Seasons of Change

A Sugar Maple leaf in the midst of its seasonal change from green to yellow, orange and red. How beautiful the transition from one season to another.

"Live in each season as it  passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines."
     Henry David Thoreau(1817-1862): American Author, Poet, Naturalist, Philosopher

Contemplation!

Looking across the smokies from Newfound Gap. One of those places you just want to sit and take it all in for a while. 

It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.

Rachael Carson (1907-1964): American Nature Writer, Marine Biologist

There's Gold in Them There Hills!

Gold in the Smokies.

While many may search for gold the in the mineral form, I go in search of another kind of gold in them there hills! 

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

          Henry David Thoreau (1817- 1862):  American Author, Poet, Naturalist, Philosopher

A Maple Tree

Another beautiful Maple Tree showing its beauty for all to see. Have you noticed a tree today? The colors are changing fast and in a short time they will all be gone again for another year.


Earth's crammed with Heaven, and every common bush afire with God.
E.B. Browning (1806-1861): English Poet

Sugar Maple

             Trees
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) American Journalist, Poet

A sugar maple has to be one of the most beautiful trees in the fall. It often turns multiple colors with parts of the tree showing various shades of green, gold, orange and red all at the same time. This shot was taken at the farmstead in the back of the Cades Cove Loop Road, one of my favorite places in the Smoky Mountain National Park.