There is much to
look at along the tree trail in spring. Many trees are
flowering, and the wildflowers along the trail are at their peak.
Some of the tree species, and some of the wildflower species,
flower quite early (mid to late March). Eastern Redbuds
flower before they leaf out, and many of the species have flowers
that do not persist long. For these reasons, it is better to
make multiple visits. There are neotropical bird migrants in
the trees during much of the spring, and they add their voices to
those of the resident birds.
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| The
Trailhead in Spring |
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It is important to bring along a
pair of binoculars not only for the migrant birds, but also to
better see some of the tree flowers high in the canopy.
If you forgot your hand lens, you can also turn them around and look
through them backwards as a magnifying glass.
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| Cumberland
Spurge |
As you walk up the slight incline
towards Station One, be sure to look for wildflowers along the sides
of the trail. The Cumberland Spurge, shown at right, has a
flower that is only about one-third of an inch in diameter, and is
best appreciated with a hand lens. It is found in rich woods
on the Cumberland Plateau and in Middle and East Tennessee.
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