Laurel, Mountains, and Spring Flowers
Mid-May always brings a flurry of new growth and color along the Blue Ridge, and this year is no exception.
Red Hot Poker with showy spikes of tubular orange and yellow flowers. Native to South Africa, this durable wildflower is highly attractive to hummingbirds.
The Mountain Laurel is in the rhododendron and azalea family. In the distance is Hickorynut Mountain along the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
Ragwort always adds a bright touch to mountain meadows.
Wolfpen Mountain is surrounded by every kind of evergreen tree.

Thistle Milkweed at Sunrise

Daises are found in meadows everywhere
Above is 4,000 foot Mt. Shumont and Rumbling Bald Mountain where the “Party Rock” fire over Lake Lure was centered. The darker areas show fire damage, but the lower slopes have recovered very nicely. Below is a view from further north.
Hemlock is not a popular choice for holiday trees, but don’t tell the growers at this Rutherford County tree farm. Years of pruning and shaping have created remarkable specimens that are much thicker than wild Carolina Hemlock.
Everything looks so be beautiful……have never seen red hot pepper plant before…….quite unusual..T\
Thanks for sharing……love looking at them. Patsy
Wow! The flowers are just beautiful!
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I LOVE GETTING PHOTOS FROM YOU. THANK YOU.
thank you. It is beautiful and a nice post. Changes from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life 🙂