A Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) laced with rainwater in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. These large plants flower from mid-June to mid-July in the shady woodlands of the Appalachian mountains. Sometimes they are found in great masses on the mountain sides, referred to as Rhododendron "hells". They are native to eastern North America and reside from Alabama north to Nova Scotia.
Autumn leaves highlight the Walnut Grove-Yeary Cabin in Abingdon, Virginia. This cabin is an authentic re-creation of an early Appalachian homestead. It features what was common to pioneer life in the late 1700s until the early 1900s. This village homestead is surrounded by split rail fencing of American Chestnut and includes two log cabings, an outdoor bread oven, a blacksmith shop, an outhouse, a portable grist mill, and horse-drawn farm equipment. Emmitt Yeary is the creator and owner of this "homestead".
The Barter Theatre, located in the Blue Ridge highlands of Abingdon, Virginia, was founded by Robert Porterfield in 1933 and designated the State Theater of Virginia in 1946. Opening its doors in the midst of the Great Depression, Barter earned its name by allowing patrons to pay the admission price with produce, dairy products, or livestock. The shows were sometimes forced to compete with the noise that accompanied bartered livestock. On occasion, the theater also paid playwrights, such as Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder, Virginia hams for their works rather than standard royalties. George Bernard Shaw, a vegetarian, demanded to be paid in spinach. The theater expanded in 1961, opening a second stage across the street, and has earned a national reputation through touring companies and its association with many prominent and influential actors, including Gregory Peck, Ernest Borgnine, and Kevin Spacey. The Barter Theatre won a Tony Award in 1948 for Best Regional Theater.
