In my ramblings along the famed Blue Ridge Parkway, where I do most of my photography, I rarely find a spot that isn’t covered up in people. In the modern day of social media and the likes of Facebook and Instagram, there are fewer and fewer places left to enjoy without a crowd. Many have said we are “loving nature to death.” In my experience, that certainly seems to be the case.
However, sometimes even in a very popular place, some “hidden” beauty can be found. I visit the fields at Moses H. Cone Park near Boone, North Carolina, every year sometime in the month of July or early August. Here, tucked into the high mountains, fields are absolutely chock full of wildflowers.
Hundreds of people walk through these fields every day on their way to visit a popular fire tower, but very few stop to really enjoy the thousands of wildflowers. These flowers host a plethora of insects, including honey bees and butterflies, during the day and become a nice snack for the deer in the evenings. They also make for some stunning sunsets.
I’ve been shooting these Black-eyed Susans, Daisies and Queen Anne’s Lace for many years and have witnessed many absolutely gorgeous sunsets. The best part? I’ve been alone almost every time. Since the main draw at this park are the fire tower and great horse riding trails, not many people hang around to see the sunset over the fields.
This year the flowers are particularly numerous, with some of the best numbers I have seen. You can’t take a step without nearly crushing some of them, so maneuvering through the waist-high stalks can be a bit dangerous for the flowers. For those willing to wade through, though, some absolutely stunning views can be had. Grandfather Mountain can also be viewed in the distance adding to the beauty of the view.
In my opinion, this is THE most underrated spot on the 469 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway, which is saying something coming from someone who has put thousands of miles behind them on this highway.
You can find it at milepost 294. There’s plenty of room in these fields, so hopefully, one day, I’ll see you there.
See you on the trail….
