Flowers Rule in May at Flower Hill Nature Preserve

By Kevin Brice

Located near the Johnston/Nash County line, Flower Hill is a 10-acre tract acquired by TLC in 1989. The preserve includes a series of bluffs along the south bank of Moccasin Creek that sustains a disjunct community of Catawba rhododendron and other plant species more commonly found in the mountains of North Carolina. Flower Hill is considered to be the largest stand of purple rhododendron in the Coastal Plain. In addition to unusual plant life, the Flower Hill Preserve protects habitat in Moccasin Creek for the dwarf wedge mussel, a freshwater mussel listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

Flower Hill became famous among wildflower lovers who have made annual spring pilgrimages to the steep north-facing bluffs for the past 100 years. In 1937, Flower Hill welcomed more than 12,000 visitors during the first three weekends in May. While contemporary crowds are considerably smaller, TLC continues to conduct a very popular Flower Hill hike the weekend before Mother's Day every year. The preserve is open to the public, so take a day-trip to what some consider to be a little slice of the mountains in Johnston County.