Blowing Rock was one of the top vote getters in our blog on North Carolina’s prettiest towns. It’s no wonder. I joked in a recent Facebook entry that Blowing Rock leads the country in flowers per capita. Have you been there lately? Well, let’s just say Blowing Rock is in full bloom this summer.

Last weekend I spent some time in this mountain village. My sister Stephanie and her husband John have a condo on Blowing Rock’s main drag. I stayed with them last weekend while emceeing the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in nearby Linville. It was my tenth consecutive year as games emcee and it is something I look forward to each summer.

John took me for a drive last Saturday to a spectacular view overlooking the Johns River Gorge. I can’t wait to return there in autumn when those hardwoods are glowing with colors. I also took several shots of churches and yes- flowers in the area along with a picture from my sister’s home. I hope you enjoy these images from the cooler part of the state as we soldier on through the hot summer.