September 13, 2021

Good Morning,

Our sunny streak continues! Moon and starlight above with distant city lights below yield to another satisfying sunrise over East Tennessee. Yesterday was perhaps our best day of the weekend for spending time outside. Temps should mimic what was enjoyed Sunday again today, starting off the day in the mid 50s and easily jumping into the mid 60s. Calm air means pleasant weather for sitting in a rocking chair and letting the relaxing sway create your own breeze while soaking in the views.

Even as the coneflower and monkshood that bloomed last month brown and go to seed, there is still vivid color to be admired around the mountain. For the first time in a long time, the mountain ash trees are producing their bright red berries in a grand unified display. It took some digging through the photo archives, but the last successful summer bloom that led to a mass berry crop was way back in 2013. It seems that the extreme drought of 2016, followed by several years of surplus rainfall weren’t exactly favorable for the trees. But this year, conditions turned out just right. Should make the bears happy! Guess we’ll have to wait and see if their noses lead them to the berry buffet ripe for the picking atop Mt. LeConte!
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Have a great day.