details of each hike and to assure yourself a spot.

Shooting Star
Dodecatheon meadia L.
Photographed in Beaman Park, Nashville, Tennessee on April 20, 2008

Woodland scene at Beaman Park, Nashville
Photographed on April 20, 2008

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 this spring. Hike schedule is listed below. Please call (615-352-6299) for more information and to register for a hike. Visit the Warner Parks' webpage with schedules (the spring schedule is now online). See the Friends of Warner Park website for details on special events such as the Full Moon Pickin' Parties and volunteer opportunities.

Spring Hikes 2010

Thurs. March 25, 2010: Spring Wildflower Hike led by Deb Beazley. 9 a.m. to noon. Adults. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. March 27, 2010: Spring Wildflower Hike led by Deb Beazley. 9 a.m. to noon. Adults. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. March 27, 2010: Harpeth Woods Wildflower Hike led by Heather Gallagher. 1 to 2 p.m. All ages. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Wed. March 31, 2010: Spring Wildflower Hike led by Deb Beazley. 9 a.m. to noon. Adults. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Fri. April 2, 2010: Wildflower Tours á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. April 3, 2010: Wildflower Tours á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. April 3, 2010: Spring Wildflower Hike led by Deb Beazley. 9 a.m. to noon. Adults. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Fri. April 9, 2010: Wildflower Tours á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. April 10, 2010: Wildflower Tours á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Fri. April 16, 2010: Wildflower Tours á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. April 17, 2010: Wildflower Tours á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Fri. April 23, 2010: Wildflower Tours á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. April 24, 2010: Wildflower Tours á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Fri. May 7, 2010: Nature Tour á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. May 8, 2010: Nature Tour á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Fri. May 14, 2010: Nature Tour á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. May 15, 2010: Nature Tour á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Fri. May 21, 2010: Nature Tour á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. May 22, 2010: Nature Tour á la Cart. 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. All ages. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Fri. May 28, 2010: Nature Tour á la Cart. All ages. Call for time. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

Sat. May 29, 2010: Nature Tour á la Cart. All ages. Call for time. Designed for those who may have trouble hiking the trails, guided cart tours will follow the Old Roadway highlighting spring wildflowers along the way. Please call 615-352-6299 to register.

The Warner Park Nature Center is located at 7311 Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221. Website: www.nashville.gov/parks/wpnc

Radnor Spring Wildflower Hikes

Spring Hikes 2010

Friday. March 26, 2010: Wildflower Hike. Noon. Join Ranger Bridges on the Lake Trail to view early spring wildflowers. Meet at the Vistor Center. Reservations open March 20. Please call 615-377-1281 to register.

More hikes to be announced.

See Friends of Radnor Lake website for more information.

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

Spring Events 2010

Sat. March 27, 2010, 10 a.m. until all plants are sold out: Over fifty varieties of native plants will be on sale including Trilliums, Wild Sweet William, Celandine Poppies, and Jacob's Ladder.

Admission fee required: see Cheekwood's website for details: Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art

For more wildflower and botanical events this spring, visit Cheekwood's calendar. Or call 615-356-8000 for more information and for admission fees.

Located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37205. 615.356.8000

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 Hikes 2010

Sat. April 10, 2010, 9:30 a.m. CDT: Roarks' Cove Hike led by Mary Preistley on private property at the base of the plateau. Meet at the Sewanee Inn to carpool or caravan to the site of this easy to moderate walk.

Sun. April 11, 2010, 1:30 p.m. CDT: Hike led by Yolande Gottfried in Shakerag Hollow. 2 miles, moderate to strenuous, with one farily challenging incline. Meet at Green's View parking lot (past the golf course). See hike details below in "Note from the Sewanee Herbarium's newsletter."

Sun. April 25, 2010, 1:30 p.m. CDT: Hike led by Jon Evans in Shakerag Hollow. 2 miles, moderate to strenuous, with one farily challenging incline. Meet at Green's View parking lot (past the golf course). See hike details below in "Note from the Sewanee Herbarium's newsletter."

Note from the Sewanee Herbarium's newsletter: wear appropriate shoes on all these walks. Risks involved in hiking include physical exertion, rough terrain, forces of nature, and other hazards not present in everyday life. Picking flowers and digging plants are prohibited in all of the above-mentioned natural areas. For more information, please call Yolande Gottfried at 931-598-3346.

SPECIAL EVENT
Sat. & Sun. April 17 & 18, 2010: St. Andrews' Sewanee School Trails & Trilliums. 7th Annual celebration that features a native plant sale, workshops and speakers, a garden tour, guided walks, hikes in Shakerage Hollow and other area trails.

Spring & Summer Hikes 2010

Sat. March 27, 2010: Hatchie River Flatwoods, Haywood County. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

Sat. April 3, 2010: Monteagle Waterfall and Wildflowers, Grundy County. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

Sat. April 10, 2010: Short Springs State Natural Area, Coffee County. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

Sat. May 1, 2010: May Cumberland Trial Inventory. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

Sat. May 8, 2010: Photographing Native Plants, Flat Rock Cedar Glade. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule.

