Exploring Nature One Step At A Time

Posts tagged “Bird Foot Violets”

Little Violets In The Winter Forest

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I am dedicating this blog posting to my Mom and Dad.
My Mom loved Violets above all other flowers, my Dad gave her pressed Violets in a love note a few days before he passed away.  She kept his note nearby until she passed away twenty years later.

His love note began “The flowers that bloom in the spring tra la”  The early spring weather has brought forth lovely clusters of Bird Foot Violets.  Each delicate bloom is a reminder of my parents.

Spring warmth has awoken tender green plants along the edges of the trails.  Saucer Magnolias are now covered in fuzzy flower pods and Dogwood Trees have tiny pink ball shaped buds.  A few Tree branches in the park have already burst out in a spiny orange blossom covering.  The Forest has awakened early with a subtle ballet of new growth and color.

Love to ALL!
Lee

February 9, 2012 | Categories: Hot Springs National Park | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Lovely Frost Flowers, Rocks, Deer and Wildflowers of Winter

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When I head out for my morning hike I am glad to have a layer of Northface fleece under my Patagonia jacket.  An icy winter chill is blowing through the park  lowering the temperature into the teens.  The sun is radiant in a spectacular “Hot Springs Blue” sky, it is a perfect day for a long winter hike.  As I reach North Mountain the first thing I notice is a patch of frost covered vines.  Rising up from the vines is a lovely surprise beautiful tiny blooms, Purple Deadnettle.

Heading up the the Floral Trail I see Frost Flowers blooming on the Trail edges.  They are caused by moisture extruding from cracks in the base of a dead plant stem. The ribbons of ice are pushed out the dead stems forming the beautiful shapes as found in my photographs.  I hope to capture many more this coming winter. The straws (deceased plants) suck up the moisture and create spectacular ribbons of ice. To learn more please read my old blog entry Ice Ribbons and Frost Flowers.

All along the Lower and Upper Dogwood Trail colorful rocks sparkle in the Morning sun.  Painted by Nature in rose, orange, grey, pink, white, yellow and black each rock is a work of art. Coated in morning frost the quartz and newly forming crystals are the jewels of the winter Forest.

When I reach the Goat Rock Trail the sun warms my face and I close my eyes for a brief morning meditation. As I turn to head up the trail the sound of a soft crunching in the leaves catches my attention.  I look up to see one, two, three, four and then a fifth Whitetail Deer.  Each moving gracefully up the hill above me and turning to see what I am doing on the trail below.  Usually I see groupings of three Does moving through the park, this was the first herd of five.

Further up the trail splashes of purple appear among the leaves and twigs covering the Forest floor.  Velvety Bird-Foot Violets have emerged from their sleep in subtle shares of purple and violet.  Gracefully bowing among the Violets are sheer blossoms of False Garlic.  Spring is unfurling in the icy cold of winters breath.

My wonderful hike concludes as it began with a Robin observing my presence from the Fountain Trail.

Have a wonderful time on the Trail…
Love to ALL!
Lee

January 19, 2012 | Categories: Hot Springs National Park | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Beautiful Wildlife in the Spring Forest

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I had a beautiful hike in the Spring Forest yesterday morning and a second later that afternoon with my husband Rick.  I hope you will forgive the brief text today and enjoy the photographs that chronicle my morning hike.  As it is Wednesday I am trying to be light on the words and invoke a limited “Wordless Wednesday” for my blog.

The Spring Forest is both beautiful and for this photographer filled with obstacles.   Beauty is found in the birth of new Leaves, Birds building nests and the sprouting of colorful Wildflowers.  The slowly unfurling Leaves and newly sprouting vines create both a barrier that allows me to be somewhat hidden, but also hides that which I wish to see.  Along the Hot Springs Mountain Trail I hear below me the delicate crunching of leaves and I quickly duck behind a large Tree.  In the distance passing between the jumble of Leaves, Vines, Bushes and Trees I can see the shapes of Whitetail Deer moving slowly along what once was the road for carriages, although overgrown the outline of its flattened surface is still visible.  They are a perfect Deer trail as remnants of the old roads are hidden throughout the park.

My line of sight is obscured by the new spring growth, I decided to head quietly along the path and connect with the Honeysuckle Trail which is lower on the north side of the Mountain.  When I arrived at the Wedding Chapel, aka NPS rest hut I go inside hoping it will camouflage my presence. Barely five minutes have past when I hear the graceful crunching of the Deer as they moved toward me across the dead autumn Leaves.  Unfortunately they too  have moved farther down the Mountain before heading my direction and are now below me on the Floral Trail.  I slowly slip down the stairs of the rest hut and over to the Floral Trail.  Moving stopping, moving stopping trying to keep rhythm with the Deer I tip toe along the trail.  From behind a Tree I try to focus my lens between the spring growth standing between myself and the lovely Deer.  I am somewhat successful.

Love to ALL!
Lee

PS: I am thankful and blessed to have my new camera and lens, they have revealed the fantastic colors and patterns of the tiniest Moths.  I hope to see many more of these winged beauties this spring and summer… and share them with you :)

April 6, 2011 | Categories: Hot Springs National Park | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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