June 11, 2017

Waning light over Myrtle Point and the eastern Smokies.

Good Day,
     We're fortunate enough to be basking in another beautiful day overlooking East Tennessee.  The skies are partly cloudy, but there's enough blue and sunshine to go around to keep things bright and pleasant.  Temps are comfortable at the moment, hanging out in the lower 60's. Our high mark yesterday came out to be 63 degrees, and our overnight low dropped to 46.  We haven't seen much precipitation lately, but the extended forecast shows a chance of thunderstorms  just about everyday for the region.  We'd expect nothing else for the month of June. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn't, but better to be safe and pack for rain anyways!

Catawba Rhododendron starting to come out along the mountain's crest.

     It's enjoyable to see the mountain bursting with life at a frenetic pace now.  More plants are blooming, or growing in tall and thick.  Surely a testament to the rainfall and moderate temperatures we've been experiencing so far this year.  The deer that call this basin home have put on their reddish coats, and who knows if we'll see any new fawns in the near future.  And those red squirrels...they seem to be everywhere this season, chattering away at one another as well as human visitors.  Yesterday one decided to crash into the side of my foot while walking along at a casual pace.  Another "Boomer" this morning was so startled by my opening of the Office door that instead of running down the stairs or to the opposite end of the porch, it thought it better to leap straight out from the highest part of the handrail, eventually landing about ten feet out.  Crazy little buggers.
     If you're an upcoming guest, please don't entice these little guys with food, as there is no unlearning such bad habits from them.  Keep windows and doors closed at all times when your cabin is unoccupied, and store your belongings inside safely.  That will also detract the potential for unwanted bears ambling into camp.  Thanks!
     Have a great end of the week and happy trails.

The forest floor is witnessing a fern explosion with each passing day.