Summer has Arrived in Otter Creek Valley
With these long days and short nights, the valley is as green as ever, and with recent rains, the prospects for a lush summer are good. The Wild Turkeys have fledged a large brood, and the deer have been especially active.
Horsetop Mountain catches the first morning rays on the western rim of the valley.
Hunter and Buddy explore the road beneath Bear Gap Mountain.
Otter Pond is surrounded by Blackberry vines and thick vegetation.
Lavender Bee Balm mixes with ripening Blackberries
Butterfly Milkweed
Carolina Parkway heads due north toward Brushy Top Mountain at sunrise.
Buddy at Otter Pond
With recent 55 degree mornings, a heavy mist has covered Otter Pond.
A wildfire in the vicinity makes for a strange sunrise over the mist covered pond.
Showy Carolina Rhododendron blooms along the roads and Otter Creek
Wolf Pen Mountain is barely visible through a thick morning mist.
Dick’s Mountain marks the southern rim of the valley. Old roads are barely passable with the heavy summer growth.
We end where we began, with a vibrant sunset behind Horsetop Mountain.
Living in The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina- A Blog 
E.J. ZAZULAK
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2015 11:44:10 +0000 To: ejzazulak@hotmail.com
Vann, It seems you have landed in a “Summer Wonderland”…..with all the flowers, berries, etc. It is so beautiful and far more appealing to my eye than the barn look of winter. Enjoy………snow is just around the corner. Very hot here and I just came in from spraying weeds….no way I can continue to keep up with this one acre or even half of it. Having new landscaping in front but company is dragging their heels. I am using the original guy who installed the sprinkler systems and landscaping in most of these houses when they were built. Have a wonderful 4th of July Celebration. Patsy From: Living in The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina- A Blog To: pjcar119@yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2015 7:44 AM Subject: [New post] Summer has Arrived in Otter Creek Valley #yiv5875406197 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv5875406197 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv5875406197 a.yiv5875406197primaryactionlink:link, #yiv5875406197 a.yiv5875406197primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv5875406197 a.yiv5875406197primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv5875406197 a.yiv5875406197primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv5875406197 WordPress.com | Carolina Vann posted: “With these long days and short nights, the valley is as green as ever, and with recent rains, the prospects for a lush summer are good. The Wild Turkeys have fledged a large brood, and the deer have been especially active.Horsetop Mountain catches t” | |
More of nature’s wonder to enjoy. The splendor of it all.
MANY THANKS FOR SHARING.
COUSIN DON