looney, your description of the Blue Ridge Parkway wildflowers brought back
vivid memories of a drive I took one late June where I joined the Blue Ridge
from just west of Winston Salem and drove all the way down to Asheville.
There were times I almost drove off the road, so many pretty things to look
at. And I did tour the native rhododendron glens. What an amazing diversity
of plants live in those mountains - apparently protected during the last ice
age.
"MLEBLANCA" wrote in message
...
In article , "loonyhiker"
writes:

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


Loony, that was just beautiful. I enjoy very much hearing about the other
areas and the wildflowers and what the country side is like. Thanks for
your lovely description.
Emilie
NorCal