I was on the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday. A few pix for you:

[Lex]

The rhododendron were in bloom. Here's one bursting forth:


A little brook tucked away just down a trail we explored:


Lush ferns on the trail:


Some of the fields already had rolls of hay recently harvested:


The wildflowers were beautiful in front of this old stone church:


These wildflowers are known as "fairy candles":



Thanks for indulging me. There is beauty all around us. :)

[MassLiberal]

1. beautiful pics--thanks!

I lived in Charlottesville for five years so am thrilled to see the beautiful Blue Ridge. Thanks for evoking some wonderful memories! :hi:

[Lex]

2. Oh yes

Charlottesville is incredibly beautiful.

This was in southwest Virginia, near Fancy Gap and Meadows of Dan.

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

3. Beautiful!!

Thanks for posting!

[Lex]

12. Thanks SG.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Lex!

Oh, sweetie....

These are wonderful, and beautiful!

Your little brook just makes me wish I lived there...*sigh*

Thank you...:hug:

[Lex]

7. The water was crystal clear and we heard it

burbling about 5 minutes before we got to it on the trail. :hi:

We also so this red-capped mushroom:


And on the trail, we passed under this cool bridge framework:

[Left Is Write]

5. Simply gorgeous.

The photo with the church in the background is the most striking.

[Lex]

8. Thanks. It sat just beside the road.

I pulled over to get the shot. The BR Parkway is in the foreground, church behind the flowers:

[bertha katzenengel]

6. weep

thank you so much for posting these

(i always think of giant roll-ups of hay as shredded wheat)

[Lex]

10. We saw the contraptions they were using to roll them up.

It was cool.

I forgot to post the pic of how much mica was in the soil and rocks glittering around the brook:


:hi:

[bigwillq]

9. Nice pics!

Thanks for sharing. :hi:

[greatauntoftriplets]

11. Beautiful photos!!!

I've never seen rhododendron bloom at this time of year. In Chicago, they are a spring flower, but the shrubs around here have smaller leaves and must be a somewhat different variety.

When I still had my house, I had some bushes in the back yard that had been around long enough to reach a height of six feet. The new owners cut them way back so I am uncertain whether they bloomed this year or not.

[Lex]

15. Huge banks of rhodies were blooming white

all along the shady parts of the Parkway, and especially down at the brook:

[Ptah]

13. In that second picture.

Is that running water?

I remember running water, sometimes I dream of rivers and creeks with
running water.


Very nice pictures, Lex.
Thanks.

:thumbsup:

[Lex]

16. Yes, the brook was burbling and gurgling and

we heard for about 5 minutes before we actually saw it.

[LibraLiz1973]

14. Really beautiful photographs

Thank YOU for indulging US!!

[Flaxbee]

17. beautiful photos!

I was just cruising around Blue Ridge photo sites yesterday and came across this link about rock churches along the Blue Ridge -- they're in Virginia: http://blueridgemtns.net/rockchurches/

Just if you're interested....

[Lex]

18. Cool! Thanks for posting that site.

I think it was the church at "Bluemont" that I took the picture of. It matches where we were and looks like it from the pic.

:hi:

[Flaxbee]

21. you're welcome!

that photo you posted with the church in the background set off the *ding ding ding* in my mind... lovely photo, including the second roadside one you posted.

I'm a sucker for old churches, cemeteries, etc.

:hi: back!

[racaulk]

19. Wow, beautiful pictures!

You really have a keen eye for photography. Nicely done! :thumbsup:

Ahh, the Blue Ridge Parkway. Your photos really make me miss living in western NC. I have many fond memories driving on the parkway and hiking some of the Appalachian Trail in that area. Going to college up there was a special treat. That's such a beautiful area of the country. <sigh>

:)

[lizziegrace]

20. Beautiful...

I miss the Carolinas. I've been to that church on the Parkway. :)

[Inchworm]

22. Wonderful pictures!

And you know what.. you taught me something.

I live very close to the parkway in NC 2-5 miles from me. I am "from" here.

I've heard folks talk about the rhododendron on the parkway. I've read the signs at the stops along the parkway talking about rhododendron.

I would goto a spot; it would say "rhododendron" on sign. All I ever saw were laurel bushes.

Now I know :D

Thanks!! !!

:hi:

[idgiehkt]

23. those pics are lovely!

What part of of the parkway were you on?

[Lex]

24. Southwest Virginia.

Near Fancy Gap and Meadows of Dan.