Hiking on Dolly Sods, Part 2

 

Red Spruce forest.

 

 

We were still on the Wildlife Trail, which is about 1.6 miles long. Eventually we crossed a stream, and the terrain began to change. The forest became denser, darker, and mossier, the ground rockier. We must be getting closer to the junction with the Rohrbaugh Trail. It was getting on toward four in the afternoon.

 

Getting on the Rohrbaugh Trail.

 

The junction with the Rohrbaugh Trail was marked by a sign; one could see the trail dropping downhill on the right and the light through the trees hinted at the deep canyon beyond. Taking the left hand side, the Rorhbaugh Trail continues towards some towering cliffs. We crossed another smaller sod, where we saw a couple of Monarch butterflies--too far away to photograph. The bees were having a feast on the Goldenrod.

 

Bee on Goldenrod

Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris)

Getting closer to the cliffs one could see the mountains on the other side of the canyon through the Mountain Ashes in fruit. In this more exposed area, being drier, grassy spaces bordered by Rhododendons, mountain laurel, blueberry and huckleberry bushes opened up.

 

The western side of the mountains through the trees.

Rhododendron and Mountain laurel meadows.

 

Ground pine and reindeer moss grew under the dwarfed spruce on the sparse soil near the cliffs.

 

Ground pine spore structures with reindeer moss and ordinary moss.

 

Side paths near the Rorhbaugh cliffs.

Climbing over the rocks toward the overlook, one can begin to appreciate the size and splendor of this vast wilderness--the view is spectacular! 

 

Climbing towards the overlook.

View from the overlook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rorhbaugh Cliffs.

 

Getting back to the main trail we wandered through through thickets of  Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurel so dense they overhung, forming tunnels.

 

Getting back on the main trail from the overlook.

 

 

Rhododendron forest.

 

Beyond the climax of the overlook, the trail stepped back into the shelter of the forest. The forest once again changed character, becoming very mossy and lush. The rocky trail was intersected by a number of small streams and run-offs, and the Rhododendrons were taller, shaded by red spruce and hardwoods. The tree roots intruded upon the trail as much as the rocks, making it difficult to walk smoothly. The muddy patches continued, and we had to skirt around them as best we could.

 

The Rorhbaugh Trail beyond the overlook.

Big Belled Web Caps (Cortinaria largus)

Stream on the Rohrbaugh Trail.

 

Mushrooms began to appear again, though not in the profusion and variety as on the Wildlife Trail. Mosses carpeted the sides of the trail and rocks, Sphagnum moss in the wetter parts.

 

Moss on the sides of the trail.

Sphagnum moss.

The tall trees, Rhododendrons, and mosses gave the forest a magical, fairy-land atmosphere. Imagine how lovely it would be when the Rhododendrons and Mountain laurel are in bloom!

 

The Rorhbaugh Trail

 

This was the last photo I was able to take--my phone ran out of power completely right after this. The rest of the hike was very similar, rockier and muckier in some places, up and down, mostly up, with many beautiful sights. We harvested two more Lion's Mane mushrooms along the way, fortunately well within our reach without needing any sticks. More than enough for a great supper for both of us and our spouses!

We were totally exhausted by the time we reached the trailhead and my friend's car, well past six PM. We'd been hiking for over five hours to cover the 5.2 miles of both trails. We drove back to my car at the Wilderness trailhead and drove down the dusty mountain road as the sun was leaving the tops of the trees on the heights--it was after 7 PM and starting getting dark.  We were still a two and a half hour drive from our homes--I didn't get home until a quartet to ten that night.

I "left it all" as they say, at Dolly Sods that day, but I'd love to come back in the spring to see some of the bogs in the lowlands, as well as the Rhododendrons and mountain laurel in bloom!

My Garden Blossoms

Peony 'Coral Charm'

Herb's bed with Peonies

 

The weather had been atrociously hot for this time of the year, and our region still in severe drought. Last week we finally got a bit of rain and the temperatures dropped to more normal levels. My garden had offered some blooms, and is now offering more. The peony 'Coral Charm' had three flowers this year, though with the drying winds, they only lasted a few days. I moved it to its present location two yeas ago and it seems to be recovering strength. Behind it 'Duchesse de Nemours' is full of buds that are starting to open.

My Rhodendron 'Brandywine' was not as full as on other years--some of the trusses were blighted and had only a few flowers, probably because of the drought. My other Rhododendron 'Anna Rose Whitney'. which I transplanted last fall hoping that it would prosper in a shadier area where the soil is more moist, suffered so much I regretted having moved it--but it's now showing some promising new growth.

