View Full Version : Peak blooms in the Smokies this year
Cookerhiker
06-06-2008, 11:53
My GF and I may head to the Smokies next week Wed-Fri. What are the peak blooming dates for the azaleas at the high elevations? Have they flamed out yet (sorry)? Per the park's website, they usually bloom through May but it depends on the particular year and the elevation.
How about the laurel & rhododendron? Again, we're talking high elevation.
humunuku
06-06-2008, 13:21
the flame azaleas were blooming like crazy last week all along the BRP (4k-5.5k ft), i'd say at higher elevation they'd still be blooming in the smokies. The Catawba rhodo's were also blooming, the Mt laurel don't seem to have peaked yet
I'll be on Gregory Bald on Fathers Day. Hoping the flames are bright.
Y'all might be interested to know flame azalea historically reached it's northern limit in western Pennsylvania. It's now extirpated.
Closely related cultivars planted in The Green Diamond do well. They're finished blooming. Cultivars resembling R. catawbiense are now fading fast.
humunuku
06-07-2008, 18:07
I'll be on Gregory Bald on Fathers Day. Hoping the flames are bright.
Me too, somehow they had two spot open at the campsite
Me too, somehow they had two spot open at the campsite
We're just doing a day hike. Maybe we'll see you there.
Pokey2006
06-07-2008, 18:53
Man, I'm so jealous. You guys are talking about flowers blooming, and we're still waiting for snow to melt...
It's about 96 here right now in Chattanooga. The flowers are wilting.
Pokey2006
06-07-2008, 20:10
Well, we got that, too, for today. But according to Views from The Top, there's still patches of snow in the Whites. I'm sooooo moving down south!
Pokey2006
06-07-2008, 20:11
So Chattanooga...cheap rents? Jobs? Hmmm...
modiyooch
06-08-2008, 00:19
Roan Mt gardens are lovely at peak. They celebrate the peak on June 21. You may be in luck
modiyooch
06-08-2008, 00:22
Well, we got that, too, for today. But according to Views from The Top, there's still patches of snow in the Whites. I'm sooooo moving down south!
Let me rub it in, we are swimming in the ocean by May. (SC beaches)
humunuku
06-08-2008, 12:54
Man, I'm so jealous. You guys are talking about flowers blooming, and we're still waiting for snow to melt...yeah but you've got way better xc skiing than us TN folk
So Chattanooga...cheap rents? Jobs? Hmmm...
Rents are cheap. Jobs - hard to come by. Unless you are in healthcare or don't mind working for $8-10/hr.
4eyedbuzzard
06-08-2008, 13:24
Man, I'm so jealous. You guys are talking about flowers blooming, and we're still waiting for snow to melt...
??? Trails in NH are all in pretty good condition for spingtime. Typical muddy patches, but better/dryer than most years. A few are closed for maintainers but will likely be open next week. Flowers were starting to bloom at lower elevations(< 2000 ft) 2 - 3 weeks ago. Below treeline you shouldn't have any problems with snow. If it's still there, it isn't deep at all anymore.
I'll be on Gregory Bald on Fathers Day. Hoping the flames are bright.
Me too. Post pics.