Roan Highlands in Bloom

by Don Hyatt

At Long Last...

After many years of missing the bloom at Roan Highlands, I finally saw the mountaintop in full bloom on June 26, 2001. These are just a few images I took of the purple Catawba Rhododendrons (R. catawbiense) and the beautiful yellow and orange Flame Azaleas (R. calendulaceum) that day.

I parked my car at Carvers Gap expecting to take a short hike for about an hour, but stayed out there for six hours instead, hiking past Engine Gap and Jane Bald all the way to Grassy Ridge. The weather was beautiful, the flowers were in peak condition, and the views were magnificent. It was perfection.

Calendulaceum at Engine Gap and Jane Bald



Calendulaceum on the Ridge


Orange Calendulaceum and the View


Mixed Calendulaceum


Yellow Calendulacem Flowers


Golden Yellow Calendulacem


Orange-Red Calendulaceum Flowers


Orange Calendulaceum Flowers


Calendulaceum and the Valley Below


Catawbiense at Grassy Ridge



Rhododendron Catawbiense at Grassy Ridge Point


Views to the Valley Below


Catawbiense Plant and Fir Trees


Grassy Ridge Point, Elevation 6180 ft.


The Grand Vista


Catawbiense Blooms

Copyright © 2001 Donald W. Hyatt



Back to Don Hyatt's Garden Pages
The Author's Main Home Page