Spring indeed does climb the Mountains. You can see it happen, as I have when I was traveling weekly between Asheville at 2000 ft. and Morganton at a little over 1000 a few years ago. In the Piedmont, Spring would already be in full swing while only a few signs were showing here. At around 3000 feet, there was nothing.
Today, Spring is in full swing here. Sarvice (Serviceberry), has bloomed, and Dogwood is blooming. We even had Dogwood Winter. There are Spring wildflowers out everywhere like the Spring Beauty, Trilliums, and Fire Pink. Pansy Violets are also out. Tadpoles are in the pools and seeps where a few weeks ago there were only eggs. Leaves are out on many of the trees, and the hills are greening up.
However, if you look at the surrounding hills, you will see that the green goes only part way up the slopes. Past a certain line on the mountains, at probably 2500 feet, the woods are still gray. Spring hasn't gotten there yet. Go up the Parkway to Mt. Pisgah, and you will discover it is still the tail end of Winter there. So, Spring is indeed climbing the hills, as it has done for millennia.
Now is a great time to see wild flowers in the Smokies. A nice place is the Kephart Prong parking area.
Hope to see you out there!
Alex
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