Hiking – just bees and things and flowers

Cat Gap Loop

Published on April 28, 2021April 28, 2021 by mlizabtLeave 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

Published on April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 by mlizabt1 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

Published on April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 by mlizabtLeave 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

Published on April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 by mlizabtLeave 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

Published on March 18, 2021 by mlizabtLeave 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.