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Behind Blue Ridge Country

CURRENT Behind Blue Ridge Country

September’s Wild Edible: Hackberries

You won’t find enough for a pie, but you’ll enjoy them as a quick pick-me-up.

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).

Current Issue

Hackberries are pea-shaped and are great to snack on.

September’s Wild Edible: Hackberries

You won’t find enough for a pie, but you’ll enjoy them as a quick pick-me-up.
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).
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Departments

Smith Mountain Lake Virginia is a hidden gem within the Blue Ridge Mountains. This beautiful area features boating, sailing, hiking, shopping, fishing, and much more.
From The Editor

Sarah Smiles: The Lake Effect

Growing up, many of my weekends were spent at my late step-grandmother’s house on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

June 26, 2026

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