Roan Highlands Gray's Lily by Mark Via Flickr: Rare Wildflower in Long Flowing Grasses Roan Highlands, Southern Appalachian Mountains Date taken: June 15, 2015 I'm not sure that I'll be able to make it back to the Roan Highlands this year (2017) to enjoy the annual Gray's Lily bloom. My fascination with this little flower started almost a decade ago on my first visit and culminated with finally documenting them in large part during a banner bloom of 2015. It is one of the seasonal events I try my hardest to see and experience every year because, to be honest, you never know. I don't want to take anything for granted.

Gray's Lily Roan Highlands Temperate Grassy Balds by Mark Via Flickr: A Rare & Endangered Gray's Lily in the Roan Highlands Mitchell County, NC / Carter County, TN Accessed via the Appalachian Trail (North from Carver's Gap) Date taken: June 20, 2016 My schedule didn't allow much time to be with the Gray's Lilies this bloom season; however, I managed to find a couple of early bloomers before I had to hit the pavement. The Gray's Lily is named after Asa Gray and is considered a species of concern (Tennessee), rare and imperiled (Virginia), and of special concern (NC). Their largest population can be found in the Roan Highlands of the Southern Appalachian mountains where favorable conditions still exist in the temperate grassy balds (themselves critically imperiled as habitat). This entire area is extremely beautiful and I can only hope that both the balds and the Gray's Lilies are enjoyed and respected by many long after I can no longer make the annual pilgrimage to see their presence.