As part of our car club activities, sometimes we take a role in a drive. This time we volunteered to be the sweep car for a group of drivers that will take a drive around some of our local back roads, winding up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then up to Mt Mitchell. There, we will stop for lunch and to enjoy the mountain views. The role of a sweep car is to communicate with the lead car when all cars have made a turn or made it through a light, and to stop with any car on the drive that has trouble. The lead cars and sweep cars for the two groups drive the route a week early in a pre-drive to make sure the roads are good, with no construction or closures and to time the route, make notes on mileage and take care of any last minute questions. Four couples met up at a parking area in Hendersonville, and set off for the back roads. Driving past places where the mountain has been cut into for the road show rocky sections that are always so interesting.
On this drive, the ladies were all in the driver seats, and the guys were navigating. My Sweet Babboo was kind enough to take some photos for you. Driving up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the overhanging trees create wonderful arbors.
Going up in elevation as we got closer to Mt Mitchell, the road sometimes had lovely breaks in the trees to see the mountains in the distance.
Here and there he got a nice photo of the mountains while we were moving.
All along the way were black-eyed Susan flowers, abundantly blooming on both sides of the road. There was some goldenrod mixed in as well.
We had a nice meal at the restaurant on Mt Mitchell, which just opened up again after closing in 2020. We did not walk up to the top this time, but we did on another trip Driving the Devil’s Whip, and there are some good photos of the views on that post. On the way back down after lunch, with My Sweet Babboo driving, I noticed this rock face was a red color. Most of them are grey or brown.
A couple of tunnels on this section of the parkway make the drive more fun.
We stopped at an overlook just to get a couple of pretty mountain views for you.
Looking in the other direction, and more layers of mountains can be seen. The drive event is coming up in just over a week.
Back home, the garden needed much tending. The tomato plants were falling over, and needed to be pruned of dead branches and leaves. I rearranged them on the cages and draped them over each other. A few days later, the added sunlight gave me loads of ripening cherry tomatoes.
This was one day’s harvest. More to come.
This year I put a few begonias in the tomato planter, just to fill in with a bit of floral accent. The basil is doing well, but I keep pinching it off for kitchen duty.
I am holding my breath over the two lovely spaghetti squash. They are both quite good size now, just waiting for them to begin ripening. I hope I get to eat them and not some critter. Something got after four of my biggest tomatoes and chewed or pecked them on one side. I have no idea what got them,but they were not edible anymore.
The hydrangeas are now all the muddy pink. I’m not sure if they will push to a lighter pink or stay like this. Often they turn a greenish color in the fall.
On the veranda, the dahlias are blooming, such a lovely red with golden stamens. Often they will face the ground, but this year they are standing up tall and straight.
The double pink calabrachoa continues to bloom on the veranda table. It seems very happy where it is.
Such a pretty pink!
I added a few more petunias to the pots to fill them in again. They don’t get enough sunlight to grow into the bushy trailing lovelies that I want them to be. But they do bloom and the hummingbirds come by daily now.
I have mostly red and purple to attract the hummingbirds. Some white ones are mixed in.
I am growing garlic for the first time in a pot. I planted one that had sprouted in the refrigerator. Hey, why not? I might get a half dozen bulbs from this if all goes well. The parsley is happy in its sunny pot too. I love the fresh taste that parsley gives a dish.
The front flowerbed was a mess. It was overgrown with weeds as I don’t go out to pull them anymore. I cannot kneel on concrete, so I let it go way too long. I asked My Sweet Babboo to buy a long handle hoe to use, but I have not gotten out there to do that nearly as often as I should. Adding to the mess was my daisy that practically died, with just a green scraggly leaf here and there. The irises still refuse to bloom no matter how much I pamper them, divide them, feed them, and uncover their rhizomes. This bed just does not get enough sunlight. So, My Sweet Babboo and I dug everything up from this bed except one day lily, and mulched the entire bed. It took two mornings to do as it is so humid now!
Next year, I will try again with all shade tolerant perennials. Maybe hellebore, bleeding heart and columbine to start. I have too many hostas now in other beds, so won’t choose those. Browsing seed and plant catalogues is usually a January thing, but I do need to make some decisions as many of the perennials need to be planted in the fall. So that is on the agenda for this week, along with some sewing and crafting time. What are your plans?
From My Carolina Home 
I so enjoy looking at road cuts, especially when you’re not on a speedy road. Rocks need to be admired; rushing by doesn’t provide enough time to savor them. We’re off to day 2 of a Fiddlers Fair. Looking forward to hearing some more good music. It’s especially fun to see the young musicians participating and being coached by the pros.
