Living in The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina- A Blog

Atop Roan Mountain on the Tennessee Border

On Monday, I drove to the 5,500 foot Carver’s Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee border to see the rhododendron blooming. I had heard that the flowers were early this year, but that information didn’t seem to apply on Roan Mountain. I went to the 6,200 foot level where the gardens are located, but there were very few blooms yet. I’ll go back in two weeks when everything is in full bloom.

The plants cover the entire horizon, and they are wild up here. Most other varieties are cultivated from these Roan Mountain bushes.

The “Balds” of Roan Mountain are treeless areas over 6,000 feet. No one really knows why these meadows have remained treeless, but the native people used them for grazing thousands of years ago. The Appalachian Trail runs along this ridge.

From the Balds, one can get a panoramic view to the northwest of the Tennessee Mountains toward Johnson City and Bristol.

Driving toward Boone, I found this Episcopal chapel high in the mountains near Valle Crucis.

The mission dates to 1842, and features amazing woodwork, especially in the church’s pipe organ.

The woodwork in the roof trusses and pews is top notch.

Horrendous Storm at Sunset

Heavy rain moved through just before sunset. I went up the mountain to capture this surreal image of the clouds as they were moving away.

Exposed Rock of Brushy Top Mountain

When I first stepped onto the deck of what would later become my home, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the mountain across the valley had exposed rock on its southern face. Only steep slopes allow the top soil to be eroded away and reveal the granite underneath. If you click on the image below, taken from a ridge five miles to my south, you can see exposed granite on the side of 1,800 foot Brushy Top Mountain just right of the center. The 3,100 foot Hickory Nut Mountain looms on the horizon behind Brushy Top. This eastern ridge is known as the escarpment, becuase it’s the first ridge you see when coming from the east. This is where the Blue Ridge Mountains rise up from the Piedmont Plateau.

The telephoto image below was made last week from the same spot on an especially clear, low humidity day. The detail from five miles away was the most defined I’ve seen since moving here. Much larger Hickory Nut Mountain still dominates the scene. The granite is obvious in the center.

The next image was made today from my the meadow around my house. The same exposed granite is prominent on Brushy Top Mountain, about half a mile to my north. From this angle, Hickory Nut Mountain is not visible over the ridge.

The photo below was made in the Fall of 2010 of Brushy Top Mountain from a spot about half a mile west of the house further up the mountain. The granite is visible among the brightly colored trees. I have yet to find a more vibrant mountainside anywhere in all these mountains.

The next photo is from 2011 taken from my road, Fibber Magee Drive.

Summer Flowers Have Arrived

A definite change has taken place in the garden. The spring flowers have gone, and the summer flowers have blossomed. These perrennials have returned with a vengeance. It was 49 degrees at sunrise this morning, and even the forest has taken on a summer look. Leaves have matured, and the weeds and wildflowers along the ground have completely obscured any raw earth or mulch. Rabbits and chipmonks are everywhere, and the hummingbirds have returned from Mexico to resume their aerial antics around the feeders on the deck.

The petunias on the deck frame the view perfectly.

This box turtle didn’t seem to mind posing for his portrait. Just another pretty face.

Lake Lure and Rumbling Bald Mountain

After heavy rains, waterfalls have formed along the escarpment of Rumbling Bald Mountain over historic Lake Lure. This reminds me of Switzerland near the Italian border. Just breathtaking…… Click on the photo to see the full size image.

My Neighborhood Waterfall

So far, I’ve only found one natural waterfall in Otter Creek Valley where I live, and normally it isn’t very active, but after five inches of rain yesterday, it really came alive. It’s in the development called, High Lodges at Otter Creek, just a half mile up the road. I made this little movie to showcase this “raging” brook.

Otter Pond was filled to overflowing with the heavy rain.

Mountain Laurel Time

As mid-May approaches, the Mountain Laurel begins to bloom. I found these new blossoms near the entrance gatehouse to Queen’s Gap, an abandoned golf developement about five miles east of my house.

Until you see these small flowers up close, you can’t appreciate their complexity.

The gatehouse has an almost Oriental design, and could make a rather stylish cottage for some enterprising buyer.

Petunias grow wild around the property, leftovers from long neglected landscaping.

The Mountain Laurel blankets the surrounding woods.

Supermoon and Super Flowers

Nature, whether very close or very far away, never ceases to amaze me. Last evening’s “Supermoon” made for quite a show, as did the flowers in my garden these past few days.

The size and brightness of our nearest celestial neighbor didn’t disappoint.

Looking directly at the Moon hurt my eyes.

The daises have opened in the rock garden, signaling the end of freezing weather.

I love the way the pinks, purples, and reds blend together.

The pines at sunrise smell so good.

What is it about bubbles?

Rhododendron and Blackberries

The rhododendron around Lake Lure are always the first to bloom in this part of the mountains.

Larkins On The Lake is my favorite watering hole. Their rhodos are the best I have found in these parts.

Climbing 2,000 feet over Lake Lure, Sugarloaf Mountain and Rumbling Bald Mountain dominate the horizon at sunset.

The blackberries around Otter Pond are in full bloom. Can you say, Blackberry Cobbler?

Late April in the Rock Garden

Last year I transplanted a small wildflower I found on the side of the road. It had one blossom. This year, it came back with many beautiful pink blossoms. What a nice surprise.

This perfect flower appeared out of nowhere. That seems to happen alot here.

This Bird’s Nest Spruce was planted in March after a trip from Charlotte, and it is already sprouting new growth. The Verbena bloomed all winter, and will spread throughout the entire garden by the end of summer.