Fire on the mountain! A BRDC Rhododendron Hike

June 4, 2011.

BRDC joined forces with Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club for a hike on Saturday, June 4, National Trails Day. Eleven hikers and guides enjoyed the sunny 5-mile, round-trip, hike from Massie Gap at Grayson Highlands to Rhododendron Gap, where many trails meet and the rhododendron show is the best in our region. The Catawba rhododendron (

Rhododendron catawbiense

) were just reaching peak, with pink waves spreading over distant views. We also saw different hues of flame azalea (

Rhododendron calendulaceum

) lighting the hillsides. The mountain laurel (

Kalmia latifolia

) was just beginning to open at the higher elevations.

Thanks to Michelle, we identified a new shrub that we had been seeing but confusing with the blueberries: Alleghany menziesia or minnie bush (

Menziesia pilosa

). The flowers are similar to the blueberry, but the leaves are more like azelea.

All photos by Carol Broderson except for the header image of flame azalea.