The Highland Scenic Highway winds for 22 miles through some of the prettiest and wildest mountain country in Central Appalachia. Most of the drive from Richwood, West Virginia to the intersection with US Route 219 near Marlinton is through the Monongahela National Forest. I made my first spring pilgrimage up the highway yesterday to check out the marsh marigold at Cranberry Glades, now at peak bloom. But there are so many other wonderful places to visit, including Red Spruce Knob (top - to the left in the photo), the highest point along the highway. Early bloomers on the mountain include Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) and hobblebush viburnum (Viburnum lantanoides), also sometimes referred to as witch-hobble. Hobblebush was so named by old-timers because its wiry, tough roots often grow up through trails and impede travel. On top of the mountain, in the old red spruce forest, multitudes of yellow clintonia lily (Clintonia borealis), also known as bluebead lily, are pushing up and will start to bloom within the next couple weeks. I plan to travel back to the mountain around Memorial Day to check out the amazing wild lilies and orchids that are now coming in droves.