Need A Flower Briefing (Knoxville, Oak Ridge: houses, school, university)

[LauraC]

I didn't arrive in East Tennessee until mid-May last year and then I was getting settled in for two weeks or so and "missed the Spring."

When do you usually start to see your first flowers along the roadway and what flowers/flowering bushes are they? For example, when I used to live in the NE, forsythias were the earliest bloomers you used to see along the highways and they only lasted a short time. We saw them as soon as it started to get warmer, early March, I think.

Where are your favorite places to see flowers and when?

The other day when the temps got up to 68/70, I was thinking the trees may be fooled into blooming early.

[2mares]

Ive seen daffodils as early as February. Its usually crocus, daffodils, forsythais, redbuds, dogwoods and the ever popular bradford pear. I am in Mid Tn tho so it may be different.

[SPLIT]

L.C. 2Mares pretty much hit the list, but two of the earliest that you asked about are QUINCE,(Texas Scarlett) fire engine Red, and White Bridal veil(Baby Breath). See these on hikes arounds farms, etc maybe not always on car roads.
Attach pic is the pink "Redbud" trees, great color buds right out of the stem of the tree, Then the Dogwoods will kick in.
. Usually something new every week. A species will have its Glory bloom,

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by SPLIT

L.C. 2Mares pretty much hit the list, but two of the earliest that you asked about are QUINCE,(Texas Scarlett) fire engine Red, and White Bridal veil(Baby Breath). See these on hikes arounds farms, etc maybe not always on car roads.
Attach pic is the pink "Redbud" trees, great color buds right out of the stem of the tree, Then the Dogwoods will kick in.
. Usually something new every week. A species will have its Glory bloom,

Those are beautiful and February? Really? Was that photo taken on your property I really want to see some color. I think the birds (the only things with any color outside right now) are sick of seeing me with my camera. I think I've got all of the winter and year-'round ones down pat.

I remember people talking about redbuds last year, now that you mention them, but I wasn't here yet and I didn't remember when everyone saw them. I looked at a photo of dogwoods so I can recognize them.

[alleycat]

Redbuds and dogwoods are a little later in spring, but are relatively long lasting.

I have a beautiful crabapple in my front yard. It likes to bloom early. Some years I only get to enjoy it for a couple of days, other years the buds and blooms will last for a week to ten days or more. It depends on the weather.

[2mares]

In years when we have had especially warm Februarys I have seen daffodil, but they will usually be covered with ice or snow shortly after blooming.

Where are your favorite places to see flowers and when?

Personally, I enjoy the spring flowers on trail rides. Eastfork stables in Allardt has an annual wildflower ride. I cant recall the specifics, but several area parks have spring wildflower hikes.

[alleycat]

LauraC, are you going to be in Nashville anytime this year? If you are, I'd be glad to provide you with free passes to the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art.

Here's a link to their website: Home

[knoxgarden]

I had some February Gold Daffodils bloom a couple of weeks ago and I've got one early crocus open now. I think they are all thoroughly confused at this point. Late March, early April is when things usually start happening.
Head over to the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge
The University of Tennessee - Forest Resources Research and Education Center (http://forestry.tennessee.edu/trailtours.htm - broken link)
They can let you know what wildflowers may be blooming.
Also check out the Smoky Mountain Field School offered through University of Tennessee. They have some wonderful programs, including some early spring hikes to see wildflowers or just to enjoy the forest in late winter.
Smoky Mountain Field School - 2008 Program Schedule

[jkmewright]

Daffies and crocus down this way already. I always have crocus in my yard. It's the first sign of spring and reminds me that it's gonna be warming up very soon

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by alleycat

LauraC, are you going to be in Nashville anytime this year? If you are, I'd be glad to provide you with free passes to the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art.

Here's a link to their website: Home

That's very nice of you and thank you but I don't have plans to go to Nashville. I have an arboretum in Oak Ridge and there is IJAMS in Knoxville but I just have no concept of when you first begin to see flowers (live flowering trees and bushes) and what those flowers are. I know the Dogwood festival is in April so I assume that's when you first see those around peoples houses. The only highway I go on a lot is I-75N and that's only 1 -5 exits so I don't know what grows on the side of the road and again, I missed most of the Spring last year.

I want to make a trip to Roane Mountain, too. Someone previously mentioned in a prior post that there are wildflowers at Frozen Head State Park. I've been there before at the end of the Fall. Are there flowers along the Foothills Parkway? How about Cherohala?