Sam’s Knob

Image November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 mlizabtappalachia, flowers, fujifilm, Pisgah national forest, westernnc, wildflowersLeave a comment

Went out to my favorite spot over the weekend. Dodder has taken over the high spot above the meadow below Sam’s Knob.

Flowers in the meadow.

Lots of sweet bee balm in the meadow.

Meadow grasses.

Meadow ❤️

Black Balsam in the distance.

Views from the short trail up to Sam’s Knob.

Views from the top of Sam’s Knob.

Trail Critters.

July Parkway Wandering

Image November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 mlizabt35mm, appalachia, flowers, fujixt30, macrophotography, westernnc, wildflowersLeave a comment

Rainy June Parkway

Image November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 mlizabtappalachia, flowers, fujifilm, macrophotography, westernnc, wildflowersLeave a comment

Congaree National Park

November 21, 2022 mlizabtcongaree national park, cypress trees, macrophotography, national park, old growth forest, wildflowers2 Comments

There is a national park in the middle of nowhere in the middle of South Carolina. Who knew. It’s a pretty cool place with a really neat history. The cypress trees were beautiful. Here are some pics from an afternoon moseying around.

Cat Gap Loop

November 21, 2022 mlizabtappalachia, cat gap loop, green, Pisgah national forest, wildflowersLeave a comment

Some pictures from a walk on Cat Cap Loop trail in Pisgah National Forest. The lady slippers were not quite ready to bloom, but hopefully I’ll see some soon.

Early morning walk in the dew

Image November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 mlizabtcountryside, morning dew, morning light, mushrooms, rural america, sheep, spiderweb, westernnc1 Comment

Here are some photos from a really nice morning a few weeks ago. I woke up early and saw that my corner of the world was drenched in sunlight and early morning dew. On my way to a trail I love to hike I had to pull over multiple times because Western North Carolina just does something to you at 8AM. I found spider webs scattered along fence posts, sweet grazing sheep, and I had my first trillium sighting of the year.

Appalachian Spring Wildflowers: Part 2

Image November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 mlizabtfiddlehead, macrophotography, Pisgah national forest, spring flowers, wildflowersLeave a comment

Mostly fiddlehead ferns (they’re so sweet and whimsical!), bellwort, chickweed, solomon’s seal, and dwarf crested iris.

Appalachian Spring Wildflowers: Part 1

Image November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 mlizabtdutchman's breeches, flowers, fujifilm, jack-in-the-pulpit, macrophotography, spring flowers, swallowtail butterfly, trillium, wildflowersLeave a comment

Some photos from a few different walks in the woods in April. Jack-in-the-pulpit, more spring beauty, trillium, fleabane, more ragwort, dutchman’s breeches, tons of violets, and a beautiful swallowtail I encountered on the trail one evening.

Bloodroot on the Appalachian Trail

Image November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 mlizabtappalachia, appalachian trail, bloodroot, spring, walk in the woods, wildflowersLeave a comment

Spending time in the woods yesterday reminded me of yet another Mary Oliver poem: ‘How I go to the woods’.

Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone, with not a single
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.

I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours.

Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.

If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much.

… bloodroot!

Nine Million Rainy Days

Image November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 mlizabt5 Comments

Today I took an afternoon walk during what seems like the mine millionth day of gloomy, wintry rain and snow. Here are some pictures of things that were easy to pay attention to.