Well, OK, not everyone might think this is an important local happening.  And I don’t usually throw myself a birthday party.  But this year the Parent to Parent fundraiser was scheduled for my birthday, May 1 so it seemed a logical conclusion to hold a birthday party at the event and invite my friends and family to come make a donation to Parent to Parent.  These are my daughters helping me celebrate.

Parent to Parent is an important local grassroots program that matches families who have similar challenges.  This year they held their first fundraiser May 1 at the Greenway in Boone.  It included a 5K race and this 1 mile fun walk.  This photo was taken at the turn-around point. Good luck, Parent to Parent!

The utilitarian purpose of this flower may indeed be to poison flies.  This flower is too lovely to bear its deathly name.  Let’s find a better one. 

For years as a Park Ranger, I had the most beautiful drive to work of anyone in the world, I believe.  Along the New River from Todd, then down the Parkway to Blowing Rock.  I took so many pictures of the foothills’ peaks intertwinned with mist and fog that I finally had to call a moratorium on myself.  Here’s a recent photo of the beauty that surrounds us daily, if we just take the time to see it.

The Trout lake ducks and drakes seem to enjoy their mornings sunning on this log, for they are often here.  Trout Lake, Blue Ridge Parkway, mp 294

Taken by Price Lake in the amphitheater parking area.  For me, these Spring blossoms are shear beauty:  dainty, gorgeous colors, an endlessly delightful juxtaposition of space and object.  It’s a pleasing pattern that strikes one as serendipitously random.  Yet, we know it is the result of millions of years of interplay between organic earth and fragile life, the life so precious to us and yet unique in all the universe.  A reminder to live the moment and give thanks.  mp 294 Blue Ridge Parkway

Oh, how foolish of me to have left on my morning walk without my tripod THIS morning.  To keep them from running away, I used my telephoto lens, which I can’t hold steady enough to get a sharp picture.  But, these babies were so darling, I included them in my calendar anyway.

Changing maple

 As you can see, this maple is just changing.  It’s at Price Lake.

Early light on the Viaduct Oct 2010

Most of the color is gone.  This pic makes the area look more colorful than it actually is.  Many trees have shed their leaves.  Many are a rather dull yellow.  Not many reds or oranges this year.  But, you can still find some color on individual trees, or shrubs.

Fall Color at Price Lake

I was out of town over the weekend and return to find much more color.   Some trees are still green.  Some are turning brown.  But, if you come up within the next few days, you’ll be able to find locations with lots of color.