Pink Lady's Slipper Orchids are endangered and rare. They only grow below a specific type of Oak and have a short blooming season at this time of year. There is one area in the Arboretum along Rocky Cove Road where there are probably more than a dozen of them.

One of Abner's and my favorite hiking routes is along Bent Creek. The above shot is a tree that came down recently. The beavers started it, and nature did the rest. It is kind of amazing to see that these small animals can bring down. The shot below shows Abner heading down the Bent Creek Trail. At this time of year the foliage is very green and dense. . .we feel very private when we do this hike.

One day about a week ago, we were on the Carolina Mountain Trail (historic old trail that was overgrown and lost for years but was re-established a few years ago by the Carolina Mountain Club) and I sat down to take a cell phone call from Beth when this moth decided that Abner's Bags on Board container was a good sunbathing spot.