Another spin around Rock Castle Gorge; this time with a Roanoke Meetup. Due to my struggle at Grandfather last week, I took the beginning climb as slowly as I could.Having done that, I did feel and felt fine the rest of the day.
Once we attained the top of the ridge, we were treated to an azalea show. Numerous bushes populated what looked like a former bald. In the top photo you may be able to see the range of color among the Flame azalea in this area.
Before we reached the open meadow, I heard a Scarlet tanager and spotted a community of Skunk cabbage. We shared the meadow with a small herd cows. They never noticed nor looked our way.
Midway through the meadow, we passed "the tree". Buffalo Mountain is visible in a gap along here. After leaving the open spaces, we walked to the old AT shelter amid a sea of Lilies of the Valley. Garlic mustard also grows in abundance here. Much to my horror, a young member of our group picked a number of Lilies.
Pink lady slippers were right where I had remembered. No one picked any of these. Right away we walked into blooming Catawba rhododendron. Lots of it. Peak bloom too. Next was the seep area where many trilliums are found. We saw a few dying blooms which had turned pink.
Further down we ran into blooming Clintonia in the rock jumble. Stinging nettles here too. Shortly, we are on the two track road and the 2.5 mile walk back to the trailhead. Some bloomers along here, Mayapples, Solomon Seal, Solomon Plume, Canada violets and Virginia waterleaf.
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