Butterfly or Flutterby?

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)

If you are like me, you probably never give much thought to butterflies as you go about your daily chores. I haven't either until I bought a book and started trying to capture a picture of the little creatures. I thought there were only 5 or 6 different kinds but there are literally hundreds of different butterfly species and they are some of the most beautiful of God's creatures. I never dreamed of so many colors and patterns. And just think, all this beauty came from a little ole worm or grub looking critter. The fall migration is on and I am going to try to capture as many different species as I can in the coming weeks.  I will share them as I can. Notice the orange spots on the

underside of the hind wings but are not visible on the top side.

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience"
             Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): Philosopher, Poet, Author, Essayist

Late Summer Beauty

American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea)

"God has sown his name on the heavens in glittering stars; but on earth he planteth his name by tender flowers."
 Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825): German Novelist


Often overlooked because of where it grows, this lotus abides in ponds and lakes. The flower is large, about the size of a dinner plate. Beauty is everywhere if we just train our eyes to see. After maturing, the yellow cone shaped part of the flower(first picture) turns into the black head that holds the seeds on the stalk in the second picture.

Setting Evening Sun

Snapped this shot near Red Bay, AL just before sun set. I was using a point and shoot with no lense or filter, just natural light and composition. Is God not the most awesome artist you have ever seen? One day several years ago, I was in a favorite spot and trying to do some writing but my mind would not focus and I was having trouble generating anything worthwhile to put to paper. Frustrated, I looked down at my paper and noticed it had a golden glow as the setting sun cast it evening rays on me. In a matter of minutes I had wrote the  poem below. Thank you Father, you always show us a way when we seem to have trouble finding our own.

Writers Block
As I take pen in hand
The words won't seem to flow
But as I stare at this paper
It has a warm and gentle glow

For what is the reason
There can only be but one
There's nothing quite as splendid
As the setting evening sun

I have sat all day long
And nothing has gone well
I scratched and I scribbled
And there is nothing I can tell

And as I sit here and struggle
To find the words to write
I am constantly reminded
By this precious golden light

My mind may draw a blank
And I'm the weary one
But there's nothing quite a splendid
As the setting evening sun.

               Randy J. Schultz:  November 22, 2003

On Heaven's Breath

Tawny Emperor (Astercampa clyton)

A member of the Hackberry Butterfly group decided to lite upon my truck bed so I was obliged to grab a quick shot of this beautiful member of God's creation. Thanks for stopping by and sharing a moment with me long enough to admire your beautiful coloration. Butterflies go through an extradinary migration every year and they are at the mercy of everything they come in contact with, thus the poem below.

Happiness is like a butterfly which, when persued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you sit down quitely, may alight upon you.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864): American Novelist

On Heaven's Breath

On Heaven's Breath I flutterby
Framed against her deep blue breast
Over lake and stream I tarry nigh
Through field and wood I rest

True course I hold through wind and storm
A journey far from start to end
Constant dangers are endless born
Waiting, lurking, round every bend

I cast my lot upon the breeze
And pray a gentle hand it give
By fate it carries me where it please
Through countless battles I must live

And when I cross your path one day
On Heaven's Breath I flutterby
Cast your eyes upon my way
And say a pray for butterfly
                            Randy J. Schultz    August 24, 2010

Posing for a Handout

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) also known as Pine Squirrel, North American Red Squirrel and Chickarees. They are very territorial and prefer a diet of seed from conifer cones but eat a variety of things.
On a recent hike up the Rainbow Falls Trail to Mt. LeConte Lodge, I happened upon this Red Squirrel who posed long enough for a few shots. It was obvious he was hoping for a handout of some morsel of food but by the plumpness of his body, I think he is getting well fed by all the hikers that come by his home in the woods.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
William Shakespheare (1564-1616):  English Playwright and Poet

Mayapple

Mayapple ( Podophyllum peltatum)

is the name of a low growing plant that pops up in colonies in the spring. Mayapple usually grows in a well shaded, rich, deciduous woodland soil in a mountain or hill area . It has a single flower that can be edible and has been used to make jelly and jam. Small amounts of the root were used by Native Americans and early settlers to treat jaundice, hepatitus, fever and syphilis, constipation and as a worm expellant. "Any part of this plant used incorrectly could be dangerous. All parts of the plant are considered poisonous" Some other common names for this plant are "Duck Foot, Devil's Apple, Indian Apple, Hog Apple, Ground Lemon, Mandrake, Racoonberry, Umbrella Plant, Wild Jalap, Wild Lemon, Wild Mandrake and Yellowberry among a few others.

If from a woodlot near we find
A flower of beauty there
And later thought brings to mind
Many uses it has to share

Should we not pause and thank the Lord
Whose creation we behold
And lift our arms to heaven toward
All praise to God be told
                            Randy J. Schultz:  August 7th, 2010

The Weatherman

While driving down a woods road near Michie Tennessee I

happened to notice a Hornets Nest about 8 feet from the

ground in a young oak sapling. I didn't see any evidence that the owners were home nor did I knock on the door to confirm their presence. But it was evident they had not been long gone from the condition of the paper nest. Hornet nests are made from the worker hornets chewing up woody fiber from plants and trees and making a pulpy material and then forming it into layers which make up the nest.

