Wednesday, July 21, 2021

A QUICK TRIP UP TO SKYLINE DRIVE

 At the end of June before it go too hot, we were eager for a trip to Skyline Drive because, like so many places we have put on hold, it had been well over a year since our last visit.  For a while we followed and admired the Rolls Royce with its convertible top.  Its driver had probably been waiting for a day like this too.

 We drove through beautiful countryside and...

we reached the foothills in a little less than an hour.  

Not too long after we enter the Shenandoah National Park.  

Today was a day for driving but we did stop at a few overlooks and took in all those incredible views.

Skyline Drive is a 105 mile (169 km) road that runs the entire length of the National Park Service's Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and the road mostly takes you along the ridge of the mountains.   
You can read about the history of Skyline Drive at this link.  
The above photo I took from part of one of those explanation boards you find at each overlook.





I could not pass up the opportunity to take a few photos of wildflowers.  This is one I had never noticed before and is a species of Catchflies (Silene).  It goes by many names: Bird’s eggs, bladder campion, blue root, bubble-poppy, cobwell, devil’s rattlebox, maiden’s tears, rattlebox, rattleweed, sea pink, snappery, white bottle, white hen, bladder silene and cowbell to name a few.  

Its botanical name is Silene vulgaris and is native to Europe and western Asia but naturalized throughout southern Australia and in New Zealand. Nowadays it has been introduced in many other regions of the world, including ours.  It is very popular with pollinators, a perennial that grows in Spring, Summer and Fall.  Quite hardy too and it can survive in temperatures as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit.  You can see more photos here.  

Next we have Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis).  It goes by many names also: Sweetclover, Yellow sweet-clover, Common melilot,  Ribbed melilot, Cornilla real, Yellow melilot and Field melilot.  A member of the legume family, sweet clovers are native to Europe but were brought to the United States as early as 1600 for forage and the production of honey.  The above and a lot more information was found here.

Next is a Common Milkweed which I found in the middle of tall grasses.  Its other names are Silkweed, Butterfly flower and Silky swallow-wort. Its botanical name is Asclepias syriaca and it is native to North America.  The genus was formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, who named it after Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. Butterflies, especially Monarchs, use milkweed to lay their eggs, and it is the only plant that the developing larvae will feed on. Monarch populations are declining, and I am hearing of more and more people planting Milkweed in their gardens to help with the Monarch's migration and ultimate survival. You can read more information about Milkweed here, and there is a very interesting YouTube on Monarchs and Milkweeds here, where you will learn how important Milkweed is to this butterfly.  

One of our shorter rides up here but very enjoyable nonetheless.


Thanks for looking and enjoy your day.




43 comments:

  1. I am all aflutter now, because this is where we live! At the foot of skyline Drive. You were likely less than 2 miles from me!! Next time before you go, let me know and we can meet!! This even looks like the overlook we travel past many times a month to get to Charlottesville.

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    1. Hi Ginny, I would love to meet up the next time we head out your way. I'll let you know :)

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  2. How absolutely beautiful. Many thanks.

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    1. You are very welcome Sue and so glad you enjoyed them :)

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  3. Just so amazing these photos of what you saw and sharing with us all.
    Met a male many years ago after I found his photo of Blue Ridge Mountain on the internet, we are still friends along with his wife of many years...he lives in the US.

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    1. Thank you Margaret:) Isn't that lovely how we meet people? So nice you still keep in touch with your friends :)

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  4. Oh my, what a scenic drive. I enjoyed the views.

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    1. So glad Ann, it is really beautiful out there :)

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  5. I enjoyed the ride with you, Denise. So many lovely things to see!

    Beautiful vistas!

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    1. Greetings Veronica :) So glad you enjoyed these photos :)

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  6. Hello,
    Wonderful photos from your Shenandoah/Skyline drive visit. I love the views and pretty wildflowers. Have a great day!

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    1. Thank you Eileen, happy you enjoyed. You have a great day also :)

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  7. What gorgeous views! I would love to drive along Skyline Drive some day.

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    1. They certainly are aren't they Martha? I hope you get to see it one day :)

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  8. A great trip to a beautiful place. Interesting information about plants that grow here too. Have a nice day:)

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    1. Greetings Lucyna :) thank you and you have a nice day also :)

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    1. Muito obrigado :) Fico feliz que tenha gostado das minhas fotos. Um abraço e uma boa semana contínua.

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  10. I did not know that the Ridge Drive was that long that's a really long ride to go around that beautiful place and the hill views are just absolutely spectacular! I haven't seen that flower either the one with all the names on my goodness The Only Name that I'm not fond of is the rattlesnake no. It's a beautiful flower

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    1. Hi Sandra, we have only done a short distance, may 20 to 30 miles to get to the places we want to go to, though have said many times we ought to drive the whole road. One of these days! I can understand you not being fond of that name :)

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  11. Very scenic. I know why you like to visit this area.

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    1. Thanks Red, I feel fortunate that we only live an hour away :)

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  12. What a lovely trip to Skyline, Denise. You can really see the "Blue Ridge" in your pretty photos. The wildflowers are so nice and your identification is appreciated. We really need to take a ride there soon.

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    1. Happy you enjoyed Martha Ellen :) and thank you. I hope you get there one of these days :)

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  13. those views, your images all spectacular!! car rides on a beautiful day are wonderful right now. safe and lovely!!

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    1. Agree Debbie, very much so :) It's good to get out.

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  14. Looks a lovely place for a trip.
    I enjoyed seeing your photographs.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Happy you enjoyed them Jan, thank you :) All the best to you too.

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  15. A beautiful outing. Love all the layers of the mountains in that one photo.

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    1. Thanks Ellen :) there are some incredible photos of the mountain layers out there. Some are spectacular and I always am in awe of them.

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  16. I love the blue ridge mountains - lovely wildflowers too

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  17. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us! Truly breath taking!!! Really loved all the photos! Thanks for the information about the flowers too! Big Hugs!

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    1. You are very welcome, and so happy you enjoyed my photos and the information. Big hugs for you also :)

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  18. It doesn't take yo long to escape the city and be in the mountains. Lovely views.

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    1. Not long at all and I feel blessed they are so close :) Thanks Diane!

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  19. You are very welcome Linda :) You have shared many beautiful places of your trips. I will look forward to what you share next year when you get to Skyline.

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