We made a trip to Big Ridge with the Frenches and I can't upload pictures

We think this is a bud of a camellia flower...not sure..and we didn't go back to check later..

Mountain Camelia 2015

We went back to the Sugarlands Trail this year a little earlier in June, and we couldn't find the camellia trees.  We hoped to go back one more time but didn't make it.  We'll try next year to see them.  Someone on facebook told me that a tree is in Greenbrier across from the ranger station.  We wanted to go check that out this year but there was flooding in Greenbrier and the road was closed.

We did get to Elkmont for the firefly show with the Frenches. We went before the park was officially closed for fireflies , so we drove right to our spot to sit and watch..just across from Jakes Creek trail ...Good show. 

We saw the pink lady slippers  at the same place as last year and they were a lot healthier and pretty this year.

Someone on facebook told us where to find yellow lady slippers , and we went to the spot in North Carolina and find a clump of dead ones...Next year we'll go earlier.

We are walking less and less, but we'll sure try to go next spring to the mountains for the wild flowers...

We plan to go to Pisgah in October to see the fall colors.  We have reservations at Pisgah Inn for us and the Frenches...