Monday before last, the lower section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, from the Smoky Mountains to Asheville and beyond, was ablaze with rhododendron, flame azaleas and mountain laurel. As we drove through everything was at its peak. I have never seen so many flame azaleas before; it was an amazing sight. This hillside photograph of catawba rhododendron was taken on Mount Mitchell just off the parkway. It is the highest peak east of the Mississippi and just barely edges out Clingman's Dome in the Smokies.