Morning at the Beach

Video for the grandchildren.

Under Watchful Eyes

Cormorant and Blue Heron

Birds on a Wire

Look at me when I'm talking to you!

You talkin' to me?

Turtle on a Log

Crane Fly

At first I thought this was a large mosquito, but it turns out that it is a crane fly. More specifically it is a female Tipula Sayi. How do I know that? I sent the photo to bugguide.net and got the following response. Click on Chen Young's name and check out his qualifications. Just goes to show you that somewhere there is an expert on just about anything.

Sasanqua Camellia

First bloom of the season on the Sasanqua Camellia. The large number of buds promise many more blooms will follow. This is a nice birthday present.

Grace in Motion

"Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird?"
Guy Murchie, Jr, 'Song of the Sky', 1954.

After the Rain

Beware of Slow Pedestrians

Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress is called the "wood eternal" because of the heartwood's resistance to decay. They are found in wetlands and swamps all over the Southeastern United States. The cypress knees growing up from the roots are a distinctive characteristic of the Bald Cypress.

near the Intracoastal Waterway - Socastee, SC

Swamp

near the Intracoastal Waterway - Socastee, SC

"A town is saved, not more by the righteous men in it
than by the woods and swamps that surround it"
Henry David Thoreau

Egret

Contrails in the Morning Sky

Contrails are clouds of ice particles formed around the small particles which are in aircraft exhaust. Contrails only form at very high altitudes ( above 26,000 ft) where the air is extremely cold (less than -40°C).

Great Blue Heron

This is the reason I like to take my camera on my morning walk.

Down by the Water

A Special Place

Lake Junaluska allows one to relax and reflect on the wonders of God's creation.

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed,
and to have my senses put in order."
John Burroughs

Additional Junaluska photos in the photo albums.

Colorful Canoes

Lake Junaluska, NC

"Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing."

Henry David Thoreau

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Train ride through the Nantahala Gorge.





























Some video clips for my grandsons, William and Jack.

Rose Walk at Lake Junaluska

Click on photo to enlarge and smell the roses

Ducks and Swans

Lake Junaluska, NC

"Being born in a duck yard does not matter,

if only you are hatched from a swan's egg. "

Hans Christian Anderson

Big Green Dog - aka "Bushy"

Lake Junaluska, NC

Black Swans

Lake Junaluska, NC

Flower Power

Lake Junaluska, NC

A yellow flower brightens an otherwise rainy, dreary day.

Full Moon

A full moon over Lake Junaluska's lighted cross.

Boathouse

Historic boathouse is the last of the Lake Junaluska boathouses (circa 1946).

Autumn Color at Lake Junaluska

This is just a preview before the fall color peaks in a week or two.

Goldenrod in Bloom

Goldenrods are mistakely blamed for pollen allergies. Goldenrod pollen is not the cause of fall allergies, though. Ragweed, whichs blooms at the same time as Goldenrod, is the culprit.

Goldenrod is unique among the flowers. It gives our bees their last chance at a good winter feed. It is not only rich in nectar, but has a very high quality, protein-rich pollen.

A Blue Bridge

The Socastee swing bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway was built in 1935 and refurbished in 2003.

Having waited in a car many times for this bridge to open and close, I have wanted to see the bridge in operation from a different perspective. Yesterday, I finally got to see it up close and made this video.

Wildflower

Mallards in the Morning

"I realized that If I had to choose,
I would rather have birds than airplanes. "

Charles Lindbergh