Birding in East Tennessee

had a good day today.

The time I spent on top of the mountain was very pleasant and set off a chain of events that just ended up my day.

I got to the top around 9:45. I was at HCC around 9:00 but could not find anybody from Dr. Nagel's group. I suppose they must've cancelled the trip because apparently no one showed up at ETSU. I half flirted with going in to the cove but my head was already thinking of the Gray's Lilly up at the top. After lingering just a bit, I decided to go ahead and slowly drive to the top.

As I pulled into Carver's Gap, I noticed a hike getting ready to leave Carver's Gap. They were heading south to Hughes Gap. I walked over and stood a little behind and to the right of the leader making the introductory speech. He was younger guy with SAHC but I cannot remember his name. He said that he met me at the conference 2 weeks ago when I joined SAHC.

Anyhow, a question (the inevitable question) popped up if they would see any Gray's Lillies. He told them that they were just on the downside of their bloom (which normally would be true and might be in just little lower elevations that the 6000'+) but I piped in and said that they were running just a little behind this year and there were some at the Gardens that were still in budding stage. I gave brief instructions where to find them and then was off to the top (in my car) while they hit the trail.

I arrived at the top and noticed that the Cloudland Lilly was still in the budding stage right off. I hopped out of my car and went and documented the flower for today's trip. I have a crazy idea of having a series of pictures showing the budding stage in varies stages until it blooms. I just hope I can get a pic before something happens to the flower (like some idiot picks it). The one behind it was still budding and has been nodding since Wednesday.

I walked over to the gift shop and talked with the a few of the ladies with Pisgah National Forest. One seemed pretty interested in my interest with the gray's Lilly. She asked me if I had seen the "Red Bud" and promptly set out to show it to me. On the way over I mentioned the Lilly at the end of Cloudland Trail and how there were at least 3 which seemed to puzzle her. So we made a quick detour to show her. I started rummaging around to find the runt flower that was still in leave form and not only did I find the one, I found 2 or 3 more. So I think right by the trail there are 2 flowers that will bloom and about 4 that probably won't because they were blocked out by the other plants.

We left this site and went toward the stop sign (for those exiting the gravel parking area) and across the road. So we were standing on the edge of the clearing between Cloudland Trail and the gravel entrance road. She pointed to a single Gray's Lilly that had a red bud getting ready to bloom seemingly any minute. After getting a few picture, I walked out Cloudland trail and back again.

Upon returning to the Rhododendron Parking area I started talking to this couple taking pictures. They were from Johnson City and had moved to the area about four years ago. He told this moving story of how Gray's Lillies were very religious for him. A couple of years ago, his daughter was murdered. He was having a very hard time in the aftermath of this tragedy and discovered hiking from Carver's Gap to Yellow Mountain. On one of these hikes, he spotted his first Gray's Lilly. As he went over to take its picture, his wife/girlfriend (not sure) stumbled and just felt that she shouldn't follow. She noticed that he had been engulfed by a low moving cloud. He had walked over to the Lilly and knelt down to take it's picture. The first picture went off fine but the second picture was like a picture that had all the color taken out of it (grayscale). It was during this time that he prayed for the first time since his daughter's death. He was very appreciative for me showing him Gray's Lillies without him having to walk too far. Now seeing a Gray's Lilly is really a special experience for him.

As I started to leave the garden area, I noticed the hikers emerging into the Cloudland Parking Lot. I walked over and started talking to the group and they were breaking for their lunch. After they finished we all walked over to the Garden area where they were delighted to see the Gray's Lillies as well. There was also a couple with the Appalachian Trail Conference that were "on their own" and appreciated the Lilly excursion.

After we returned to the parking area, one of the hikers (Rosy) asked me for my email address so she could contact me after she returned home for a picture exchange. She also invited me to the opening ceremony of the Appalachian Trail Conference meeting where they would be debuting the name change to Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

I thought about the conference meeting the whole time I drove home and decided to go. I arrived at ETSU with plenty time to spare. Rosy (who by the way was grandmother like but a very good hiker from Baltimore, MD) saw me walk by and asked me to join their group during the program. During the program I found out the today (7/2/05) is the 100th year anniversary (to the day) for the United States Forestry Service and this weekend was the 80th year for the Appalachian Trail Conference. Pretty cool. I also had the opportunity to listen to the director of the National Park System who was hand picked by the President of the United States. More cool stuff.

I just felt honored being in the company of so many tremendous hikers and conservationalists.

I had a real good day.