One of my favorite spring wildflowers is the Yellow Trillium – Trillium Luteum. I first saw some yellow trillium last year when I was in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage. Last spring, I posted two of my yellow trillium photos from that trip.
This spring, I was looking to photograph yellow trillium a little differently. I ended up with several photos that I’m pretty happy with.
Without a doubt, my favorite wildflower photograph from this spring is a group of yellow trillium and purple phacelia that I spotted along the side of River Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I spotted the trillium and phacelia early in the week – and then kept going back until I managed to get the photo that I wanted. I’m sure I entertained many other park visitors as I kept moving my tripod and camera along the roadside. This photo is what spring wildflowers in the Smokies are all about for me.
Yellow Trillium and Purple Phacelia (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
At the beginning of our spring trip to Tennessee, our friend Dan (who is an absolutely incredible photographer) took Bill and I to the Laurel Snow Pocket Wilderness in Dayton. It was absolutely spectacular way to start the trip. Two of my photos from Laurel Snow are of the yellow trillium.
First a group of yellow trillium backlit by the sun. I loved the way the light lit up the trillium petals.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The second photo from Laurel Snow is a yellow trillium in front of a pair of ferns. It was one of those scenes where the plants are growing in wonderful combinations and compositions.
Yellow Trillium with Ferns (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
My last yellow trillium photo from this spring was photographed along the Old Settlers Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was the first time I’d seen a yellow trillium with its petals folded over rather than erect. I like the shape created by the petals and leaves on this particular trillium.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The yellow trillum bloom for a few weeks in the spring the Smokies – I’m already looking forward to heading back and photographing more of them next year. 🙂
Lovely! I don’t believe I have ever seen a yellow one before!
LOVE that last shot with the leaves folded!!
Beautiful!
Lovely pictures. I know what it’s like to chase plants around. I finally got some great pictures of the huge white trilliums. We have a lovely park here near South Bend, IN. It is known as Bendix Park. As I speak the splendor of the white are fading to pink. The hillsides are covered with these large blooms–there are probably 500,000 of them.