Translate

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Nature Notes: October 13 through October 20

This week's nature notes begin in the NC mountains on Sunday October 13 and end in central NC (Raleigh's Lake Johnson) on Sunday October 20.
naturenotesDSCN3235
The first group of shots were taken on a hike to the Elk River Falls.
naturenotesDSCN3324
Fall colors were pretty far along in the northern parts of the NC mountain range but barely started at the southern end.
naturenotesDSCN3332
Some of the mountain shots are similar to ones I used on other posts.
naturenotesDSCN3339
I took so many pictures partly because every time I got out of breath I stopped to take a shot.
naturenotesDSCN3343
I haven't been walking much lately so I got out of breath a lot.
naturenotesDSCN3351
This waterfall was very dramatic.
naturenotesDSCN3357
I love rocks so I tend to photograph them on hikes.
naturenotesDSCN3361
I'm surprised that I've never hiked here before but there are so many places to hike in the NC mountains we still find new spots to explore.
naturenotesDSCN3367
 I love the splash of color on trails this time of the year.
naturenotesDSCN3373
I amazes me how trees can take root and grow out of rocks.
naturenotesDSCN3404
I took the next shot on Monday, October 14 when we drove to Asheville along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the rain.
naturenotesDSCN3410
There wasn't much fall color at all when we got that far south on the mountain range.
naturenotesDSCN3452
The shot above and the next group of shots were taken at Crabtree Meadows which is further north on the NC mountain range.
naturenotesDSCN3459
It stopped raining on Monday in time to hike up to the Crabtree Falls.
naturenotesDSCN3462
It amazed me how a tree could grow in the middle of the stream and the water from the waterfall rushed around it.
naturenotesDSCN3476
It was muddy from all the rain and we had to watch our step not to slip and slide.
naturenotesDSCN3479
The next group of shots were taken on Tuesday when we went to Roan Mountain.
naturenotesDSCN3540
It was a pretty drive there from Spruce Pine, NC where we were staying.
naturenotesDSCN3548
It was nice to have a blue sky for a change.
naturenotesDSCN3577
Some of the evergreens had lost a lot of their leaves (needles).
naturenotesDSCN3595
Some of the evergreens were just dead trunks with no leaves.
naturenotesDSCN3655
I like the way the yellow flowers were growing with the colorful mountain behind them below.
naturenotesDSCN3676
The rest of the shots were taken back home in Raleigh, NC at Lake Johnson on Sunday, October 20.
naturenotesDSCN3832
We're still in the early part of fall in Raleigh.
naturenotesDSCN3846
I like to see how different parts of my home state get their fall colors at different times.
naturenotesDSCN3850
I spotted these cormorants on the lake.
naturenotesDSCN3863
Sunday was a perfect day for a walk and Bill suggested driving across town to Lake Johnson for a change.
naturenotesDSCN3866
I like the way the cormorants spread their wings and keep them open for a long time.
naturenotesDSCN3870
I had trouble shooting them because of the lighting.
naturenotesDSCN3872
It looks like summer in the next shot.
 naturenotesDSCN3873

15 comments:

Maude Lynn said...

Gorgeous collection of shots!

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for introducing me to all these colors and textures of North Carolina. What an amazing place. I love those cormorants, too.

Cezar and Léia said...

Gorgeous and blessed nature! Wonderful set of images dear Carver, thanks for sharing!
Léia

Leora said...

What a beautiful time of year. You saw a lot of nature. Love the waterfalls. And the cormorants, too.

EG CameraGirl said...

Lovely fall photos, Carver. I love the combination of water, rocks and colourful foliage. They make winning photos.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

What a gorgeous beautiful week! I guess I shouldn't say I'm glad you got out of breath, but I am glad you stopped to take lot of pictures, because every one of them is wonderful and I loved how the post documented the changes as you traveled. (We've been on a roadtrip for over a week now and I have barely walked at all...we are trying to hurry as fast as we can this time. Next time we go for a real walk I'll def. be taking a lot of pictures!

Karen said...

A fantastic series of shots Carver, The scenery is beautiful and the waterfalls are terrific.

Rambling Woods said...

Oh this is a wonderful photo essay Carver..the best of all and the beautiful area you visited in and live in..I do have a thing for waterfalls... thank you for linking into Nature Notes..Michelle

Laura said...

Thanks for taking us along hiking with you Carver. Beautiful photos!

NatureFootstep said...

love the waterfalls in the beautiful nature. :)

MyMaracas said...

Wow, so many wonderful shots. I especially like the rocks and waterfalls - they remind of my home in West Virginia.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

Beautiful places you've captured

Mary said...

What a wonderful landscape! Gorgeous autumn photos!

Ela said...

Such an amazing place. Fantastic photos :)

Ela said...

Such an amazing place. Fantastic photos :)