Late Summer on the Blue Ridge

Late Summer on the Blue Ridge Parkway

We’re only about 20 miles from the southernmost access point of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Beech Gap so we decided to drive up yesterday afternoon to see if the trees were turning yet. It’s still very green, even at the high point at Richland Balsam.

There are a few colorful signs that autumn is on the way: the bright yellow of goldenrod and an occasional splash of the red berry clusters on the mountain ash.

Berry Clusters on Mountain Ash, Blue Ridge Parkway

The cooler weather has slowed the butterflies and bees. Claire got several photos of spicebush swallowtails, a tiger swallowtail and a bee just by lurking near some wildflowers and goldenrod for a few minutes:

Spicebush swallowtail, Blue Ridge Parkway

Tiger swallowtail, Blue Ridge Parkway

Bee on Goldenrod, Blue Ridge Parkway

Spotted tussock moth caterpillar with a spicebush butterfly in the background

I think if we get a frost in the next two or three weeks and not much rain, we’ll have a colorful autumn starting around the first week of October.

A few rays of sunlight find their way through the clouds, Blue Ridge Parkway