Kickoff to Cold Weather

Because its finally getting cold here, and because I haven't had much time to shoot lately, I rooted out a frosty shot from November two years ago. This is the same gorgeous icy morning in the Great Smokies that I posted about back in August. It remains what is probably the most beautiful morning I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing.


These deer are all alertly watching my father, the PA Wildlife Photographer, as he made his way through the field towards some larger bucks. I didn't have the lens to pull the bucks in, so I went for the arrangement of distracted does. I imagine I'll probably be posting more photos from this particular morning as we descend into winter here in Pennsylvania.

I haven't been able to visit you all as much as I would like to this last week or so. I'll be coming around soon, though :)

Cades Cove

An panoramic shot from the Smoky Mountains, taken on the same trip as the picture below. You can get a better sense of it if you click on it.

Frosty Mountains

This cold November morning, the Smoky Mountains had frosted over. My father and I were two of the few people out and about at this time and temperature. He was looking for bucks, and I was looking at plants. Pretty typical for the two of us :)

I have been posting some of my archived photos lately. Hope you enjoy them!

April 25: Hepatica

Hepatica comes in sharp-lobed and round-lobed varieties. The lobes refer to the leaves. One species has leaves with round lobes, while the other's leaves have much sharper points. Round-lobed hepatica has a purplish tint to its flowers and leaves. The name hepatica refers to the liver. Because the leaves of the plant resemble the shape of the human liver, it was believed that the plant could cure diseases of that organ.

April 22: Goat's Rue

More of a summer flower, Goat's Rue tends to grow in disturbed "waste" spaces.

April 21: Canadian Mayflower

These small flowers grow high in the Smokies, but normally they only grow much further north. I guess that's why "Canadian" is in the name :)

April 14: Trailing Arbutus

As I will be out of town again for a few days, I am posting ahead. I'll catch up again on the 18th!


The plants are small and low-lying but its well worth the effort of stooping over to catch the scent of the flowers! This is one of the wildflowers I could find in the woods of my grandparent's farm. I picked some blooms once, and not knowing what they were, took them back to Grandma. She knew their name and told me to smell them; she was quite wise about both wild and domesticated plants. I believe she said trailing arbutus was a favorite of Grandma Mamie. I always think of family when I see these flowers :)

April 13: Painted Trillium

This is my favorite trillium. I know I have alot of favorites :) This trillium was growing in a tree stump and its the only one I ever saw. I had been hunting it and was extremely pleased to finally find it.

April 12: Showy Orchis

One of my favorites, it is a type of orchid. This was taken along a short roadside trail in the Smokies, near the parking area for the Chimneys trail.

April 11: Fraser's Sedge

Another picture from that magical springtime in the Smokies. It might not technically qualify as a wild "flower" but its still interesting. I think this plant is somewhat unusual in that it doesn't have any close relatives except for a similar plant in China. It likes to grow on steep shaded streambanks in the mountains. It gave the forest a kind of "jungle" feel with its long dark green draping leaves.

April 5: Fringed Phacelia

Fringed Phacelia, from up close and far away. Jake's Creek Trail in the Greenbriar area of the Great Smokies is famous for its wildflowers, and in particular for the display put on by fringed phacelia. The little flower literally covers acres of the forest floor along the lower part of the trail for a short time in April. Beautiful!


Because of Easter Weekend, I will be away from home and internet access until Monday. So, I will post my blogs for the upcoming days all at once, and let you bask in buckets of violets. I hope everyone has a Happy Easter, and safe travels for anyone traveling!

April 2: Bowman's Root

I found these growing along an overlook on the North Carolina side of the Smokies.