many more trees

post #474, during the 8th year of Sideway Views posts, and THE SUN IS OUT THIS AFTERNOON.

        I realized since last week that I can't post just one tree every week. I love trees, and I have many, many tree photos to share. So my way of branching out.... will be to show a random selection of these photos every few weeks. Please join me in celebrating our hard working trees. Every one is essential.

redwoods in California

rain on the windshield near my mailbox

view from the side, after the rain

squirrel in motion

 

nearest neighbor

beech trees in the forest

drinks for trees and wildlife

Grayson Lake, eastern Kentucky

view from below in the forest

Yahoo!!

stopping,feeling surrounded by care and magic

working hard to clean the air

                      I'm counting on trees to be there for me and you and for the planet.  

April! Spring! Blossoms! part 1 of 2 or 3!

post #427

        Busy day, complete with severe thunderstorm advisories, and a possible tornado! All is now ending peacefully, though there are still wind episodes.  I do love April, despite the wild weather, and I am so glad I was back where the waterfalls are twice this weekend. So much changes so quickly during this time of year..
        Here are some of the blossoms. Please know that the redbuds along the road and at the house are wondrous this year. These are the scrub trees whose flowers grow directly out of the branches. They are one of the treats that were new to me when we first came to live in this part of the country years ago. There are some early dogwoods at the same time, but, as usual, the redbuds are the most vivid signal that spring is here.

dogwood blossoms

The violets in grassy areas are so abundant this year, perhaps due to all our rain?

Then there is the ancient apple tree near the edge of the woods that never disappoints.

REDBUD TREES

 

creek detail, en route to the first waterfall

     I sat on the path above the second waterfall so I could look around. Really look.
 

looking to the left

looking to the right

facing the crown of the tree in bloom, with the second waterfall, below and out of view

tree top

Note: the Appalachian forests contain the "highest total amount of endemic flora and fauna species in North America." To me, it is like being surrounded by treasures.

bare limbs by design....

beech tree with moss slippers

Next week, I have wildflowers to share --  so amazing, always, to be surrounded by the beauty of this season. I wonder, though, what are we humans doing to the world which we too easily take for granted.

Beech trees -- autumn's parting glory in eastern Kentucky

post # 310 
          This fall Appalachia has not had as much vibrant color as usual. We're inclined to attribute that to the dry weather we have had for weeks and weeks. HOWEVER, Friday, totally by chance, I had made plans with my photo friend Debbie and her husband to introduce him to our waterfalls, and we were treated to great light and lovely color! The beech trees were making up for everything else. Debbie and I had our cameras, of course, and it was all so unexpected and amazing. Every photo on this post today was made during one mostly cloudy mid morning walk and talk and ooh and awe.  Enjoy!

These first three images were right at the beginning of our walk. What a welcome to the woods!

   Next: two views along the creek of the deer skull that I have shared in an earlier post this year. I think I adjusted the settings on my camera in between these two shots, so I include them both.

       Despite some light rain the day before, there was very little water in the creek and none coming over any of the falls. However, the dampness of the leaves provided a rich and reassuring aroma.

I am standing at the top of what we call simply the second waterfall, though it has several levels.

       Next is the third waterfall, though again without water at the moment, except at the base. The woods here have plants all year round that are native and undisturbed. We call this area the big waterfall.

       I wasn't sure this photo would work, because of the sun breaking through, but for some reason it worked just fine. A major happiness.

My daughter and granddaughter, age 5, had joined us by now, and they decided to explore the facing hillside. (The big waterfall is to my right, and I have shown other photos of it over the five years of doing this blog.)  I love catching that bit of red.

    I didn't take many photos, but I hope you enjoy seeing here most of the ones I did. I loved being there with Debbie and Bob, and doing the extra seeing that one does with a camera.