After 10 years of reporting on the wildflower bloom status at The Pocket on Pigeon Mountain, this year may be the first that I don’t get down there during the spring ephemeral season. Weather, travel, and other interests have conflicted with my available time, so unfortunately those of you who have counted on the reports from USWildflowers.com to determine your trip schedule are going to be disappointed. Sorry!

It should be noted that Hog Jowl Road is closed between Davis Crossroads and The Pocket.  You’ll need to get to W. Cove Rd – via Akins Rd if coming from the east, or staying to the right before crossing the ridge past Coulter Cemetery if coming from the north. Turn left onto Andrews Lane, then right back onto Hog Jowl.

As a status update, however, Richard T. Ware of the Georgia Botanical Society and a man whose botany and photography skills I greatly admire, made a trip down there (“up there” for him) this past Sunday, March 1, and his report implies NOW would be a good time to make a visit, with photos of Hepatica, Bloodroot, Trout Lily, Spring Beauty, Virginia Bluebells, Harbinger of Spring, Toothwort, Dutchman’s Breeches, and Star Chickweed. Below is a link to his Facebook photo album (click on the word “comment” to get to Facebook to see his full album.)