It is possible for up to 700 hornets to occupy a single nest. Some say

you can judge the severity of the coming winter by how high the nest is above the ground. Normally hornets nest are built close to eye level. The ole saying is that the higher up the hornets nest the colder and deeper the snow will be. With this one at about 8 feet above the ground we should have a close to normal winter.

"The trouble with weather forecasting is that it is right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it."

Patrick Young

Seeking Shelter From the Rain

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

It was during a very nasty lightening storm last week that I heard a noise on the outside of a window in our house. When I opened the blinds to see what it was, to my suprise, this bird was perched on the window clinging on with breast pressed against the glass. It was lightening terribly and raining pretty hard also and I guess this little female House Sparrow was seeking shelter under the eave of our house. It sat there long enough for me to grab this quick shot and then it flew off into the storm.

"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn."
Henry David Thoreau (1817- 1862):  American Author, Poet, Naturalist, Philosopher

(by the way a epaulet is "a shoulder ornament for certain uniforms, usally military uniforms used to denote importance or some special honor or significance)

Natural Beauty

Virginia Bluebells - Virginia Cowslip ( Mertensia virginica)

Happened upon these while traveling on the Natchez Trace in

NW Alabama during late spring. I pulled into a side loop road along

Bear Creek while traveling to Florence, AL. These beautiful flowers

were along a mowed area next to the creek and caught my eye quickly with their pink and blue trumpet/bell shaped flowers.

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them"
Henri Matisse  (1869-1954): French Artist, Painter

To The Far Blue Mountain

You really don't realize just how accustom to the creature comforts you really are until you sling on a backpack loaded with a few meager possessions, water, a little food, minimal clothes and walk away from your vehicle up a rugged trail into the wilderness. Immediately you ask yourself, am I sure about this? Do I really want to do this? Is it going to be worth all the risk and hardship?  Unsure of the day ahead, uncertain if you are capable of the task you have set forth, and feeling a little defenseless in a often formidable environment are a few feelings that hit you quickly after you leave sight of civilization. But, ah, just the sight of the first beautiful view gives you relief and immediately you know this is going to be a good trip. This is a view off the Appalachian Trail looking East, Southeast toward Cherokee, N.C., a little over a mile and a half into the hike.

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."
Rachael Carson (1907-1964): American Nature Writer, Marine Biologist

Dark-thirty At The Trail Head

Why is this picture so dark, you ask? Because it was dark! We arrived at the trail head at Newfound Gap about 30 minutes before 1st light. We wanted to get an early start to be able to take advantage of the coolness of the early morning(July) and also experience the mountain as it comes to life. Newfound Gap is located on the road going through the Smoky Mountain National Park from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, N.C.. The gap is actually on the state line and the high point on the road. The Appalachian Trail(AT) follows the crest of mountains that cross the gap and run from northern Georgia all the way to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. We are going up the AT 2.7 miles to hook up with the Boulevard Trail and then on to Mt. LeConte Lodge. This trail to the lodge is about 8 miles total distance.

"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day."
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862): American Author, Poet, Naturalist, Philosopher

Mt. LeConte, A Walk In The Woods!

The summit of Mt. LeConte at 6593' is the 3rd tallest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a shot of the peak as seen from Cliff Top, a favorite place to hike to and watch the sun set from the top of Mt. LeConte. In the coming weeks I will post a series of pictures taken of a hike my brother and I completed up Mt. LeConte for an overnight stay at the lodge. If you have never been up LeConte, and have any interest in hiking, I strongly suggest you give LeConte a try. It is not easy, but not too difficult either. There are several trails leading up different sides of LeConte, each with their own good and bad points. This particular trip, we will go up the Appalachian Trail to the Boulevard trail to the LeConte Lodge and back down the Alum Cave Trail. Hope you enjoy the shots.

"Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out-it's the grain of sand in your shoe."
Robert Service (1874-1958): Scottish Writer and Poet

A Kiss Under The Mistletoe!

According to Scandinavian and Greek customs, if a man and woman should meet under a sprig of Mistletoe they are obliged to kiss each other. Now where was all the mistletoe when I was a teenager? Ha! Ha! Well while this plant lends itself to a romantic legend, it is anything but. Mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant that lives off a host tree. Birds spread the seed from tree to tree through their droppings and also by seed sticking to their beaks and feathers only to be wiped off on a branch or limb. The seed contain a very sticky substance, viscin, which hardens when the seed is left on a new limb attaching the seed firmly to its host. It then taps into the host plant and derives nutrients and minerals from that plant. It can kill the host plant if it gets too developed on a single host and can attach and thrive on a wide variety of trees and shrubs. So by all means hang some Mistletoe around this Christmas but be careful what you do with it when you take it down as the birds may spread the seed to your yard trees.

