THE CARNIVAL 53 
choicest azaleas long before these of the New World 
were known. 
To find these azaleas one must ascend the moun- 
tains, for they do not grow as low down even as 
Traumfest. When they are in bloom, we visit the 
Warriors for certain hollows, we go up Tryon Moun- 
tain because of certain slopes, we frequent the wild 
heights of Hogback and Rocky Spur. We warm our 
senses for a month in the fire of the flowers, and then 
if we like we can go higher up — and enjoy it all 
over again. In the higher mountains the azaleas 
are more abundant than here, though they are no 
more beautiful, for that would be impossible. When 
those noble heights beyond the Blue Ridge wreathe 
themselves in flowers, one finds whole mountain- 
sides aglow, for where the trees have been cut off, 
fiery azaleas oftentimes cover the wounded earth. 
The open spaces are resplendent beyond words, one 
sees acres of flower-flames ablaze on the slopes. These 
close-crowding bushes in the cleared places are low, 
laying a stunning carpet of color over the mountain- 
side, but in the woods they grow tall, and you see them 
on all sides glowing in the shadows and burning in the 
sunlight. The outbreak of color is almost overwhelm- 
ing, and one is grateful for those intervening spaces 
where are no flowers. From a world of exciting colors 
one passes into the cool and peaceful green of the 
forest, presently to turn a curve in the road and find 
the slopes again on all sides in furious bloom. 
Thus for a season the earth is transfigured, the 
mountains on all sides are burning with flames that 
