Story
Wild on the Mountain
There is unique beauty to every season at Blackberry Mountain. Whether it’s Fall trees sprinkled in reds and yellows, mountaintops capped with glistening Winter snow, or the awakening of life during Spring, nature paints the mountain view in seasonal colors that never fail to captivate.
Wildflowers begin to pop up as Spring slowly takes hold in the Smokies. The buds of the dawning season multiply as the weather warms, and we spend late Spring and all of Summer surrounded by incredible color. You’ll see fields of wildflowers such as Zinnias, Yellow Marigolds, White Cosmos and Sunflowers located in the Valley, and pathways of wildflowers at the trail head guiding you at the start of your journey. Around the accommodations and HUB buildings, guests can spot native grasses like Switchgrass and Winterberry Hollies as well as a variety of wild blooms such as Black Eyed Susans, Blanket Flowers, Woodland Phlox, Queen Anne’s Lace and Purple Coneflowers.
At the beginning of each season, everything is calculated by nature and observed by our Grounds team. The work of pollinators is the first step of many for nature – from deer seeking out acorns on the trees and bears sniffing out blueberries and blackberries on bushes, all the way down to nectar and seed droppings for butterflies, song birds, doves and turkeys. Pollinators like butterflies and bumblebees play a very important role, supporting a healthy ecosystem at Blackberry Mountain. These pollinators also give nutrients to the flowers allowing them to grow to their greatest potential. Walking into the mountain fields in the warm seasons, you’ll see butterflies and bumblebees exploring each and every flower. Song birds, doves and turkeys crowd the field in the early mornings and late afternoons, carrying off bits and pieces of the flower for their own sustenance, leaving bits behind for local deer to enjoy.
Later, when late Fall begins to transition to early Winter, the land will need to be protected from the harsh temperatures. To protect the land through Winter and allow it to naturally rejuvenate itself for the seasons ahead, a hearty Winter clover, like Crimson Clover, will be planted, providing the soil with a substantial root system to lift nutrients from down below and carry them throughout the land.
Spring and Summer are the perfect times to experience the wonders of our wildflower fields at Blackberry Mountain. Not only does the thoughtful support of natural wildflower fields provide guests with a beautiful landscape to enjoy, it also assists in supporting the land and local wildlife. It’s a natural cycle that we’re happy to support.
As the Mountain is filled with its peak wildflower growth in the pocket between late Summer and early Fall, the pollinators will supply the wildflowers with necessary pollen and aid in nectar supplies. Local wildlife will graze for their nutrients and provide succession for the upcoming seasons. The cycle continues.