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtures have not yet been discovered."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): American Poet, Author, Writer

A Simpler Time?

We often like to think of the older days as a better and simpler time. Try to remove yourself from your present everyday lifestyle and picture this meager cabin as your home and the surrounding fields as your grocery store. The only luxuries were what you made from the creativity of your mind. Made by using a few basic tools, your hands and the sweat of your brow! I venture to say while it is nice to think of a time without all the crazy things we all deal with today, it was no picnic back in the day either. Life may not have been as hectic as today but it was hard. Most things were done out of necessity instead of choice. This cabin and farmstead is located on the Cherokee Orchard Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg, TN. It begins in Gatlinburg and meanders around the western base of Mt. LeConte. After a while it is only a one way road and it is a great drive that forces you to slow down and take in the mountains from a much closer perspective.

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865):  American President

A Patient Fisherman Who Can't Sing

Couldn't help but snap this shot of a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) near Wheeler Dam just east of Florence, AL on the Tennessee River. A small island located behind the Wheeler Dam acts as a rookery(nesting area) for many Great Blue Herons during the summer months and this is probably a juvenile bird from the summers nesting efforts since it does not have the coloration of a mature breeding bird. The waters flowing through the dam are rich in bait size fish which the herons and other birds love. This is a favorite spot to visit for bird watching as many species can usally be found feeding in the swift waters. Two observations of Great Blues are their patience and their vocalizations. I have watched them stand motionless for long periods of time waiting on a fish or crawfish to swim by for dinner. Secondly, a mocking bird they are not when it comes to their voice. They can make the most awful galking sound when they are disturbed and scared from their perch or fishing hole. It is down right pitiful, something on the order of a Crow with a bad sore throat. Regardless of their voice, they are a lovely bird to watch.

"Use the talents you possess- for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best."
Henry Van Dyke (1852-`933): American Author, Educator, Clergyman 

Majestic Bald Eagle

Well I took this picture on a long shot (literally) and I'm sorry it is not very good but when you see a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) you just have to take a shot even if it is too far for the camera equipment. I was traveling through south central Tennessee yesterday going from Brunt Church through Lutts to Iron City and when I crossed over Shoal Creek in Iron City I looked up river and saw this Bald Eagle. It was sitting on a tree limb just waiting on a fish or small bird or mammal to show their self and provide lunch for this most impressive National Symbol. Eagles are still rare but are increasing in numbers in the south and can be spotted in several places at certain times of the year. For several years I have been watching a pair of Bald Eagles nest in a location right along side of a major highway near Smithville, MS.  Unfortunately, this past spring, the tree in which the Eagles had their nest was taken down by heavy winds and the Eagles left the area. Hopefully they have rebuilt nearby.

"But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their stength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31  New King James Version, The Holy Bible

Falls at Fall Hollow

On a recent trip to Nashville, I decided to take the Natchez Trace Parkway from North Mississippi up to Nashville. Needing to stretch my legs a bit, I stopped at this location called Fall Hollow at mile marker 392 and was pleasantly surprised to find this fine water fall-cascade. There were several other falls all within a short walk along a nice trail maintained by the park service. It is always nice to find a place you have passed by many times before. This adds another beautiful spot to my list of God's beautiful places, and all because I just needed to stretch my legs.

"All my life through, the new sights of Nature made me rejoice like a child"
Marie Curie  (1867-1934): Polish Physicist and Chemist

Cane Creek Falls

This is a shot of Cane Creek Falls as it plummets into the Cane Creek Gorge and then into the Caney Fork River. This beautiful waterfalls is located in Fall Creek Falls State Park, near Pikeville, TN. Notice the rainbow formed from the sunlight reflecting off the mist generated by the waterfalls.

"The richest values of wilderness lie not in the days of Daniel Boone, nor even in the present, but rather in the future"

Aldo Leopold   (1887-1948):  American Ecologist, Forester, Environmentalist

Who's Checking out Who?

On a recent visit to Fall Creek Falls State Park near Pikeville, TN I happened upon this doe deer. While I was checking her out, she turned and began to check me out. Encounters like this are special when they take place. Always be ready to capture a special moment when the opportunity presents itself. Deer are plentiful in the park and it is not uncommon to see them feeding along the roads or golf course early and late in the day.

"My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing a deer"
Robert Burns (1759-1796):  Scottish Poet:

Piney Creek Falls

Piney Creek Falls is located in Fall Creek Falls State Park near Pikeville, TN. At 75 feet, it is not the tallest falls in the park but it is considered by many to be the most beautiful. The area contains some beautiful trees that have never seen a loggers saw. You will find many fine specimans of Hemlock, Yellow Birch and Yellow Poplar in the gorge below the water falls if you care to hike off the main trails. If you have never been to this state park, you should plan a trip in the future. Fall Creek Falls is nestled on the Cumberland Plateau in east central Tennessee and is a beautifull park with lots of things to do. More photos to come later.

"All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again."
        Ecclesiastes 1:7  New International Version, Holy Bible