ARTICLE: Springtime at the First Peak of the Blue Ridge One of the great joys of being in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the beauty of Spring. If you’re weary from being stuck inside during the cold winter months – we have the remedy for you.  Immerse yourself in the natural beauty here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The weather is welcoming. It invites you to relax and breathe a little deeper, taking in the sweet mountain air and the promise of warmer days. Our elevation variances ensure that we have the first spring flowers in the region and that we have an extended season.  We start early with the inspiring glimpses of spring… puffy pink cherry blossoms and cheerful daffodils pop out in mid to late February.  Larger splashes of color decorate the rural scenery as the bright yellow of forsythia and large pink blooms of the saucer Magnolias bloom in March. April greets us with a rainbow of blooms– look up for pink and white Dogwood trees, a mix of colors and shapes from ornamental and native Azalea shrubs. This an optimal time to watch for birds. Then look down along the forest floor for the white blooms of Bloodroot and varieties of Trillium – large displays are found in our sheltered natural areas. April also brings the first sight of green on the bare branches and leads us into full canopies of green leaves by the end of the month. There are so many rare species here because of the variety of habitat in our different elevations.  Trillium species are fascinating because of...