Yearly Archives: 2015

As I stood on the shore taking photos of this mountain lake the surface was suddenly ruffled by a big but brief breeze. For just a minute, there were wild patterns of clouds reflected in the water, and then it grew still again. I took a few photos of the […]

The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of views. Construction began 80 years ago, and was finally finished in 1987. Though it is best known for a variety of spectacular vistas, I also enjoy the subtle beauty of its forests through the seasons. This is the current summer foliage on […]

This spring there was a large fire of over 700 acres on the mountain above where I live in North Carolina. Because of this, there is less food where they usually live and the bears have been moving down into my neighborhood. On an afternoon walk in the woods I […]

I photographed this large bullfrog just as it broke the surface in front of me at the edge of a small pond. They are the largest North American frogs, growing up to 8” long, and this frog was close to that maximum size, Water streamed down its face just for […]

On a rainy evening these raindrops fell on the pink petals of a phlox flower in my garden. They clung to the blossoms like tiny jewels. In the background is the out of focus sphere of a falling drop. I didn’t mind getting a bit wet to see the magical […]

I shot the green leaves of summer reflected in this small forest creek flowing through the mountains of western North Carolina. Because of the variations in the water’s flow, the colors in the small pool in the foreground are darker and more clearly reflected than the faster flowing water beyond. […]

This small snail, with a shell only about 1/2”, was quite personable, balancing on a blowing leaf and checking me out with its extended eyes. As snails grow, they keep adding shell chambers, with each one larger than the last. When they are finally done growing, they close off the […]

On a bright summer afternoon, this tiger swallowtail butterfly is sipping from a zinnia flower. I guess it’s no secret how this butterfly got its name, with its distinctive black and yellow stripes. Fortunately it is nowhere near as fierce as a tiger, though it did flutter toward me a […]

Asheville is surrounded by natural beauty. One nice trip is a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, which offers many turnouts and outstanding views. One of the best is the view from the grounds of the Pisgah Inn. The Forest Service bought the land in 1914 and the present inn […]