Catawba rhododendron is at peak bloom in the Tennessee valley (for example, in the neighborhoods around my house) and in the North Georgia woods this past Sunday (5/11). Also some nice scattered flame azalea.
So it's probably near time for a sticky thread for the rhodies, please Mr. Moderator!
I just came in from an aprox. 6-7 mile hike in the Fort Mountain State Park and there were some rhododendron blooming lots of mountain laurel. I also found a group of lady slippers that will have to be visited next year. They were mostly brown but two had a little color so I assume they are of the pink variety.
I made a trip up to Roan yesterday since its not that far from me. The rhodies at the base of the mountain that were peak last week when I was up that way, were and on the ground or past peak.But still lots of buds in the picnic area. Strange how one area can bloom and another hasn't at the same altitude and across the block from each other. I did find lots more mountain laurel, some even over water in several places that were not blooming last week. On top, I only found 2 single rhodies blooming, the rest still buds. Looking forward to the next couple of weeks.
This past weekend I went to Mount Rogers area outside Damascus (luckily, not that far from me either). Very pretty area and so big. Lots of places along the water were almost ready to bloom, lots of great opportunities for rhodies and flowing water shots await. Strange how some rhodies were blooming on the other side of the road, but not near the water yet. Didn't go all the way up.
It's always a great day when you can spend it out in Nature!
Posted by Cindy Nowlin on June 6, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Sorry for the confusion, I thought it all was the state park and if I said at the bottom of the mountain and top, I consider Carvers Gap separate, well anyways.
There were 2 buds blooming on Carvers Gap a few days ago and 1 in the actual gardens, the rest were still buds. At the base, yes down where the camping area and tennis courts, ect are they were past peak in some areas and then some other areas there had not even started.
Didn't realize it wasn't all connected. Been in the Smokies the last few days so away from the computer.
Tom Biggs and myself will be on the Balds at surise this Saturday busting Jpegs....see you guys there!
Harold
Posted by Dave Smaldone on June 12, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Question for Cindy Nowlin based on your response above (or anyone else too): I'll be passing by the Mt Rogers area in the next week, and was wondering if you could point me in a specfic direction for those rhodies & flowing water/creeks you mentioned? It's my first visit and the area is huge, so any specific location direction would really help. I've got maps, so feel free to just point me to an area on a road/trail. I was thinking of hiking up the Rhododendron Gap/AT trail from the Massie Gap trailhead? Thanks! Dave
Posted by Cindy Nowlin on June 12, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Dave, I just got back from the Damascus, VA area, into Mt Rogers. As far as the flowing water, once you come thru Damascus, you will get to an area where you either go left into Mount Rogers area or Right headed towards Mountain City. I think its called US 58 that goes left into Mount Rogers. From that point all the way up to almost the right turn that heads towards White Top Mtn and Grayson Highland area (also Independence and Galax) Look all on the left and right side of the road and plenty of opp's. The rhodies are not blooming just yet there. There are a few bursts of pink in some areas, but for the most part, they haven't opened at all yet.
The actual waterfall they have there will be on your left (coming from Damascus). You will see a green road sign that gives you the mile count to Independence and some other town up the road that starts with a H. But just past that sign, you will go into a curve and then you will hear and see the waterfall on your left. There is a pull off on your left. You might miss it, but listen for the really loud water. I missed it going up, but found it right away coming back. All along there are great places for water and flower photo opp's (well once the rhodies start blooming, which have to be in the next week or so I would assume). Get on that road and you should not have any problems finding great photo opp's. Go early. The light was good this morning in some areas till around 9ish. But is 100% times better all over on a cloudy day.
This is all on the road straight from Damascus. I wanted to do the Rhodo trail there and then hike up a little more to see the wild ponies, but didn't want to do it by myself. You guys are lucky.Oh watch out on that hike, I talked to someone last trip who went up the rhodo trail and they saw several bears.
If you have any other questions, let me know.
Leann and I are headed up to Roan Mtn on Sunday morning for sunrise.
Posted by Dave Smaldone on June 12, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Cindy,
Wow--thanks a bunch for the detailed (& quick) answer. I am going to try & hit either Roan or Mt Rogers area on Sunday. Can't do sunrise on that day, but I'm still looking forward to it (I'll probably get there late morning). And I will then visit the other one sometime the following week, when I get another free day. Hope you have some great light! Thanks again.
dave
Posted by Lori Kincaid on June 13, 2008 at 10:20 PM
I went up on the parkway today on the way home from a friend's house. Graveyard at the overlook is way past. Black Balsam road is at peak and gorgeous. Good light!
Lori
Posted by Leann Greene on June 15, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Cindy and I rescheduled our trip to next weekend to Roan as the rangers and Richard B say the bloom is a week off.
