A Photographer's Favorite

A large Bison stood motionless taking in the heat of the day at the Elk and Bison Prairie at Land Between the Lakes earlier this week. The hustle and bustle of small calves, nary a few months old, rustling around him didn't make for even a stir. As I snapped images with my long lens, I noticed him standing quietly in the fray. It was obvious he knew the daily routine of the Bison herd. Of all the images I captured on that day this one stood out. The sun gives his dark black and brown fur a warm, rich sheen. A tiny weed grows in front of this huge beast. The most delicate and the most beastly exist in harmony. What a contrast. To read more about the Elk and Bison Prairie, click here. Have a great weekend all. ENJOY! 

Elk Watch

At the Elk and Bison Prairie at Land Between the Lakes, if you plan a trip very early in the morning or late in the day, you can view the Elk as they munch on grasses in the meadow. They stay hidden in the tree line in Summer during the hotter climes of the day, so plan accordingly if you want to see them.

The Elk and Bison Prairie is almost dead center in Land Between the Lakes in Golden Pond, in the very remote southwest corner of Kentucky. It's a pleasant drive from Nashville on a major highway. The countryside you see in Kentucky along the drive is really beautiful with lots of gorgeous farmland. On this visit, I waited patiently for the Elk, and finally was rewarded as this guy ventured out of the woods. He was munching on the grass and eventually tugging at the leaves of a low hanging branch. Then he noticed his gal was missing and slowly made his way across the meadow in hot pursuit.

This gal surely is the apple of his eye. She came out of the woods and began to graze, slowly making her way across the meadow, and finally disappearing into a thicket. The bull wasn't far behind following her in hot pursuit.

Such beautiful, amazing creatures. The huge rack on the bull, covered with its new layer of velvet, was gorgeous. It's extremely hot here in Tennessee. We're in the Dog Days of Summer, although it feels as if we have been there all Summer. There's high heat and humidity daily with afternoon thunderstorms. I am waiting for Fall to bring cooler temps. ENJOY!

Linking to The Scoop 339

Ornamental Grasses, Cheekwood

There are areas of Cheekwood where you will find almost anything growing from Elephant Ears to Ornamental Grasses. I captured this image one afternoon while holding a Meetup Group outing.

The reds, pinks and purples that come through from the sun's rays definitely caught my eye. As Winter has taken hold here in middle Tennessee, I will dive into my archives for some images to share. But don't fret, I plan on getting out this Winter to capture new images when the weather allows. As a sidebar, we did have a few consecutive days of sunshine this week which was greatly needed. Now if we can just get Mother Nature to cooperate on the weekends here, that would be even better. Have a great weekend everyone. ENJOY!

North American Wild Turkey

The devil is in the details. Surely you have heard that saying before. It came to mind when I saw the detail in this image I captured of the North American Wild Turkey. The blues in his head and neck. The grays and whites of his feathers. The browns and blacks of his tail feathers. Two North American Wild Turkeys pecked at the grasses as they trotted through the prairie meadow at the Elk and Bison Prairie in Land Between the Lakes, in southwestern Kentucky last week, as I drove the route to view the Elk and Bison.

The Elk and Bison are the heroes of the meadow there. As I drove the route I decided that the wildflowers growing in the prairie meadow there, and the Turkeys trotting in the short grasses beside the meadow, perhaps they should be the heroes. The yellows and golds of the Goldenrod. The whites of the Queen Anne's Lace. The lavenders of the Thistle. The tans of the tall grasses. Could those things not be heroes too. ENJOY!
Linking to Saturday's Critters

Maximilian Sunflower, Bison Meadow

In the middle of a suburban neighborhood just south of Nashville, sits a two and a half acre plot of land known as The Bison Meadow. This meadow was set aside and preserved for its historical importance by a Tennessee Bicentennial Project back in 1994. The Bison Meadow is a terminal branch of the Old Natchez Trace. This 'old Indian path' was followed not only by Indians and pioneers, but also by buffalo, elk and other large animals who crossed through on their way to a salt lick near the Cumberland River.

