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Behind Blue Ridge Country

CURRENT Behind Blue Ridge Country

October’s Mountain Wildflower: Black-eyed Susan

Favoring dry fields, open woods, waste areas and roadsides, the individual blossoms are long-lasting, staying healthy and blooming for nearly a month when conditions are right.

September’s Mountain Wildflower: Yellow-fringed Orchid

Once you spot the yellow-fringed orchids as you struggle up a steep slope while hiking during the heat of a September afternoon, you may wish you had never seen them.

August’s Mountain Wildflower: Cardinal Flower

It’s a plant that perfectly illustrates that the web of life is an amazing thing that seems to have no end to its number of strands.

July’s Mountain Wildflower: Bee Balm

Bee Balm is an inhabitant of moist areas in woodlands and beside streams, ponds and lakes where it is often seen growing close to cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis).

November’s Blue Ridge Mountain Apple Profile: Stayman Winesap

The Stayman Winesap originated in Kansas in the mid-1800s, but it began to appear in our region late in that century and quickly became a fixture in highland orchards.

Current Issue

4f92dd66-96e8-11ef-991c-12163087a831-10-2024blackeyedsusan--credit-Joe-Cook-and-Monica-Sheppard_1_

October’s Mountain Wildflower: Black-eyed Susan

Favoring dry fields, open woods, waste areas and roadsides, the individual blossoms are long-lasting, staying healthy and blooming for nearly a month when conditions are right.
f858b574-2361-11ef-8aed-12163087a831-9-2024yellowfringedorchid--credit-Joe-Cook

September’s Mountain Wildflower: Yellow-fringed Orchid

Once you spot the yellow-fringed orchids as you struggle up a steep slope while hiking during the heat of a September afternoon, you may wish you had never seen them.
511292cc-2360-11ef-b7a1-12163087a831-8-2024cardinalflower--credit-Joe-Cook-_-Monica-Sheppard

August’s Mountain Wildflower: Cardinal Flower

It’s a plant that perfectly illustrates that the web of life is an amazing thing that seems to have no end to its number of strands.
92d3ec46-2280-11ef-87f7-12163087a831-7-2024beebalm--credit-Joe-Cook

July’s Mountain Wildflower: Bee Balm

Bee Balm is an inhabitant of moist areas in woodlands and beside streams, ponds and lakes where it is often seen growing close to cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis).
Stayman Winesap apples are a heritage Blue Ridge apple.

November’s Blue Ridge Mountain Apple Profile: Stayman Winesap

The Stayman Winesap originated in Kansas in the mid-1800s, but it began to appear in our region late in that century and quickly became a fixture in highland orchards.
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Departments

Knoxville Asian Festival, August 29-30,  Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo courtesy of Asian Culture Center of TN
Events

Fall 2026 Festivals & Events Guide

From the Virginias and the Carolinas to Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, our annual compendium is the perfect travel companion. Inside,

April 20, 2026
4th of July Parade & Festival, July 4, Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Events

Summer 2026 Festivals & Events Guide

From the Virginias and the Carolinas to Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, our annual compendium is the perfect travel companion. Inside,

April 20, 2026

CALENDAR OF EVENTS