Dog Hobble -Wildflower in GSMNP

Dog Hobble is only found in the Southern Appalachians

according to the Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers book.

These photographs of Dog Hobble were all taken in the

Great Smoky Mountains National Park April 18, 2009.

I think the flowers are so pretty, but the shrub isn't much to look at.

The book says "In pre-Park days, when bear hunting was practiced, the heavy bears could escape pursuing dogs by forcing their way through dense thickets of these shrubs, whereas the dogs became 'hobbled' by the tangled growth."

Dog Hobble - (Leucothoe fontanesiana)

Dog Hobble is another beautiful wildflower. These photos were taken in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park during the 58th annual Wildflower Pilgrimage this past April. It was raining that morning and it created a different appearance in the photographs. Since first seeing in the park I have now seen in landscape.