Behind Blue Ridge Country

Of the four Rubus species in these mountains, the raspberry is the first to ripen, sometimes as early as mid-June.

Fragaria virginiana is one of the first plants to bloom in these mountains, thus supplying a wide variety of bees, butterflies, and moths with an important source of pollen and nectar.

Land cress looks much like watercress with its small square leaves and also has a similar peppery or mustard-like taste.