Virtual Blue Ridge Parkway

May has arrived and is traditionally the best month for viewing wildflowers along the Blue Ridge.

From the end of October through mid-November, expect to see some remaining fall color, but only in the lower Parkway elevations.

This is the last weekend of October and although many of the low elevation areas still have a lot of good color coming in over the next week or so the mid to high elevations are beyond their peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway wildflower report for the late August, 2008. In Virginia, the Rocky Knob area south of Roanoke, the Cardinal Flower is the new bloom this week with some of that blooming along the edges of the pond at Mabry Mill.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway wildflower report for mid August. Most lovers of wildflowers prefer spring, but it's hard to beat a late summer meadow full of summer blossoms. Around every turn there are things in display.

It's August in the Blue Ridge and that means fields full of Yarrow, Sunflower, Goldenrod, Black-eyed Susan, and Queen Anne's Lace along most roadsides throughout the Parkway. Turks-cap Lily and Butterfly Weed add a touch of orange in many areas.

It's August in the Blue Ridge and that means fields of Yarrow, Sunflowers, Goldenrod, Black-Eyed Susan, and Queen Anne's Lace along most roadsides throughout the Parkway.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower Report for the third week of July. According to some lovers of wildflowers, summer is the best season of all, and the meadows of blooms brighten the Parkway experience seemingly around every turn.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway wildflower report for July the 18th. We think of spring for the time for wildflowers along the Blue Ridge, but for many folks, summer is the best season of all. Meadows of blooms brighten the Parkway experience around every turn.

We think of spring for the time for wildflowers along the Blue Ridge, but for many folks, summer is the best season of all. Meadows of blooms brighten the Parkway experience around every turn.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower Report for the Independence Day weekend. Summer blooms are the highlight throughout the Parkway, with adjacent fields of Black-eyed Susan and Milkweed, Yarrow, Queen Anne's Lace, and Butterfly Weed in many, many roadside meadows.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway spring wildflower report for the middle of June, 2008. Spring is a month of transition from spring blooms to a more summer look among the park wildflower population.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower report for June 2008. This is a month of transition from spring blooms to a more summer look among the park wildflower population.

For June the 13th, 2008 this is the Parkway wildflower report. Mountain Laurel is now in peak bloom throughout the northern section of the Parkway and Virginia, with Catawba Rhododendron still visible but quickly waning.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway wildflower report for the first week of June 2008. Catawba Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel are in bloom throughout the northern end of the Parkway in Virginia from Rock Fish Gap down through the James River area.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway fall color report for November 5th, 2007. November has arrived, and although we typically think of fall color as extending only through October, there is still a lot of leaf change to take place here in early to mid November

Fall leaf colors are approaching peak times along the Parkway. Some of the higher elevations have already passed their peak colors while the lower elevations will see peak color in the next week or two.

The fall color is, as always, dependant on elevation. Dogwood trees are a nice red wine color and as visitors travel south of Roanoke there are a few maples turning red, and just a few Tulip Poplars also turning yellow.

Early October brings lots of changes to the Blue Ridge landscape. Including tremendous displays of Hawk migration, Monarch Butterfly migration, and of course the first cool, crisp days of Autumn.

This is the Blue Ridge Parkway wildflower and fall color report for September 21st, 2007. September brings lots of things to the Blue Ridge including tremendous displays of Hawk migration, Monarch Butterfly migration and of course the first cool, crisp days of autumn.