ashley_bradford's Identifications

came up in load of topsoil delivered less than 2 years ago, in area fenced off for living teaching collection... clump had about a dozen stems... even though native, this species is super aggressive, and i've been removing the aerial stems (& sometimes roots) in a nearby area for 6 years now, and it just keeps coming back -- seeing this, i now better understand why/how...

Red-cheeked Salamander - Plethodon jordani
Found under a small log, which was replaced gently.
References

• Herps of NC herpsofnc.org/jordans-salamander/
• Dodd, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Univ. Tennessee Press, 2004), pp. 185-9

Hobblebush - Viburnum lantanoides (syn. Viburnum alnifolium)
The large flowers around the edge of the cluster are sterile and apparently serve as advertisement to pollinators.
The unfurling leaves have a beautiful form--will have to go back and look for those in the future with better light.

American Black Bear - Ursus americanus
BIG bear ran past me on the sidewalk in Gatlinburg. I could not get very far out of its way without stepping into (some) traffic. I think it was in a huff because nobody would sell it a drink without ID.
(It was looking for fresh garbage, of course.)
Video at:
https://flic.kr/p/2pQ9A2P

Thought bubble: "Ooh, I wonder if they have that in my size?"