May, June, and July these months are the peaks of wildflower season. It is during this time that the three kings of the wildflower season reign, Azaleas, Mountain Laurel and Rhododendrons. I will say that this year was a special year for these wildflowers. Flame Azaleas are the first to come in as they made their first appearance in April. At
Gregory Bald, they peak in mid-June and I got to visit one of the best displays on this mountain top in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). There wasn't just the traditional orange, but yellow, pink and white flowers.
Mountain Laurel starts to appear in mid-May and because of this I did a day in the
Smokies dedicated to maybe my favorite wildflower.
However, this year belonged to the Rhododendrons as the Catawba display on the
Roan Highlands was incredible. Peaking in mid-June I first hiked across the Highlands were wonderful displays awaited at Round, Jane and Grassy Ridge Balds. Then three days late I headed up to the world famous
Roan Rhododendron Gardens, which was awash in purple. I was up here
two years ago and the flowers were no match to this past June. Oh, there was some great Piedmont and Rosebay Rhododendrons during the summer too. Anyway, here are the pictures for this Wood Booger's Wildflower Special...enjoy!
Azaleas, Flame:
 |
| April 30, 2016: AT-Camp Creek Bald, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Cavers Gap, NC/TN. |
:
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Engine Gap, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Engine Gap, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Jane Bald, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Grassy Ridge Bald, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Jane Bald, NC/TN |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Jane Bald, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Ridge Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Bald, GSMNP. |
Laurel, Carolina Sheep:
 |
| June 11, 2016: I-26 NC Welcome Center. |
 |
| June 11, 2016: I-26 NC Welcome Center. |
Laurel, Mountain:
 |
| May 19, 2016: Cherokee-Orchard Road, GSMNP. |
 |
| May 19, 2016: Roaring Forks MNT, GSMNP. |
 |
| May 19, 2016: Roaring Forks MNT, GSMNP. |
 |
| May 19, 2016: Roaring Forks MNT, GSMNP. |
 |
| May 19, 2016: US-321, Cosby, TN. |
 |
| May 19, 2016: US-321, Cosby, TN. |
 |
| May 19, 2016: US-321, Cosby, TN. |
 |
| May 19, 2016: US-321, Cosby, TN. |
 |
| May 19, 2016: Foothills Parkway, Cosby, TN. |
 |
| May 24, 2016: Appalachian Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| May 24, 2016: Appalachian Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| May 24, 2016: AT-Shuckstack, GSMNP. |
 |
| May 24, 2016: AT-Shuckstack, GSMNP. |
 |
| May 24, 2016: Look Rock Trail, Foothills Parkway. |
 |
| May 31, 2016: Smoky Mtn. Host, Franklin, NC. |
 |
| May 31, 2016: Smoky Mtn. Host, Franklin, NC. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Rainbow Falls Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Bullhead Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Bullhead Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Bullhead Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Bullhead Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Bullhead Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Ridge Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| July 9, 2016: AT-Grayson Highlands S.P., VA. |
Rhododendron, Catawba:
 |
| June 10, 2016: Rainbow Falls Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Rainbow Falls Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Rainbow Falls Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 10, 2016: Bullhead Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Cavers Gap, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Cavers Gap, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Jane Bald, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Jane Bald, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: Grassy Ridge Bald, NC. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: Grassy Ridge Bald, NC. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: Grassy Ridge Bald, NC. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: Grassy Ridge Bald, NC. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: Grassy Ridge Bald, NC. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: Grassy Ridge Bald, NC. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: Grassy Ridge Bald, NC. |
 |
| June 13, 2016: AT-Jane Bald, NC/TN. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Cloudland Hotel, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
 |
| June 16, 2016: Roan Rhododendron Gardens, NC. |
Rhododendron, Piedmont:
 |
| May 14, 2016: VA Creeper Trail, Damascus, VA. |
 |
| May 24, 2016: Fontana Dam, NC. |
 |
| May 31, 2016: Smoky Mtn. Host, Franklin, NC. |
Rhododendron Rosebay:
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Ridge Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 19, 2016: Gregory Ridge Trail, GSMNP. |
 |
| June 26, 2016: AT-NOC, NC. |
 |
| June 30, 2016: Cumberland Gap, KY. |
 |
| July 9, 2016: AT-Grayson Highlands S.P, VA. |
 |
| July 9, 2016: AT-Grayson Highlands S.P, VA. |
 |
| July 9, 2016: Mt. Rogers Recreation Area, VA. |
 |
| July 13, 2016: Roan Mountain S.P., TN. |
 |
| July 17, 2016: AT-Tanyard Gap, NC. |
No comments:
Post a Comment