Rhododendron Thread

Folks,

We're a couple of weeks from the rhododendrons, so time for a sticky thread for them and the mountain laurel!

Any update on the Roan Mountain parking area at Carver Gap?

Cheers, Steve

I was on the Parkway today from Pisgah to Graveyard Fields area and the rhodos and mountain laurel are blooming in those areas.

Shawn

What's the status of the parking area at Carver Gap? Is it done? Will it be done?

Cheers, Steve

I know that Laura Lee from TN went up Tues.Morning and it looked like from her photo that the fence area was 75% open blooms-not past peak.

Folks,

Nye Simmons reports that John Smith was up yesterday and the rhododendron on Round Bald are at or near peak, still some unopened buds but mostly open. He did not go further than Round Bald.

So it looks like they're a week early at least.

I'll likely go up tomorrow (Sunday) and have a first hand report.

Cheers, Steve

Hi all,

Stopped at Carver's Gap on my way back home from Grandfather Mountain. I would say fence area/parking lot is about 80%. Probably be perfect by mid week and if we don't get any scorching sun days should stay great for the weekend. I don't remember seeing any blooms along the fence that even hinted of drying up. Looking up toward Bald there were several blooms with probably an equal amount of buds. I could be wrong, since I only scouted the area from the parking lot with binoculars, but it doesn't look like a great year for the number of blooms. Did travel up to the Gardens parking lot and it is still early with just a few scattered plants showing blooms and even less hinting of any color. Later tonight I'll try to post an image of the fence I shot.

FYI

Thanks Mike,

Long time no see, hope life's treating you well.

Cheers, Steve

Better late than never. Here is a shot of the fence at Carver's Gap I took Sunday 6/6. Give you an idea of the bloom stage at that elevation. And Thanks for asking Steve.. life's fine, hope to see you soon.

I was up in the Black Balsam Knob area yesterday and there are still a few blossoms left but not for long. A few flame azaleas here and there as well as mtn laurel blossoms. Various wildflowers are a good backup option though. The area was crawling with CNPA tour groups but they should be gone by monday.

Craggy Gardens Pinnacle was sparse for Rhodies and Mtn laurels just starting to open.

Leann--were the blossoms sparse this year or was it because most of the plants are already past peak? Seems to me that the peak was around the end of the 1st week of June this year although some in our yard just started blooming this week. My mom is showing up on the 21st and wants to see rhodos but I'm afraid she's a week or 2 too late. Maybe the mtn laurel will hang on longer. Thanks--Larry

Larry I believe it was past peak because it's not like there were unopened buds.

Hey folks,
On the BRP the Rosebay Rhodies are in bloom.

We went to Craggy Gardens today and didn't see a single rhodo blossom and few laurel. Here's the story we got from the ranger and also the local paper. Every couple years the rhodos and laurel go into growth mode and put out tons of new branches. During these growth years they don't bloom, but the following year they really go all out with flowers. So stay home this year and plan a trip for next year.The ranger did say that right now is usually the peak period for blossoms--Larry

I was up at Graveyard Fields today and the rhodies there are blooming now. Nothing really stunning but a nice display compared to Craggy Gardens and Roan Mtn. Still a few flame azalea in bloom too. Not much left in the way of wildflowers.

The parkway will be open over its entire length as of Friday--even the landslide section south of Asheville, although only one lane through there protected with a stoplight at each end. Have a good holiday weekend--Larry