It’s mid-September and we are already starting to see signs of fall color. Depending on your location, these color displays are beginning and remind us of the brilliant fall colors that typically peak in October. Wildflowers also continue to bloom with some nice displays along the Parkway and in the nearby fields and meadows.
The Peaks of Otter area in Virginia reports Rough-Leaved Sunflower, Boneset, Joe-Pye Weed, Woodland Sunflower, Arrow-Leaved Aster, Blue Lobelia, Bull Thistle, Bushy Aster, Crownbeard, Goldenrod, Heart-Leaved Aster, Jewelweed, White Snakeroot, and Wingstem.
They are also starting to see fall color showing in the Black Cherry, Dogwood, Mountain Ash, Paradise, Red Maple, Sourwood, Striped Maple, and Tulip Poplar Trees, in addition to Sumac, Poison Ivy, and Virginia Creeper.
In North Carolina, near the Moses Cone Manor House and the Linn Cove Viaduct, we have reports of Bull Thistle, Goldenrod, White Snakeroot, Ironweed, and Boneset.
Driving from Asheville to the Mount Pisgah Area, we are seeing Ironweed, Goldenrod, Joe-Pye Weed, Mountain Wood Aster, Jewelweed, Cut-Leaved Coneflowers, and Black-Eyed Susans. Some fall color can be seen in the changing Red Oaks, Black Locusts, Dogwoods, and Great Ferns.
At the southern end of the Parkway, White Snakeroot, White Wood Aster, Yarrow, Queen Anne’s Lace, Filmy Angelica, Ragwort, several varieties of Goldenrod, Mountain St. John’s-wort, Sundrops, Golden Aster, Jewelweed, Heart-Leaved Aster, Southern Harebell, Stiff Gentian, Heal-All, Joe-Pye Weed, Ironweed, Thistle, and Pink Turtleheads are still blooming.
The Pisgah area is still mostly green but is starting to show signs of color. Fall colors are definitely underway at the Graveyard Fields area with the Maples and Blueberry bushes showing color at about 30 percent. The rest of the Parkway’s southern end is seeing some trees start to turn with about 5 percent showing color in the lower elevations, and 10-15 percent in the higher elevations.
As always we remind you to drive carefully while on the Parkway. Keep your eyes on the road as you enjoy the view!
