Copper iris at Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge (date not given). Photo: Larry Pace · public domain · resized; cropped to fit. Not current conditions.
Dahomey Refugewildflowers
Copper iris blooms along the refuge's forested creeks in April, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window for this year has passed.
Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge through the year
- Apr: Mississippi kites return, soaring over the treetopsApr
- Apr: Copper iris blooms along forested creeksApr
- Summer heat and mosquitoes: the shady forest gives some reliefJul–Aug
- Marbled salamanders move to breeding sites and lay eggs under logsNowSep–Oct
- Waterfowl feed in flooded fields and roost in flooded forestNov–Feb
This week at Dahomey Refuge
Right now in Dahomey Refuge · September
- Marbled salamanders move to breeding sites and lay eggs under logs · Sep–Oct
Next usual wildflowers timingApril, local timing
Today here · Tue, Sep 29
Usual season: April.
Best spots around Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge
- Paw Paw TrailA mowed half-mile trail (one way), open year-round, past tall cottonwoods and bald cypresses along creeks and sloughs to a photo blind over a small slough
- Butterfly garden at refuge headquartersFlowers here bloom through spring and summer and draw pollinators into early fall; best mid-morning and late afternoon. Headquarters is on the north side of Highway 446, 11 miles west of Highway 61
Nearby
- Wheeler Refuge234 miUsually: April · starts in ~6 monthsTuSunnyWeSunnyThSunnyFrMostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySaShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySuShowers And Thunderstorms Likely, rain likelyMoSlight Chance Rain Showers, rain likely
- Big Thicket National Preserve304 miAt one spot: late March and April · starts in ~6 monthsTuMostly SunnyWeMostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, rain likelyThShowers And Thunderstorms Likely, rain likelyFrShowers And Thunderstorms Likely, rain likelySaShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySuShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelyMoChance Rain Showers, rain likely
- Great Smoky Mountains441 miUsually mid- to late April · starts in ~6 monthsTuSunnyWeSunnyThSunnyFrMostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySaShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySuRain Showers, rain likelyMoChance Rain Showers, rain likely
- Blue Ridge Parkway504 miUsually early spring (late April to early May) · starts in ~7 monthsTuSunnyWeSunnyThSunnyFrMostly Sunny then Chance Light Rain, rain likelySaShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySuShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelyMoChance Rain Showers, rain likely
Dahomey Refuge in pictures
Questions people ask
When is peak wildflowers in Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge in 2027?
Copper iris blooms along the refuge's forested creeks in April, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: April. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
Is it blooming in Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge right now?
Not now: its usual wildflowers window for this year has passed. Next time: April, local timing.
When is the butterfly garden best?
Mid-morning and late afternoon. Its flowers bloom through spring and summer, and pollinators stay into early fall.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Wildlife Watching ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is the refuge open?
From sunrise to sunset.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Is there a blind for photos?
Yes: the Paw Paw Trail ends at a photo blind over a small slough, and the Herbert Nature Trail has an observation tower.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Hiking ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Photography ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Do I need to wear orange?
During all hunting seasons, yes: every visitor must wear at least 500 square inches of visible fluorescent orange above the waist.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge?
Paw Paw Trail: a mowed half-mile trail (one way), open year-round, past tall cottonwoods and bald cypresses along creeks and sloughs to a photo blind over a small slough; Butterfly garden at refuge headquarters: flowers here bloom through spring and summer and draw pollinators into early fall; best mid-morning and late afternoon. Headquarters is on the north side of Highway 446, 11 miles west of Highway 61.
What is Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?
Mississippi kites return, soaring over the treetops (Apr), Summer heat and mosquitoes: the shady forest gives some relief (Jul–Aug), Marbled salamanders move to breeding sites and lay eggs under logs (Sep–Oct), Copper iris blooms along forested creeks (Apr) and Waterfowl feed in flooded fields and roost in flooded forest (Nov–Feb).
How we know
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Species (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Wildlife Watching (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Visit Us (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Hiking (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dahomey NWR: Photography (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29)