An absolute must-see while you visit Huffman Creek Retreat are the glorious Flame Azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum) in bloom and we're just about to reach peak viewing season minutes from our corner of Appalachian paradise. Just down the road atop Hooper Bald off the Cherohala Skyway is a magical, secret-ish garden where tunnels of overhead red, orange, and golden blooms stretch as far as the eye can see. Ready to experience the magic? Come explore these stunning views now until June...

One of the childhood memories I hold close to my heart is of wandering through the grass in my yard watching fireflies, which we called “lightning bugs”. On early summer evenings I would catch these magical creatures in my net and place them in a glass jar for closer examination. My parents made sure that I released them back into the meadow after I was through admiring them. Fireflies are neither flies or bugs. They are winged beetles! Fireflies belong to the family Lampyridae and they are...

From Left to Right: Dutchman's Breeches, Hepatica, and Rue Anemone, The far western North Carolina mountains are one of the best places to observe the progression of spring wildflower bloom. Also called “Spring Ephemerals”, these plants flower, set seed and die before the trees above them have a chance to grow leaves large enough to block the sunlight from the forest floor. These plants with their exquisite flowers, personify springtime. Trilliums, blood root, Trailing Arbutus, Dutchman’s...