stir the flame

I want you young men to bear in mind that it is the nature of a fire to go out; you must keep it stirred and fed and the ashes removed.
--William Booth (1829-1912) British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army

Above: Flame Azaleas blooming in the Roan Highlands. The rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom on the balds -- and while the azaleas look great, the number of blooms on the rhododendrons is not as great as last year.  It seems the rhodos go through cycles where some years the blooms are prolific and others where they're more sparse.  This seems to be an 'off' year for the rhododendrons. That isn't to say they aren't worth seeing, of course. :) I'm sorry that I can't report on the status of the rhododendron garden -- time was running short and we didn't make it further up the mountain.  My guess is that it's still not at peak and so if you're going up to Roan this weekend, enjoy the balds. Below is a photo of Round Bald taken from the overlook on Jane Bald. Such an amazing view!