ahhh ... spring '15

Spring on the mountain.  The weather has been just awesome.  Quite dry for late April and early May.   Only a few humid days and generally cooler to seasonable.   In the past month (4/24-5/24), the high temperature was 82º and the low 41º with only 2.44" of rain.  Last Thursday, a return to fireplace weather.  Only 53º as a daytime high and 43º over night.  I had the patio fireplace going all day, and a fire inside at night.   The temperature has been so generally moderate that I haven't used my central heat or A/C for at least a month, and have slept with the windows open every night.   This last several days in Sewanee has been so beautiful.  The air smells sweet as it blows cool across my bed, all night and in the morning.  Nothing but the sound of wind and birds.  I can't imagine a better sleeping experience.  The wildflowers of April didn't disappoint.

April storm

Roya under Morgan's Steep

"Tunnel of mountain laurel" - Otey View, Perimeter trail

Big leaf magnolia blossom

Fall '14 color and toward winter

It's been a whirlwind of fall guitar concerts, travel, and now winter vacation.  Finally, I am on vacation and will update here with some photos....

It was a beautiful fall ... an unexpected early cold snap on Halloween with snow on the mountain, a great fall party, and goodbye to the leaves as we come upon the winter solstice within a fortnight from now.

Here's a chronological set of photos of the fall color season -  earth, sky, and home ....

Oct. 26, Moonset

Oct. 26 - leaves beginning to fall

Oct. 26 sunset

Oct. 28 - near peak color

October freeze - the plants come in

Snow on Nov. 1 morning

Nov. 11 - the last of the leaves

Thumping Dick hike

Today, we saw a new site on the Sewanee Domain for the first time.  I was joined on the hike into Thumping Dick Hollow  by Roya and Nancy.

The hike was very steep along Thumping Dick Creek as we descended to the two caves.   Near the second cave we found numerous interesting flower species.   Jack-in-the-Pulpit was my favorite.

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit), is an herbaceous plant that lures insects into it's center for pollination.   Unlike the 'pitcher plant' ... it is not carnivorous, as some believe, although, it frequently kills small flies that get lured in because the plant contains toxic oxalic acid.

Awesome spring weather, one of the best times to be in Sewanee.

Jack-in-the-pulpit

the mouth of a jack-in-the-pulpit

Roya at Solomon's Temple Cave - Thumping Dick Hollow

Snow to wildflowers in a week...

This photo of a snow squall was from 3/25/14 ... but just one week later, 70º and wildflowers blooming in Shakerag Hollow, Sewanee, TN - and many more to come.  

Ahh...the South Cumberland in spring.

Snow squall - March goes out like a lion

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)

Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)  

Trout lily (Erythronium americanum)

Exotic trees in FL

I love trees, especially big old trees.   Here are some beauties.  

Kapok Tree (Ceiba Pentandra) native to South and Central America - at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art.   And below... a Banyan Tree (Ficus Bengalensis) national tree of India - near the bay, St. Petersburg, FL.  

Roya by the trees...

Plants are huge again

The plants get a drink in the recently hot weather.   

This winter, my sunroom is going to be a jungle.  Some of these guys weigh 150+ lbs.   Hope for a late frost.

My lowland forest flowers

It seems there are more flowers this time of year in my lowland forest here in Murfreesboro.

My chair in my woods ...

Last magnolia blossoms of summer

Those that visit my homes have been greeted with the scent of magnolia blossoms for the past 2+ months.   I love the smell of these.  Better than honeysuckle and gardenia.

As the dog days of summer approach, these are getting harder to find, so these magnolia blossoms may be some of the last.

The seasons are flying by.  So is life.

To everything ... turn, turn, turn.  There is a season... turn, turn, turn.

Last day of spring

Mountain wildflower still life.

I have magnolia blossoms in bowls around the house.
Very sweet.

Irises

Irises at Cedarcrest 


 

Spring scenes on the mountain

Hiking along Lost Cove and in the Franklin Marion Forest, wild azaleas, waterfalls, and a mountain lake at sunset.   A crisp spring day for a walk on the good Earth.

Wildflower hike

Celebrated Monday with a hike of the Shakerag with Don and John.
Red and purple trillium were around.  Not quite as prolific as the Collins Gulf, but nice.
Beautiful day.  The professors at Greens View...

Spring is in full swing, trees are about 50% filled in here in sunny Champion Cove.

Sleeping with the windows open downstairs and feeling the cool mountain breezes, hearing the rushing of the creek below, makes morning a pretty wonderful experience.  Do not want to leave the bed too soon.

Wildflower season in the Cumberland 2013

I've not seen Dutchman's Breeches as prolific on the Shakerag Trail as I did on Monday.   Great day for a hike.   Trilliums are just about to pop and yellow Trout Lilies were abound.

With a healing foot, I'm glad I can hike, albeit cautiously, in the Cumberland during this wildflower season.   It's been a lifestyle change from being a competitive athlete... instead of grabbing my spikes when I get up, I now grab my guitar.  Looking forward to playing my Handel Suite at the Trails and Trillium reception, and meeting David Haskell.

Trout Lily

Dutchman's Breeches

Desert Flowers - Red Rock Canyon, NV

A surprising variety of desert flowers blooming in Red Rock Canyon, NV.

Iska and I documented the plethora of colors on our desert walk.