Late May in the North Carolina mountains is a special time to see early flowering trees and plants. Dave and I managed one nice hike on Black Rock Mountain in Panthertown before the deluge of rain hit, a result of Tropical Storm Alberto.
Thanks to lots of rainfall this spring, the mountains are lush.
Enjoy our hike.
A sea of ferns.
Look closely to see a hemlock tree looking healthy with new growth. The mountains have been devastated with the loss of many eastern hemlocks due to the wooly adelgid. Huge numbers of hemlocks have died. Could this tree be a good sign?
This bright orange eft, a juvenile newt is so colorful against the trail. All newts are salamanders, but not all salamanders are newts, accoring to wikipedia. We saw 4 on our hike.
“The neon orange red eft boldly crawls about in broad daylight because it has toxins in its skin that makes it foul tasting.”, according to the Western North Carolina Nature Center. Interesting fact. I wondered why Sheldon, our mini whoodle, totally ignored this bright salamander, even though his strong terrier instinct goes into overdrive at our Florida home, chasing every green anole and lizard he meets.
View from Blackrock Mountain looking over Panthertown Valley with Chimney Top Mountain, Rock Mountain and Whiteside Mountain in the distance, all favorite mountains.
Love the patterns of the gravel and granite trail.
Think the shapes and patterns could inspire an abstract painting.
Favorite May flora seen on the hike.
Mountain Laurel ready to burst into bloom.
Flame azaleas
Bristly Locust Tree blossom
Pine tree new foliage
Rain clouds are gathering
We were thrilled to see a few pink lady slippers on the trail.
It was so nice to get this one hike in before the rains came. Tropical storm, Alberto seemed to stall right over our mountains. This catawba rhododendron was in full bloom when we arrived…the rain…
The view from our house of Laurel Knob during a rain delay…The white streaks are waterfalls streaming over the granite rock face…not an everyday occurrance.
Going a little stir crazy as are the bears and deer. We had a bear visit us. Walked right up the outside stair, not 20 feet from me. (I was outside) Yikes! Scared the bejesus out of me. I dropped (threw) my sketching pencils and screamed. Don’t know who was more scared. He ran off into the woods.
Looked just like this one…Our painting…Miller Bear by friend, Karen Weihs, Colorist Of The Carolinas.
Into The Woods…
Come celebrate with me. I’ll save you a seat on the trail.
13 Comments
I enjoyed so much my educational trip to the North Carolina mountains.
The photographs were outstanding seeing all the new growth and lush
Greenery after the rain. You are an artist with the camera and words as
Well!
Thanks so much for your kind words. Know how much the natural world means to you. We find such inspiration in nature! Hope Vermont hemlocks are showing some new growth too
This hike in Panthertown was one of my most memorable in terms of beauty. The amount of new growth on several hemlocks was encouraging, we miss these trees.
Hope we see many more hemlocks with new growth. Hope to hike with you today! The sun is out ☀️ 🌞
Such wonderful pictures Kathy. Glad you got your hike in to see all the spring plants and flowers. It is inspiring!
So happy to see the sun 🌞 ☀️ today! Going on another hike now! Hope you and Rick get out!
It surprised me too! I must be a bear magnet 🐻 🐻 🐻
Love the pictures of the beautiful scenery but not happy about the Bear on the property!
It surprised me too! Must be a bear Magnet!🐻🐻🐻
I love these photos, especially the one looking over the mountains to Rock, Chimney Top, and Whiteside in the distance. Great shot! Hope the rain stops and lets you get in more hikes. Wish we were there with you!
Getting ready to hike to Granny Burrells! The sun is out! Wish you were here too. Looking forward to July! and a visit with The Huffmans!🧗♀️🧗♂️🧗♀️
Kathy,
So glad I took the time to enjoy your spring in the mountain photos. Like a breath of fresh, if damp, air! The photos of the “salamander” took me back to my childhood visits to the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania.
So did the bear! We had our share of brown bear visit the properties. One even made off with a defrosting steak! That was the last time my aunt defrosted anything out of doors.
Such a lovely place. Thank you for sharing.
Jo-Ann
Jo-Ann,
So happy you have some fun memories of the mountains! I know the Pocono mountains are beautiful! And your bear story about the defrosting steak is so funny. Can’t leave anything out or the bears will be there! We finally took another hike and Sheldon, our dog, took off towards the trailhead. I called him back, put him on the leash and then stopped to read a new sign. We proceeded down our trail and right in front of us was another bear. I am beginning to think I am a bear magnet. We ‘Hollered” and he ran off into the woods! Yikes!
Thank you for sharing your memories with me!