Carole, the mountain drive has stunning views. The cherry tomatoes look delicious. We didn’t plant tomatoes this year and I have missed them. Happy Sunday!
Lovely road trip you took. Eastern S.D. is flat. Right now we have the greenest corn and soy bean fields. Rains came this year after 2 years of dry conditions so it’s a blessing to see beautiful fields.
We have 5 married grandkids and every year we freeze about 15 bags of sweet corn for them and their little families. It takes about 75 dozen ears of corn but I don’t do them all at once.
We attended our home area Fair this week. We always run into an old acquaintance or two. The quilts are my favorite. Church stands serve the best food. 2 covered eating areas and volunteers keep it clean. The line for homemade ice cream was long so we shared a piece of pie instead.
Speaking of homemade ice cream, a neighbor made “corn ice cream” and we got to try it. He cuts it off the cob then cooks cob/corn in cream, lets it sit about a hour then strained it. So good !
I delivered 24 sets of potholders to The Furniture Mission. They accept donated household items and help people get on their feet. Our church gives them about 50 quilts every October from the 160 or so we make yearly. One quilter makes sofa pillows from donated fabric (too heavy for quilts) and we delivered 22.
I delivered 8 quilt tops (40×58) last week to the hospital. Others work on backing, batting and tying before offered to people in cancer treatment. I concentrate on tops for men and veterans.
You have been busy this week, the quilt tops and potholders will really help your Stashbuster totals. I’ve never heard of corn ice cream, actually sounds pretty good! I love fresh corn!
Sitting here with my morning coffee and enjoyed your post. Beautiful mountain scenery. Must be a relaxing ride. The pictures of your flowers always make me smile. I do look forward to your emails in my inbox. Thank you.
I enjoyed the mountain ride with you and reading about your gardening. I didn’t work in my garden for a month while daughter Lise and friend were here. I’m doing double duty now.
I did enjoy a road trip, Vicariously to coin the word from Grandson, with the photos and commentary, love the mountain views in the distance. Your tomatoes are thriving.
So happy to cruise the mountains with you, thanks. I love the double pink flowers.
Alexandria
That looks like a beautiful drive, and you get to do it again next week! Love seeing what’s going on in your gardens, too. I have had a few pumpkins make it to adulthood this summer, and that’s always the key – will somebody take a bite out of them before I can harvest them?! One does have a bite out of it, but I think it closed over – I should probably harvest it! Have a lovely Sunday, Carole!
Sounds like a great week, on the road and in the garden. I sometimes wish I had more shade. I tried to save my lungwort last year after our Hinoki cypress died, but it did too (too much sun). I gave some to my gf, and before she just moved, she gave some back. I think I found a spot where it’s thriving so far. I love your choice ideas for shade. I did plant a couple hellebores, and though they seem to be struggling a bit, they’re still alive.🤞 Caladium is another lovely one I wish I could grow.
Another lovely drive through your mountains. The roads always look so quiet with not a lot of traffic. Heavenly.
Your garden is still giving you some lovely colour and produce as well with Tomatoes still ripening. I have a tomato plant that has been in the garden all Winter with fruit on it. I pick them and ripen on the windowsill, so nice. It was a self set plant and I didn’t have the heart to pull it out. So it has withstood a few frosts and the southerly winds. Yay!
Enjoy your next country mountain drive with your Car Club buddies.
Mary :))
What a wonderful mountain drive.
The Sweet Babboo got some great drive-by shots. What beautiful territory. And your garden is splendid. If it makes you feel better, it looks like Versailles compared to mine.) I love where your tomatoes are. Perfect spot.
Carole,
Great pictures of the mountain scenery! Your area is very beautiful!
We grow hundreds of hard neck garlic each year. We plant around Columbus day as the garlic requires several weeks of cold weather. We harvest in July. I recommend garlic scallions as they provide exceptional flavor in salad dressing and are perfect when you want a milder garlic flavor that doesn’t overpower.
Thanks for sharing!
Jo Anne
love the view. I am blessed to wake up every morning to that view of the Blueridge with my cup of coffee and the newspaper (yes I do read it) and all sorts of birds chirping. Do you own a Porsche as well?
i think the rock is red because of iron leaching from the overpass…that’s if it’s steel….it would oxidize and turn that color i think….lovely flowers and vistas
There aren’t any overpasses in that area near Mt Mitchell. It has to be a natural feature of the sediment in that section.
What looks like an overpass is actually the underside of the roof of our car.
Your car club does some lovely drives. I always enjoy the scenery.
Your tomatoes are looking very tasty.
I always enjoy petunias in a basket. So Colourful.