Clear winter air

Our mountains in the Southeastern U.S. are normally hazy in the summer, part natural humidity with some additions (ozone and particulates) not so natural.

But in the winter, after a front comes through, the mountains are crystal clear, and the evening light is excellent, sharp and cool.

I don't have any images, having not brought a camera along on our late afternoon excursion. But walking back across the overpass above Highway 240 towards Montford, we experienced the expanse of Mt. Pisgah and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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More spring wildflowers

A weekend in the mountains of North Carolina rewinds spring. As we climb up in elevation (from about 1000 ft. in Clemson, South Carolina to the 3000 ft. + mountains surrounding Asheville (about 2000 ft.), the leaves in the forest become smaller, the catkins on the oaks and hickories (achoo!) are still in bloom, and it's peak spring wildflower season again.

The Botanical Gardens of Asheville, next to the UNC-Asheville campus, has been a favorite place of ours to visit for the last 15 years. A native plant garden established along a beautiful stream on a sloping, boulder-rich site over 50 years ago, it's a wonderful place to see an abundance of native plants -- wildflowers, shrubs, and trees both in natural and garden settings.

Now run as an independent non-profit, it seems to be doing well. We only joined last year, when we came on an afternoon that the Botanical Center was open, but we've had such pleasure in visiting over the years, just being a basic member is hardly compensation.

The only drawback is that it isn't dog-friendly, much to Mocha's disappointment. But the creekside setting and heavy use makes dogs a liability that's understandable.

I'll have some photos to add tomorrow -- our camera download cables are at home, oh well.

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