This is the Blue Ridge Parkway wildflower report for August 10, 2007. As we enter the last month of the summer, the Parkway becomes the first choice for a place to escape the sweltering heat of the piedmont and lowlands. Temperatures are often twenty or more degrees lower especially in the high elevations of the Park in North Carolina. Summer blooms in the agricultural scene south of Roanoke include Queen-Anne’s Lace, Ox-eye Daisy, Black-Eyed Susan’s. Lanceleaf coreopsis is in full bloom and the bright orange Butterfly Weed and Turkscap Lily, although past their peak still brighten up many fields all the way south into Daughton Park in North Carolina. In the Grandfather Mountain, Price Park, Moses Cone Estate area, look for many of the same blooms along with Butterfly Weed, Deptford Pink, and Coreopsis. South of Asheville where the roadway elevation can reach over 6,000 feet, look for Turkscap Lily, Tall Bellflower, Black Cohosh, Fleabane, Wild Burgemont, and Jewelweed. In these high elevations there are even some reports of what we may call Fall Wildflowers such as Green-headed Coneflower, and Joe-Pye-Weed. Have a safe Parkway visit this week by remembering that with a drive along this mountain road comes steep inclines, tightening curves, built-in distractions such as wildlife and bicyclists. Pull off into the overlooks if traffic backs up behind you, everyone will be a lot happier. As we often say, enjoy the view, but watch the road. Weekly updates at 828-298-0398 will keep you informed of what’s being reported throughout the Parkway.
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