Exposure Anthology III

Field Notes IV.XXI: A curated collection of photos of past years' June wildflowers in Appalachia

Welcome to Field Notes!

It’s June and as you’re reading this I’m off on a family vacation. The first larger family get together we’ve had in many years. We will be close by the Great Smoky Mountains, and I’m hoping to find some hiking excursions into the wild areas of the park to see streams, forests, peaks, and maybe even wildlife. I don’t know the agenda, though, so it will be a go-with-the-flow week ahead.

I had high hopes for some wildflower chasing in the mountains this late spring. The schedule got the best of me, though. Perhaps I can find those azaleas or rhododendron this week. If not, I’ll be looking forward to them next year. Or the blooms that come later in July and August, or the changing of the leaves. Attachment is the enemy in the wild. There’s always something upcoming to be looking forward to, even if it is different from what we hoped!

Today, in the spirit of wildflower chasing, I offer an Exposure Anthology highlighting three different adventures of the past.

Shining Rock Wilderness

I learned of catawba rhododendron and flame azalea, perhaps saw other photographers’ images of them, and became keenly interested in finding them in the wild. But I live about three hours south of the mountains, making it difficult to track the season’s blooming schedule.

The Middle Prong Wilderness is where I first sought them in early May 2023, but it was way too early at elevation. I returned in early June, this time to the Shining Rock Wilderness adjacent to it. It was still early for the majority of the rhododendron, but I did find them on some remote mountain tops.

Shining Rock I

Shining Rock II

Shining Rock III

Shining Rock IV

Shining Rock V

Great Smoky Mountains

In 2024 I thru hiked the Foothills Trail, which precluded any wildflower chasing. But by the time June of 2025 approached I had researched and knew when the potential best blooming times would be.

I made 2 short trips to the park in quick succession. The first was to Gregory Bald. No rhododendron here, but after a brief bear encounter, the peak offered a stunning display of flame azalea!

Gregory Bald I

Gregory Bald II

Gregory Bald III

Gregory Bald IV

Gregory Bald V

Riding high on the success at Gregory Bald, I then spent a night near Andrew’s Bald. Timing the light was tricky. The nearest campsite was a bit of a hike from the bald, which limited my time there in the evening and morning light. Nearby passing afternoon storms helped out a bit, though.

Here the rhododendron and the azalea danced together is absolutely stunning display!

Andrew’s Bald I

Andrew’s Bald II

Andrew’s Bald III

Andrew’s Bald IV

Andrew’s Bald V

Andrew’s Bald VI

Well, my friends, there you have it! June’s wildflower chasing from 2023 and 2025. I really do hope to have more from the Smokies this coming week, but no promises. And, with that, no promises for next Sunday’s Field Notes as I’ll be away from my computer.

You may have noticed the captions on these photos. They are just arbitrary titles, but I thought this might make it easier to reference them in a comment, if you want to discuss them. Is that helpful?

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