Logo Mandarin Coves and Adjacent Cliffs
Southern Nantahala Wilderness - Late April 2020
All Text & Images:
Copyright (2020)


My first trip of 2020 up to the Mandarin Coves was later
than prior years, so I missed some of the early bloomers.


Flame_Azalea
Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)
I saw a large shrub where a fallen branch had just knocked off several flower clusters. This was one of them...



Pink_Catesby_Trillium
Catesby's Trillium (Trillium catesbaei)


Mayapple
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) flower


Bellwort
Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)


Saxifrage
Cliff Saxifrage, aka Michaux's Saxifrage   (Micranthes petiolaris)
Typical form: 3 upper petals clawed and with 2 yellow spots, the 2 lower petals cuneate and not spotted.



Saxifrage
Micranthes petiolaris - variation?
Atypical variation: each petal distinctly clawed and with 2 yellow spots.



Columbine
Eastern Red Columbine   (Aquilegia canadensis).


Columbine
These were prolific on the wet cliffs above the cove.


Columbine
Most were going to seed, but there were still some fresh flowers...


Spotted_Mandarin
Spotted Mandarin, aka Spotted Fairy Bells   (Prosartes maculata)
These were on their way out, and the Yellow Mandarins were quickly blooming to replace them...



Yellow_Mandarin
Yellow Mandarin, aka Yellow Fairy Bells   (Prosartes lanuginosa)


Cubelium
Eastern Green Violet   (Cubelium concolor)
This was a new species for me, and I found lots of it growing here.



Cubelium
Tiny flowers of the Cubelium concolor   (syn. Hybanthus concolor)


Cubelium
A closer view; the tiny flowers were just opening.


Showy_Orchis

Showy Orchis   (Galearis spectabilis)


Showy_Orchis



Trillium_erectum
The Trillium erectums were pretty much on their way out...


Umbrella_leaf

Flowers of the Umbrella Leaf   (Diphylleia cymosa)


Umbrella_leaf



Morel
A big, fat (although past its prime) Morel   (Morchella sp.).



Mandarin Cove Index Wildflower Index
S. Nantahala Index NE GA - NC Index