The meadow has a variety of tall grasses, shrubs and a much wider variety of wildflowers that grow throughout the year. There is a path carved through the meadow. However, I only managed about a ten minute walk on it before I surrendered to my car. The heat index is unbearable. I did snap several images, one of which was of this Maximilian Sunflower. The Maximilian Sunflowers were plentiful throughout the entire meadow and were growing at heights of at least ten feet or higher. I cannot wait for the heat to break so I can spend more time outdoors. I hope your weather is better wherever you are. I have thought often of the Chattanooga terrorism victims who lost their lives this past week, as well as their families. Chattanooga is a little over a hundred miles south of Nashville. The terrorist worked in Franklin which is a town just south of Nashville and one I often frequent. God can only make sense of these terrorist attacks. I know I cannot. ENJOY!

Two Springs

From a fly fisherman in Tremont to a Heron fishing the Little River, from the mountain view atop Clingman's Dome to the view across the meadows of Cade's Cove, this park keeps giving back to me each Spring that I visit.



Just a few of the images from the past Springs I have paid a visit here. Here being the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Stay cool out there. ENJOY!

Wildflower Meadow, Early Fall

Come take a walk with me as I meander my way slowly through the wildflower meadow that sits just inside the main entrance to Bernheim. It's still early in Fall, but who knows what we'll find.

Would you look at those beautiful tall grasses, such gorgeous browns and yellows. Don't you just love Fall?

Do you see what I see? It's a flock of Cedar Waxwings. This is a Life List bird for me if you can believe it. Hard to believe, but I've never seen one before. And not only do I see one for the first time, but I also get a photograph.

Now I see why the Cedar Waxwings are hanging out in the wildflower meadow . . . Crab Apple berries. Red, ripe and ready for the feasting.

Would you look at that? It's not only the Cedar Waxwings that are attracted to the Crab Apple berries, but there's a flock of Blue Grosbeaks flitting about too. And this one looks to be a female. Isn't she beautiful?

It appears some of the wildflowers along the edge of the meadow are still hanging on as though they can't quite let go of Summer. They'll figure it out soon enough.

Well, do you see what I see now? A second flock of Blue Grosbeaks. Those Crap Apple berries must be delicious. Did I mention that's a second Life List bird for me today.

We're almost around the circumference of the meadow and look what I see . . . a gorgeous Yellow Sulphur Butterfly flitting about the wildflowers. I need to pause here to mention that this image in particular is my favorite from my walk. The background and colors are so beautiful and the subtle color of the Sulphur is just perfect.

Well, our walk has come to an end, but look what I saw when I turned around for one last glance . . . the tall grasses touched by Fall's cool nights have turned gorgeous browns and golds. And a few more wildflowers whose days are surely numbered are hanging on. Such a beautiful time of year to take a walk around the wildflower meadow. I loved every moment of it. Did you? Have a fabulous weekend. There's to be some rain this weekend, but surely I'll find some sun somewhere. ENJOY!

Daisies in the Meadow, Cades Cove

Driving along the motor route throughout Cade's Cove the meadows on both sides of the road were filled with Daisies. I could have taken photos all day long.

Goldenrod!

OK, I'm really into the goldenrod right now. Only because I picked the perfect week, several weeks ago now, to photograph the wildflower meadow at Bernheim. The goldenrod was in full bloom. One week later, when I returned last weekend, it was mostly gone. I'm having a love affair with the bird boxes at Bernheim too. Perhaps a series of four of these images as gift cards could be in order. ENJOY!

Wildflower Meadow in Autumn #2

I promised more wildflower meadow images. So here is another one to wet your whistle. This image taken at Bernheim is so beautiful with the white flowers, the yellow goldenrod, the tallgrasses, and of course, that gorgeous beautiful sky. Hope your week is off to a great start. ENJOY!