Here is what happened, I believe. The mini heat wave we had early last week fried the exposed early blooms. At Graveyard Fields, they went from 20 percent on last Saturday to being completely gone that Thursday I returned. Near the parking lot where the blooms were in the full sun, they were brown or completely gone. But if you went down the trail or up to Black Balsam Road, where they protected from direct late-day sun, they were beautiful. The same thing up at Roan. There were fried blooms that looked OK from a distance, but also others that had not yet opened - the two extremes. I think this week will be good, but this weekend might be tough, depending on the weather.
Posted by Cindy Nowlin on June 16, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Thanks Richard, I was wondering if the heat wave and thunderstorms would impact the blooms. Oh well, getting things together to head out later for early evening and sunset. Will try to get there tomorrow or wed for early am shooting.
Up at Roan, the Carver's Gap area is peaking--beautiful. As others report, the top of Roan should look nice by the weekend. Flame azaleas still around the Spruce Pine area of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Laurels have peaked everywhere it seems. Some Rosebay Rhods emerging in various spots (Spruce Pine area). The Rhods at Mabry Mill are dried. Thanks to all, & I will report more as my travels continue.
I just now returned (June 20) from Carver's Gap and the gardens on top of Roan Mountain. The blooms were mostly at peak while others were beginning to mature. Only a sparse few appeared past their peak.
Ultimately the success or failure of photos taken there will depend upon the sky and the lighting. For much of the day the sky was blah. Cloudy with no blue sky or sun rays to add interest. I came away disappointed.
I hope those who shoot over the weekend will be met with more favorable conditions.
Discussion
24 repliesCatawba rhododendron is at peak bloom in the Tennessee valley (for example, in the neighborhoods around my house) and in the North Georgia woods this past Sunday (5/11). Also some nice scattered flame azalea.
So it's probably near time for a sticky thread for the rhodies, please Mr. Moderator!
Cheers,
Steve
Bruce
This past weekend I went to Mount Rogers area outside Damascus (luckily, not that far from me either). Very pretty area and so big. Lots of places along the water were almost ready to bloom, lots of great opportunities for rhodies and flowing water shots await. Strange how some rhodies were blooming on the other side of the road, but not near the water yet. Didn't go all the way up.
It's always a great day when you can spend it out in Nature!
Thanks for the info. I assume you are referring to Roan State Park in Tennessee and not up at Carvers Gap, right?
There were 2 buds blooming on Carvers Gap a few days ago and 1 in the actual gardens, the rest were still buds. At the base, yes down where the camping area and tennis courts, ect are they were past peak in some areas and then some other areas there had not even started.
Didn't realize it wasn't all connected. Been in the Smokies the last few days so away from the computer.
Thanks! I thought that was a bit early.
Any other reports?
Randy
Harold
The actual waterfall they have there will be on your left (coming from Damascus). You will see a green road sign that gives you the mile count to Independence and some other town up the road that starts with a H. But just past that sign, you will go into a curve and then you will hear and see the waterfall on your left. There is a pull off on your left. You might miss it, but listen for the really loud water. I missed it going up, but found it right away coming back. All along there are great places for water and flower photo opp's (well once the rhodies start blooming, which have to be in the next week or so I would assume). Get on that road and you should not have any problems finding great photo opp's. Go early. The light was good this morning in some areas till around 9ish. But is 100% times better all over on a cloudy day.
This is all on the road straight from Damascus. I wanted to do the Rhodo trail there and then hike up a little more to see the wild ponies, but didn't want to do it by myself. You guys are lucky.Oh watch out on that hike, I talked to someone last trip who went up the rhodo trail and they saw several bears.
If you have any other questions, let me know.
Leann and I are headed up to Roan Mtn on Sunday morning for sunrise.
Wow--thanks a bunch for the detailed (& quick) answer. I am going to try & hit either Roan or Mt Rogers area on Sunday. Can't do sunrise on that day, but I'm still looking forward to it (I'll probably get there late morning). And I will then visit the other one sometime the following week, when I get another free day. Hope you have some great light! Thanks again.
dave
Lori
Well at least I live close by and can run up there tonight and any other day the rest of the week.
Here is what happened, I believe. The mini heat wave we had early last week fried the exposed early blooms. At Graveyard Fields, they went from 20 percent on last Saturday to being completely gone that Thursday I returned. Near the parking lot where the blooms were in the full sun, they were brown or completely gone. But if you went down the trail or up to Black Balsam Road, where they protected from direct late-day sun, they were beautiful. The same thing up at Roan. There were fried blooms that looked OK from a distance, but also others that had not yet opened - the two extremes. I think this week will be good, but this weekend might be tough, depending on the weather.
Will let you know how it goes.
Ultimately the success or failure of photos taken there will depend upon the sky and the lighting. For much of the day the sky was blah. Cloudy with no blue sky or sun rays to add interest. I came away disappointed.
I hope those who shoot over the weekend will be met with more favorable conditions.
Blaine