This is the Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower Report for the Independence Day weekend. Summer blooms are the highlight throughout the Parkway, with adjacent fields of Black-eyed Susan and Milkweed, Yarrow, Queen Anne’s Lace, and Butterfly Weed in many, many roadside meadows.
The upper sections of the Parkway in Virginia, from milepost 0 to 35, look for wild Columbine as well, along with Day Lilies, Buttercups, Butter and Eggs, and Goldenrod. Many of these same species are also common as visitors head south into the James River area. Look for Black-eyed Susan and Daisy Fleabane, Milkweed, Oxide Daisy, Butterfly Weed like Cohosh and Yarrow. Tall Coreopsis is an addition to this list heading down from the Peaks of Otter into the Roanoke Valley. Rosebay Rhododendron, a larger white variety, is showing in many areas south of Roanoke to the state line.
Doughton Park is reporting Black-eyed Susan, Mouse Ears, Spiderwort, Deptford Pink, Mountain Ash, Rosebay Rhododendron, Yarrow and Milkweed. Further south from Grandfather Mountain to Gillespie Gap and North Carolina Minerals Museum area, lower elevations are still showing Catawba Rhododendron, Fire Pink, Aster, Indian Cucumber Root, and Jack in the Pulpit. These along with the above mentioned blooms, in the higher elevations, Wild Hydrangea and Turkey Beard are also showing along with Fire Pink and Spiderwort.
Traffic will now undoubtedly be heavy for the July Fourth weekend, so be especially careful. Enjoy your visit to the Parkway. Watch out for bicycles and wildlife, and when traffic backs up behind you, be courteous and use the overlooks to allow traffic to move around you.
Enjoy your parkway visit, and as we always remind visitors, 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.
Have a safe parkway visit! Enjoy the view, but watch the road.