Catawba and Rosebay Rhododendron will be in bloom throughout the month of June.

Catawba is the pinkish-purple blossom and rosebay is the whitish-rose blossom.

The Catawba and other rhododendrons are spectacular right now just up the road from the Chimney Tops trailhead.

An off-the-beaten-path place to enjoy the flowering is along the Blue Ridge Parkway between Cherokee, NC and Asheville.

For those who want an easy hike: from Clingmans Dome parking area, take Forney Ridge Trail 1.7 miles to Andrews Bald in mid-June.

For those who want something more strenuous: take Alum Cave or Rainbow Falls trails to the top of Mt. LeConte in mid-June.

Flame azalea is still in bud on Gregorys Bald.

Carolyn Jourdan, the Bumbling Bushwhacker and GSMA's trusty webmaster and writer, has a national bestselling book!

Family Circle magazine just named Carolyn's book its first-ever book of the month selection!

Six of the world's largest book clubs (The Literary Guild, Doubleday, etc.) have chosen Carolyn's book as their Featured Selection for June!

Elle magazine awarded it the Reader's Prize! More magazine, Dolly Parton, Fannie Flagg, and many others give the book rave reviews.

The book is the hilarious and heartbreaking account of Carolyn's giving up her glamorous job as a lawyer at the U.S. Senate so she could return home to the Smokies to fill in as receptionist for her father in his rural medical office while her mother recovered from a heart attack.

Carolyn's ineptitude as a medical professional and ambivalence toward a new career as an unpaid receptionist in East Knox County is the source of much comedy and pathos.

This book is guaranteed to make you laugh a lot. Carolyn will be happy to personalize and autograph a copy for you if you like.

She will be signing Heart in the Right Place at the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center on Hwy. 66 (1.25 miles from Exit 407 of I-40/81) from 11-2 on Monday, June 18, and at the Townsend Visitor Center on Hwy. 321 from 11-2 on Saturday, July 7.

Proceeds benefit the park!

It took 54 firemen and 970 acres, but the Buck Shank Fire is now officially out. All that remains are some dead trees which continue to smolder, but which are contained.

The photo above, taken on May 26, shows how the fire spread before it was finally contained.

A few trails remain closed: Little Bottoms Trail, Hatcher Mountain Trail, Cooper Road Trail (from the Cane Creek Trail junction to Beard Cane Trail), and Abrams Falls Trail below the falls down to Little Bottoms Trail.

Abrams Falls Trail from its trailhead in Cades Cove down to Abrams Falls is still open and safe for hikers.

Cades Cove contains more historic buildings than any other area in the park.

A stunning image of the old Methodist Church as it stands amid the glorious fall foliage of the Cove is featured on our newest t-shirt.

The Cherokee called the cove Tsiyahi, meaning "otter place."

These high-quality, pre-shrunk, 100% cotton t-shirts are comfy and you can get them in either natural or light blue.

Enjoy 27 waterfalls at home!

Delight in the stunning footage, light narration, and relaxing instrumental music while viewing ancient, beautiful mountains teeming with forests, plants, animals, and picturesque waterfalls.

Includes a 32 page booklet complete with maps and trail directions.