Springtime in the Mountains

- Clear and pleasant this morning on the mountain properties.

- Spring is a beautiful time in our mountain properties, as evidenced by the attached photos.

- These photos were taken on an early afternoon hike yesterday....which included a jaunt into some of our future development areas.

- Two of the photos are of The Pinxter Flower (called a Pink Azalea in some taxonomy books). These wild deciduous shrubs are common on the high exposed ridges throughout our mountain properties.

- Note in the photo of the white flowers there are pink flowers on the plants in the background....and despite most of my ID books saying this species (Rhondodendron nudiflorum) has only pink flowers, the photo seems to refute this. Observation of the leaves, twigs, stems, and flower arrangement analyzed on this trip seem to indicate all specimens were of the same species.

- The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) is very similar, though the flowers usually have an orange hue. Both are in the Heath Family (Ericaceae).

- The other photo reflects the inspiring springtime vistas experienced on this hike.