While I was finishing up some work early Tuesday evening, an alert caused my iPhone to go berserk with news that a tornado was within 10 miles of our place in Asheville, reportedly near the Blue Ridge Parkway and Craggy Gardens. Tornadoes are extremely rare in Buncombe County, which alarmed us, but fortunately the severe weather event passed without causing us any significant harm.
Despite the circumstances – and in my designated role as a Disaster Celebrity – I told Rock Sprite that I intended to go photograph any storm damage found. Kitty’s reply was pure Appalachia: “If you feel froggy, jump!” Despite identifying as a Badger, the timely toad trigger was all the encouragement I needed.
By the time I reached Craggy Gardens, thick fog had swallowed the area around Craggy Pinnacle and whatever storm disruption existed wasn’t easy to photograph. My thought then was to keep driving on the Parkway toward Mount Mitchell where experience told me the fog might lift.
Lo and behold, it did! When I finally stopped near Black Mountain Gap, an orange orb appeared over the Seven Sisters subrange. Recognizing the Badger good fortune that the clouds had parted, I pulled out my trusty Canon R6 Mark II and pointed it toward what I now gleefully recognized as the Buck Moon.
The 2026 edition of the midsummer moon rose warm and full above the ridgeline, its golden light soft against thin and drifting post-twilight clouds. Dark Appalachian evergreens stood in silhouette, framing the classic July moon named for the time when bucks begin growing their antlers.
What began as a storm chase ended in one of those quiet Parkway moments that ask only for attention and yet return a deep, simple peace – a feeling that remained with Badger long after this Buck Moon rose high above the Blue Ridge.
Many of the HoneyBadgerImages are on display at instagram.com/honeybadgerimages.
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I watched the same orange moon set over Fountain City yesterday morning. Breathtaking. It turned orange just before setting this morning.
Yes, it was beautiful!
The timing of the storm clouds parting and the Buck Moon arising was one of those times that the Badger extols: “Put yourself in a place where you can be successful and Grace may come your way.”