Logo Mandarin Cove and Adjacent Area
Southern Nantahala Wilderness - Late April 2024
All Text & Images:
Copyright (2024)


I realized that I hadn't visited Mandarin Cove since 2021, so decided that it was
time to climb back up there for a fix of my favorite rich cove community!


Flame_Azalea
Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)
These were blooming nicely as I climbed up the mountain.



Trillium_cuneatum
Trillium cuneatum - yellow form


Ladys_Slipper
Pink Lady's Slipper   (Cypripedium acaule)


Ladys_Slipper
There is a spot before Mandarin Cove where I usually find a few of these.


Cubelium
Eastern Green Violet   (Cubelium concolor)
One of the odder violets, for sure.



Showy_Orchis
Showy Orchis   (Galearis spectabilis)


Blue_Cohosh
Blue Cohosh   (Caulophyllum thalictroides)


Large_Bellwort
Large-flowered Bellwort   (Uvularia grandiflora)
The Cove is blanketed with this species of Bellwort.



Toothwort_angustata
Slender Toothwort   (Cardamine angustata)


Showy_Orchis
A spectacular spectabilis!


Yellow_Mandarin
Yellow Mandarin, aka Fairybells   (Prosartes lanuginosa)
One of the two namesakes of Mandarin Cove, they were already well on the way out.
This didn't bode well for finding any Spotted Mandarin, which blooms before the Yellows.



Foamflower
Foamflower   (Tiarella austrina)


Vasey_Trillium
Vasey's Trillium   (Trillium vaseyi)


Maianthemum
Solomon's Plume   (Maianthemum racemosum)


Columbine
Eastern Red Columbine   (Aquilegia canadensis)


Columbine
Cluster of Columbine


Columbine
Red Columbine


Columbine
Red Columbine


Canada_Violets
Canada Violet   (Viola canadensis)


Canada_Violets
Canada Violets in habitat


Spotted_Mandarin
Spotted Mandarin, aka Spotted Fairy Bells   (Prosartes maculata)
The other namesake of the Cove, they were all bloomed out and gone
to seed.   I managed to find just this one flower that still had petals.



Showy_Orchis
Another Showy Orchis


Rue_Anemone
Rue Anemone   (Thalictrum thalictroides)


Catesby_Trillium
Catesby's Trillium   (Trillium catesbaei)


Carolina_Lily
Carolina Lily   (Lilium michauxii)


Carolina_Lily
A side view of the stalk gives a better idea of the ID.



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