Turks in the Sky

Turks Cap and an Empty Sky

Wildflower Display

Helianthus and Asters

Skyline Drive WIldlflowers

Shenandoah's Wild side: meadows and roadsides of yellow helianthus, solidago and rudbeckia, purple asters and monarda, white leucanthemum, orange turks cap, red columbine, purple allium, pink milkweed and more.

Butterfly on Turks Cap

Yellow Tiger Swallowtail on Turks Cap

Summer Sunset on a Flower Filled Overlook

Sunset on White Callico Asters

Helianthus

Helianthus Display

Summer Wildlflowers

Wildflower Feast

A Florist's Display

Wildflowers at the Forest's Edge

A Wilflower Drive

Shenandoah's wildflowers line long stretches of Skyline Drive and bank the edges of her nearby forests. Here, yellow helianthus and white callico asters, much of it nearly 5 feet tall, creates a stunning "in your face" late summer experience.

As Sweet Smelling

Sweet Nectar

A Carpet of Wildflowers

When conditions are right, Shenandoah can boast some of the best summer wildflower displays on the east coast.

Tiger on Thistle

With great wildflowers comes great butterflies! Here, a male yellow tiger swallowtail is attracted to the nectary of a common thistle. For those wondering,the female has a line of blue scales on the upper side of the hindwings!

Swallowtail on Milkweed

A black female swallowtail perches atop a large milkweed bloom, one of its favorite sources of nectar.

TIgers in the Sky

Yellow Tiger Swallowtails feast on blooming thistle.

Turks Cap Clump

A clumb of Turks Cap blooms in late July along a trail in Shenandoah National Park.

Turks Cap Perspective

Gentle Turks Cap

Orange and Blue

Turk's Cap - one of the special wildflowers located throughout Shenandoah NP. Often growing 4-5 feet, this neat flower sports bright red-orange, pendant, hibiscus-like flowers that seem to never fully open, creating the appearance - if you look closely - of a Turkish turban!