Mushrooms, Toadtools & Fungi

Bracket Fungi, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

As I drove the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in early August, I stopped repeatedly along this one lane winding road to capture the flora and fauna I saw along the ground and in the trees. Mushrooms, Toadstools and Fungi were thriving all along this route due to the especially rainy past few weeks. No doubt fuel for these species.

Large Mushroom, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail winds its way around the mountainside. On this section of the tour, there is a major drop off on the left and on the right your car is literally hugging the side of the mountain. You can basically open your right side windows and take photos of the ground cover. These large Mushrooms were growing right up next to the mountainside in a clump.

Black Tooth Fungi, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

This Black Tooth Fungi was growing around some moss along the road. It was so perfectly formed and had such a nice white ring around the edge. What a vivid black hue.

Toadstool, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Keep in mind the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a temperate rain forest, as is all of the Southern Appalachian Mountains of southwestern North Carolina and southeastern Tennessee. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trails takes visitors through one of the wettest areas of the park. Evidence of the rain forest climate is especially evident in this area with moss covered rocks and boulders in and around the river itself. Conditions you won't find as plentiful in other areas of the Smokies. Perhaps this is why this area of the park was spared during the wildfires last year. A wonderful weekend is coming up with sunshine aplenty. Back soon. ENJOY!

Black Magic of Autumn

No doubt Cheekwood is well known for its magnificent floral displays throughout its gardens. Yet, as I walk under the Arbor in the Robert Ellis Color Garden, my senses were overtaken by the enormous deep purple leaves of the Black Magic Elephant Ears. They were stunning and they attracted me much like bees are attracted to honey. But it isn't just the Elephant Ears, the bright purple Salvia which grows behind the Black Magic is simply gorgeous. The color contrast like no other. And I am certain Cheekwood gardeners planned this combination just for this exact reaction.

With Autumn comes the red, orange and yellow colors that delight us all and bring us out of our houses to tour the woods and forests and countrysides. However, at Cheekwood you can find a setting like none other. Here reside the deep purplish blacks and vibrant, stunning lavenders that emit a warmth that adds a whole new dimension to the term Autumn. I can never walk past the Black Magic Elephant Ears without capturing a few images. These beauties are surrounded by our customary red, yellow and orange Chrysanthemums planted up and down the entire length of the Arbor. Did you know that Black Magic Elephant Ears unfold in bright green, then slowly turn to purple and finally give way to the blackish purple I share with you today. ENJOY!