I went on a hike yesterday from Pisgah Inn (on the Blue Ridge Parkway) down
to Pink Beds (Pisgah Forest) in NC. It was an overcast day with rain
expected in the afternoon. The flowers were full splendor. As we walked
through tunnels of mountain laurel in full bloom, flowers on both sides of
the trail welcomed us. These flowers were also blooming: gazillions of flame
azaleas, galax, fly poison, fire pink, yellow primrose, jack in the pulpit,
spiderwort, blackberries, and squaw root. The trillium was done but the
leaves were still there. Also the showy orchis must have finished but the
leaves were still green. It was a magical time, especially coming into huge
patches of ferns all around. I kept expecting to see Mad's fairies to
appear. Since there was so much rain, there were many little waterfalls,
which are not normally there. Finally at lunch time, we found a camping spot
and ate lunch in this opening that was surrounded totally by mountain laurel
that was in full bloom. The sun broke through the clouds and celebrated our
lunch with us. When we arrived in Pink Beds, there were fields of daisies
that surrounded us. Even when it finally started to rain, the happy feelings
didn't go away. What a joyous, exciting day!

loony