tty ROBERT I.. HI I. LIAMS
Judging only by ihe name. Grave¬
yard Fields must be one of the most
dismal spots in North Carolina: the
name dredges up visions of gray mist,
black waters in swamps, dry bones
bleaching in the sun. wind-swept
meadows of dry grass and stunted,
scrubby trees, rotting stumps, and
tombstones and sunken plots of grass
and soil.
But judging by actuality. Graveyard
Fields has to be one of the most de¬
lightful spots in all of North Carolina.
September is the most exquisite time
of the year for visiting the idyllic glen,
and there arc dozens of excellent rea¬
sons for making the trip.
Located between Asheville and the
Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. Graveyard Fields is amid some
of the finest scenery in the nation. It is
near Mount Pisgah. picturesque
30
Looking (Hass Falls. Looking Glass
Mountain, and Sliding Rock. There are
magnificent views from overlooks, a
wide variety of wild flowers, and wild
life galore, including ground hogs
alongside the road, deer in the
meadows, hawks, owls, and foxes.
It is a place for the entire family, for
picnics, hikes, camping trips, fishing,
backpacking, nature study, and relax¬
ation. Perhaps best of all. it is free.
But the greatest delight of the Fields
to many, especially the loyal hundreds
who assemble each Labor Day for the
unofficial opening of the blueberry
season, is the blueberry itself, that
tiny, succulent, magnificent berry that
is unsurpassed in cobblers, pies, ice
cream, and pancakes: it is exquisite
straight from the bush, as a topping for
other desserts, and as a superb object
of a marvelous hunt.
Groveyord Field»
о»
s*«n from the Blue Ridge Porkwoy overtook 11
о
beoutiful sigM; tbo fiver con be seen in
the depth» ol Ihe volley ond
о1ю о»
it wind» omong the bounder» in the upper port of the territory. The entire
hillside obove the "Field»" port of the »ign it woll-to-woll bluebemet. gooseberries, buckbemes, ond other
edibles. Photo below, depicting the lower foils of the volley is by Cloy Nolen for N.C. Trovel ond Tourism
D.. . oil other photos by Robert Willems.
Berry Picking
Adventure
They'll be heading for Ihe joyous
Pi aee with the forlorn name again on
l^ibor Hay.
Most Accommodating
Unlike the wild strawberry, the
blueberry doesn't require stooping,
grunting, and posture uncommon to
man or beast, and it doesn’t have to be
capped once it is captured. Unlike the
blackberry, which is picked in the heat
of blistering July suns, the blueberry
bears no relationship with ticks, chig-
gers. June bugs, or Japanese beetles,
and there are no brier, snakes, or yel¬
low jackets to contend with under
usual circumstances. Even Ruth
Moose who deplores the rigors of
picking berries could not find fault w ith
blueberries and their habitats.
Actually the wild blueberry is the
most accommodating delight imagina¬
ble. It grows at virtually all levels so
that everyone from small children to
pro basketball players can pick
without discomfort. And while the ber¬
ries can be found all over the Carolina
mountains. Graveyard Fields is an
ideal spot, all attributes considered.
At the Fields there is ample parking
at the Parkway overlook, which is
more than five thousand feet high. A
stone stairway takes you nearly
straight dowm to a clear, wide, easily
negotiated trail, and the trail in turn
leads to a rustic log footbridge across
the beautiful Yellowstone Prong river,
which is crystal clear and alternately
forms shallow rapids, suitable for chil¬
dren to wade in and deep pools, calcu¬
lated to drive trout fishermen into
frenzies and ecstasies.
The valley is a mile long, and at one
THE STATE. Mav 19*1
