Laying down

Laying down, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Via Flickr:
I have no idea what plant or grass this is, but there was about a 100ft x 100ft area up near Grassy where these lifeless rigid “sticks” stood rigid, but all leaning over. Sort of looked like a graveyard!

Trout Lily

Trout Lily, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Via Flickr:
One of the first wildflowers to be seen in spring, closes up each night to protect itself from cold night air. What’s really intriguing about this flower is that they form a colony from one seed, or corm. One seed can produce up to 10 plants. That keeps these flowers never with out a whole bunch of neighbors. Some colonies have been found to be over a hundred years old! Call me a nerd, but that is fascinating! You can also call it Fawn Lily, Dogtooth Violet, and Adder’s tongue. These were covering areas of the AT heading north towards Grassy Bald.

Golden Fields

Golden Fields, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

On a long road trip north, I had the great fortune of coming upon this beautiful field in southeastern Ohio, of all places. I was traveling through the rural areas off highway 33, just over the Ohio/W.VA border and the Ohio River. I don’t normally stop for extracurricular anything during this long trip, but this field was so stunning on this sunny day, I couldn’t help myself.

Red Forest

BRP_Flora_Red, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Via Flickr:
A tiny red forest grows up from moss ground cover along a trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Little Signs of Spring

Little Signs of Spring, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Everyday there’s more to see…just keep looking down.

Okra Flower

Garden (3), originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

The Flower of an Okra plant. What a beautiful color! I had no idea this occasionally slimy, yet delicious, vegetable had such a beautiful flower.

All Yellow

All Yellow, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Up close and personal…I am astounded by the detail and intricacies of this yellow beauty.

Ground Level

Ground Level, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Tuolumne Meadows absolutely lived up to my expectations. Big sweeping lush meadows meeting the mountain walls and landscape. Glorious peaks topped in snow.

White Rarity

White Rarity, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Amongst the “blue” bluets you’ll see some not-to-often seen white bluets growing from the cracks of the rockwork in the Elk Knob trail.

Pale Wake Robin

Pale Wake Robin, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

A rare sighting! A pale Wake Robin hiding amongst the forest floor.

Sunlit

Sunlit, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

A Wake Robin Trillium is backlit by the morning sun found along the Elk Knob Summit trail.

Orchis Spectabilis

Orchis Spectabilis, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

A perfect name for this beautiful flower – latin root is “spectacular”

Jack In The Pulpit

Jack In The Pulpit, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Under cover of good shade and in moist ground, the pulpit protects Jack. The flowers are actually clustered around the jack, which develop into red berries in late summer.

Thorns and Buds

I found this little beaut along the Tanawha Trail last week, growing strong and tall and budding.  The golden grass in the field behind it made for a great backdrop.

Thorns and Buds, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

Seasons Past

Tree Stump BW, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

This early in spring in the Appalachians it’s not always easy to find the color, but often easier to find remnants of seasons past.

“Little” Signs of Spring

Finally a beautiful weekend to get out! It’s been a long winter folks. Yes, even here in the south.  I went out Friday in search of signs of spring. I didn’t find as much as I was hoping, but they were there, you just had to look hard high and low. These very little yellow violets were only and inch or two off the ground. It would have been very easy to walk right by them.

Winter Shadows

WInter Shadows, originally uploaded by Appalachian Encounters.

A southern sun, which we were all glad to see, cast great shadows in the snowy pasture behind house.

Golden Gate Thru The Lupine

Golden Gate Thru The Lupine, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

The last of the sightseeing while in San Fran was a walk on the Golden Gate. The views from here are fantastic and the early light on the bridge is a must see.

Ferns Far Below

DSC_8590, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Amazing the height of the canopy!

New Growth

DSC_8577, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Hiking the trails around the Muir Woods National Monument was such a fantastic experience. Around every turn is some new display of nature’s wonders. While on this particular trail (I believe this was at the junction of the T.C.C Trail) the views changed often, the tree varieties, the slope grade, etc. What a great hike!