Sat. May 15, 2010: Narrows of the Harepth State Park, Cheatham County. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

Sat. June 5, 2010: Fiery Gizzard Micro Safari. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

Sat. June 26, 2010: Couchville Coneflowers. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

Sat. & Sun, Aug. 7-8, 2010: Reelfoot Lake. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

Sat. Sept. 11, 2010: Big South Fork Outing. See details on website: 2010 TNPS Field Trip Schedule

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

April 21-25, 2010
Online registration opens on 03/09/2010 at 9 AM Eastern Time (ET) and will close on 04/17/2010 at 4 PM ET.

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.

Spring 2010
Hikes to be announced
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.

Spring 2010

April 16-18, 2010: 7th Annual Spring Naturalist Rally. See website for full schedule or call 931-823-6347 for more information. Standing Stone State Park is located at 1674 Standing Stone Park Hwy., Hilham, TN 38568. Phone: 931-823-6347.

Unique Cedar Glades Wildflower Celebration in its 33rd year

April 30 - May 1, 2010

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

Edgar Evins State Park, on the shores of Center Hill Lake, has an annual Celebration of Spring that includes a number of wildflower hikes.

Sat. March 27, 2010: Wildflower Hike. Join seasonal naturalist Holly on a guided tour of the Highland Rim Nature Trail. 2 p.m. Please call 931-858-2446 to register and for more information regarding the hike.

Sun. March 28, 2010: Wildflower Hike. Join seasonal naturalist Holly on a guided tour of the Highland Rim Nature Trail. 2 p.m. Please call 931-858-2446 to register and for more information regarding the hike.

Sat. April 3, 2010: Birds, Blooms & Butterflies Hike. Join seasonal naturalist Holly on a guided tour of the Highland Rim Nature Trail. 10 a.m. Please call 931-858-2446 to register and for more information regarding the hike.

Sat. April 3, 2010: Wildflower Hike. Join seasonal naturalist Holly on a guided tour of the Millennium Trail. 2 p.m. Please call 931-858-2446 to register and for more information regarding the hike.

Sun. April 4, 2010: Birds, Blooms & Butterflies Hike. Join seasonal naturalist Holly on a guided tour of the Highland Rim Nature Trail.2 p.m. Please call 931-858-2446 to register and for more information regarding the hike.

Sat. April 10, 2010: Celebration of Spring Annual Event. A full day of outdoor activities and various birding, wildflower, and butterfly hikes. See complete schedule.

Sun. April 11, 2010: Wildflower Hike. Join seasonal naturalist Holly on a guided tour of the Millennium Trail. 2 p.m. Please call 931-858-2446 to register and for more information regarding the hike.

Sat. April 17, 2010: Wildflower Hike. Join seasonal naturalist Holly on a guided tour of the Millennium Trail. 2 p.m. Please call 931-858-2446 to register and for more information regarding the hike.

Sun April 18, 2010: Birds, Blooms & Butterflies Hike. Join seasonal naturalist Holly on a guided tour of the Millennium Trail. 2 p.m. Please call 931-858-2446 to register and for more information regarding the hike.

Edgar Evins State Park is located at 1630 Edgar Evins State Park Road, Silver Point, TN 38582. Phone: 931-858-2446.

29th Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage

Sat. & Sun April 10 & 11, 2010: Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage. Explore the park and see many early spring wildflowers and lovely vistas. A variety of hikes, workshops, driving tours, and slideshows will be offered. For more information, please call 423-881-5708.

Fall Creek Falls State Park is located at 2009 Village Camp Road, Pikeville, TN 37367. Phone: 423-881-5298.

Tennessee Wildflower Hikes by location (Photo Galleries):

April 26, 2009: Abrams Fall, Cades Cove, GSMNP

April 24, 2009: Sevier County Hike, GSMNP

April 23, 2009: Chimneys Picnic Area/Hardwood Cove Trail, GSMNP

April 23, 2009: Thomas Divide/Kanati Fork Trail, GSMNP

April 4, 2009: Taylor Hollow Part One, Sumner County

March 28, 2009: Taylor Hollow Part One, Sumner County
March 28, 2009: Taylor Hollow Part Two, Sumner County

March 1, 2009: Percy Warner Park, Nashville

April 20, 2008: Beaman Park, Nashville

April 5, 2008: Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail Part One, Ashland City
April 5, 2008: Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail Part Two, Ashland City

March 30, 2008: Percy Warner Park, Nashville

March 30, 2008: Edwin Warner Park, Nashville

February 17 , 2008: Mossy Ridge Trail in Percy Warner Park, Nashville

July 15 , 2007: Roan Mountain Cloudland Trail
July 15 , 2007: Roan Mountain Highlands

April 21 , 2007: Standing Stone State Park Part One, Overton County
April 21 , 2007: Standing Stone State Park Part Two, Overton County

Sept. 17 , 2006: Beaman Park, Davidson County

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