 

Rhododendron 'Brandywine'

Rhododendron 'Anna Rose Whitney'

My Virginia Fringe tree in the east woodland garden didn't put forth a lot of bloom this year, and neither did the Pagoda Dogwood, but they seem to be gaining some height--all to the good.

 

Virginia Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicum)

Pagoda Dogwood (Swida alternifolia)

Pagoda Dogwood

The pale lilac Dutch iris were lovely last week and the bearded irises made a decent show as well. The yellow irises produced only one flower stalk, but the white and bicolors in the front garden and the blue 'Victoria Falls' were quite impressive.

 

Pale Dutch irises

Iris bed in front of house.

'Victoria Falls' iris.

Iris 'Blatant'

Iris 'Pink Attraction'

Back in Herb's bed, last fall I planted a row of the charming Allium 'Christophii' (I think that's what it is, not sure) which is starting to bloom.

 

Allium 'Christophii'

Allium 'Christophii'?

 

In the back bed the Verbascum 'Southern Charm' is putting on a lovely show along with some red Columbines and a small pink Salvia.

 

Verbascum 'Southern Charm'

 

Salvia 'Pink Profusion'

 A couple of other Salvias, the deep purple "May Night' and a light blue are also blooming. I hope most of these will still be in bloom for the month's "Bloom Day."

 

Salvia 'May Night'

 

Light blue Salvia.

Lastly, here's some photos of the spring harvest from my home veggie garden: lettuce and Cherry Belle radishes, with an arrangement of irises in a vase for a backdrop.

 

Spring harvest

Irises in vase with spring harvest.

 

January 2025 Bloom Day

 

Miniature orchid Epidendrum polybulbon in bloom

Today is Bloom Day for garden bloggers, hosted by Carol Michel's May Dreams Blog. The temperature outside my Virginia home is about 21 degrees, and my yard is still mostly covered with snow, though the south and western exposures have gradually been melting during the past week. Some ornamental grasses and evergreens are about the only notable things in my garden at the moment.

 

Rhododendron 'Ana Rose Whitney' and Wavy grass (Nassella tenuissima)

The leaves of my Rhododendrons are drooping, which they do when temperatures drop into the 20's. The wind blew down a few of my deer barriers so the deer have been creating havoc devouring the Arborvitae and anything that was accessible--the tracks reveal the activity of all the wild creatures roaming in the yard during these cold days.

Herb's bed with ornamental grasses.

Potted azaleas and evergreens in the front yard.

But, my indoor garden has a few lovely surprises--the miniature orchid purchased last year at the Virginia Orchid Society's show started to develop two flower buds around Christmas, and this morning the first one is opening! The flower is about 1/2" and its pseudobulbs not much larger than that, but I'm so thrilled to have been able to keep it alive and thriving!

Epidendrum polybulbon in flower.

My gardenia tree (Tabernaemontana divaricata) produces flowers several times a year, mostly during winter and spring. I bought it for its heavenly scent, which lasts only for the first six hours when the flower opens. But new flowers open every few days, releasing their wonderful perfume.

The Cattleya orchid on the windowsill has yet to produce any flowers, despite growing well for going on seven or eight years. I've tried everything I can think of to coax some flowers, with no luck.

 

Gardenia tree in flower (Cattleya orchid below it)

 

In the upper balcony of our two-story foyer I have a collection of houseplants, among which are two Mamey trees (Pouteria sapote) sprouted from seeds a friend gave me. I don't expect that they will ever produce fruit, but I'm growing them as specimens for a painting that I hope to do sometime if I can find some fruit for sale next summer.

Mamey is my favorite fruit--there's an old saying that a Cuban will walk a mile for a mamey... I still remember the artistic displays of fruit in the vendors' carts in Havana, and my mother stopping to buy. Mamey season was the best, when the vendors cut the mameyes to display the delicious orange-red flesh with its single shiny black seed!

Mamey trees with other houseplants.

Episcia flowers

 Downstairs, my collection of houseplants threatens to take over the foyer, but I love the illusion of an indoor tropical forest! It needs a good bit of housekeeping--the leaf drop and insects are hard to deal with, it's a constant battle.

 

The foyer

 

The Bearss lime tree is still producing some blooms, but it's now mostly setting fruit. I've grown this tree for over twenty years, and wonder when it will finally get too old to bear fruit. Last spring I bought another Bearss lime to replace it when the time comes.The smaller tree is right next to the biggie.

Bearss lime tree.

Fruit on Bearss lime tree

 

Here's a Kalanchoe that managed to rebloom, and more houseplants.

Kalanchoe flower.

Assortment of houseplants.

That's about it for this January Bloom Day, thanks for visiting!