Zinnias on the Menu

Japanese beetle munching on my zinnias

A Near Miss with the Lawn Mower

Juvenile Eastern Box Turtle

This little guy almost got mowed down (literally). Bob spotted his orange markings in the nick of time and stopped the mower. We brought him indoors until the mowing was done and then put him back and took some pictures. He’s still young (as turtles go); only about two inches long.

Summer Wildflowers

“Will you walk into my parlour?”

Shiny Green Beetle

Wayah Bald

Wayah Bald, Nantahala National Forest

We’ve been getting rain almost every day for the last few weeks so when the precipitation probability dipped below 50% for a few hours on Sunday, we loaded cameras, dog, snacks and drinks into the truck and took a drive into the Nantahala National Forest.

There’s a pretty good park road that goes up to two balds which are close together and separated by a high saddle, Wayah Bald and Winespring Bald. A bald is a peak in the Appalachians which has no trees. In the Blue Ridge Mountains, we have no alpine timberline – the elevations aren’t high enough, so the lack of trees is something of a mystery. At the top of Wayah Bald, a stone observation tower was built in the 1930s for forest fire detection and, although it is no longer used for that purpose, it is still maintained for tourists and hikers. Ordinarily, the views are spectacular, but with so much recent rain, clouds and fog obscured the distance.

Foggy path leading to the Wayah Bald observation tower, Nantahala National Forest

Wayah Bald observation tower, Nantahala National Forest

Wayah Bald observation tower, Nantahala National Forest

On the way back down, we decided to have a look at Winespring Bald. The road leading to it was well-maintained, but the view at the top is somewhat spoiled by a proliferation of antennae.

Park road to Winespring Bald, Nantahala National Forest

Winespring Bald, Nantahala National Forest

There is, however, a pretty good reason to return later in the summer:

Blueberries on Winespring Bald, Nantahala National Forest

In addition to the antennae, the Bald is home to a lot of blueberry bushes. I will have to look up the regulations regarding berry-picking in National Forests….

The Appalachian Trail crossing the road near the top of Wayah Bald, Nantahala National Forest

Picnic

Picnic Area, Wayah Bald, Nantahala National Forest

Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove

Bob took this photo of a mourning dove recently – he filled the bird feeder and then sat patiently on the porch snapping photos of each visitor. Mourning doves are named for their call, but I’ve never thought they sounded sad; the soft cooing sound seems peaceful and calming.