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Well folks, June is history- as hard as that is to believe! With the arrival of July we are entering a very different season for wildflowers. Roadsides and edge areas where the woods open onto fields and pastures are where most of the activity will be found.

As the month goes on, what I consider to be this area's most beautiful lily will be in bloom. The Turk's Cap Lily is the largest of our native lilies, and never fails to take my breath away! Also evident now are Jewelweed, Milkweed, Bluebead Lily, Sundrops, Dayflowers, and Spiderwort - to name just a few.

If you're observant in your travels through the mountains you'll probably notice that many of this year's young critters are on the move. As the summer progresses a lot these guys will need to find and establish their own sites for overwintering. Not every species will be looking for overwintering sites. A lot of birds are fledging their second, or even third, brood of the year. What these guys need to do is learn to fly and forage well enough to be ready for the southward migrations. Last week I saw a just out of the nest Bluejay chick in the street behind my house. When I got up close it was so excited it could neither walk nor fly - just sort of panicked and rolled out of the street, with its Mother louldly chastising me. To learn more about one of our most recently arrived youngsters, check out this months trivia.

The trips to Roan Mountain were really great. The Rhododendron were as nice as I've ever seen them. Thanks to all the folks from Champion Hills, Fairview, East Asheville, Weaverville, and Burnsville - you were all great companions in a beautiful place. If the rest of you are curious about what it was like check this out.