More upcoming events -- June and July

Galax Leaf and String is June 11-12 in Galax, Va. This is a great event with a weekend full of music, arts and crafts.

Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition is June 19 at Grayson Highlands State Park. Henderson is a famous guitar player and luthier. This competition draws thousands each year and is always held on the 3rd Saturday of June, the day before Father's Day.

Another Hillsville Downtown Celebration concert series will be 5:30 p.m. June 26. I wrote about the concert series here.

Also on June 25 and 26 is Grayson County Fiddlers Convention. It's located in beautiful Elk Creek, Va. I always enjoyed covering this event for The Gazette. I once saw and took a photo of Roni Stoneman. No joke! I also met Justin Robinson of Carolina Chocolate Drops there (I don't think it was another fiddlers convention, although it could have been. There are several in the area). Good band. Go check them out here.

Smoke on the Mountain Barbecue Festival is July 16-17. This is another not-to-miss event. It's fun to sample the barbecue and learn who the reigning team will be each year.

I knew most of these events were coming up but couldn't find a good, complete online calendar. I was able to find info on these events through Davis-Bourne Inn's calendar. It appears this inn is becoming a good resource. (Another source, and, yes I'm biased because I worked there, is The Gazette and its visitor guide.)

Another June 5 event -- West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery

West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery in Max Meadows, Va., will celebrate its fourth year June 5 with a concert by Envision and food by JoDon (delicious!).

The winery will also host Summer Saturdays on July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4 and Oct. 9.

West Wind blackberry wine is my favorite and Chris and I have given West Wind wines for Christmas gifts.

Weekend photos -- May 22-23

Though I had to work Sunday and most of Saturday was spent doing chores, Chris and I did find time to take two 2.6 mile walks on the New River Trail State Park.

Here are some beauties and what I think that they are. Now, my identification skills aren't that great and Newcomb's just isn't my friend, but this is what I came up with. If you have any suggestions or can correctly identify them, let me know in the comments below.

I think the flower below is possibly a campion of some kind. I'm not too sure. Any ideas?

I couldn't find the fuzzy bloom below or anything that closely resembled it in Newcomb's or our other wildflower book. I'm leaning toward an orchid. Anyone?

I'm certain the purple beauty below is a Virginia Waterleaf:

And, of course, this is a Virginia Spiderwort, one of Chris' favorites:

And the very familiar fire pink:

While I was at work Sunday, Chris ventured out and took some more pictures in Carroll County and our yard. Check 'em out:

Mountain Laurel

Bug on a leaf

Tulip poplar bloom

Peony

Titmouse

And, if you were wondering, we did go to see the Embers play at Hillsville's summer concert series, checked out the cars in the cruise in and talked with some artists at the Carter Home's Art Festival. Chris took some pictures for The Gazette.