More Progression of Spring

Well, I left you with the Spotted Salamanders, Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers and Pickerel Frogs (among others) who are out and breeding in early Spring. As Spring progresses into early April, you will hear a new voice in the marshes, and even along lake shores, a sweet trill that seems to magically arise from the ambient sounds and freeze you, or at least it freezes me. It is like some trill from an Elven flute, a magical sound that makes me lose my breath for a second until I recognize it. I never recognize it at first; it always catches me by surprise, arising from the sound of rushing water, of a light breeze, or from a near silence of the woodland. It takes me a magical second the identify this sound, even if I heard it a day before, and I never fail to blurt out "American Toad!".
I know that most people think the Toad is ugly, but I love them.

Here you can see the eye, one of the prettiest in the Animal Kingdom (my daughter likely has the prettiest, but I am prejudiced), looking like gold filigree. The American Toad can be told from his cousin (really a double first cousin, because they are capable of interbreeding and do on occasion) the Fowler's Toad by several characteristics, a good subject for another blog post.

At this time, the first week or so in April, the native flowers and trees begin to bloom. One that is totally mystical to me is the Appalachian Serviceberry, called Sarvice by the older locals. It is a stark white to occasionally white with a very subtle pink tinge, and is usually found in young woodlands and along woodland borders. It seems to appear magically out of the browns and grays of the late Spring woodland. Shortly after, in lower areas with more neutral soil, you will see Redbud trees making a pinkish purple haze. (Jimmy Hendrix would be proud...). Bloodroot and Trout Lily are also blooming, Bloodroot in more dry locations in more mature woods, and Trout Lily along the streams and trickles. Bloodroot will knock your eye out, but Trout Lily has to be looked for. At the Kephart Trail head on US 441 between Cherokee and Gatlinburg is a colony of Hepatica that is simply outstanding, showing several colors as the flowers mature. They are out in mid April.

Next are the Dogwood, with a white that is chalk to bone white, often a pure shining white, and occasionally with a hint of pink. The Sarvice are now gone, and most of the trees, especially Tulip Tree, or Yellow Poplar, are leafing out. Oaks will be out and pollinating, and people who search for Morel Mushrooms will be out too. The Fraser Magnolia, a native deciduous Magnolia, will bloom in late April, and a little later, the Tulip Tree, making a very pretty flower that can be lost amongst the leaves, and looking very like a tulip.

Late April is a fertile time here, with the trees now leafing out, and the mountains being a lush emerald green that almost makes you hungry. It is difficult to feel old at this time of year, with the streams running high, wild flowers blooming in every cove, hollow, and stream bank.

In May the trees mature their leaves and begin to take on a darker green, more of a hunter green, and many of the wild flowers have finished up.

So much goes on in Spring here, and I think of Spring as covering a span from early February to late May. It is a season to enjoy, as all the other seasons are to be enjoyed. Please come and enjoy, but also, PLEASE leave the Mountains as you found them. Too much of our Mountain land is being destroyed by people who "love" the Mountains and want to live here...