At the end of September, I walked through the woods around my home and found two perennial wildflowers. I hiked back the other day to see how they were faring. The hike was painted with mostly earth tones. The Sweetgums are mostly red, but looking up sixty feet at the underside you can't tell until the 6" diameter, star shapes sail to the ground. It can stop my hike and have me picking up the almost leathery stars to see if they are bright yellow , spotted red, or a brighter red or even a burnt red. A flag I had placed at the sight was in view. I was pleased to see Slender Ladies Tresses standing short, but straight.
Then just a quarter of a mile to the next check point the Indian pipe was pretty hard to find. I still wasn't able to find it standing right above it, looking at the flag I placed weeks ago. I had to kneel down and get two foot from it:-)
Hello friends, I was going to do another wildflower hike post, but the route I chose or my vision didn't provide the proof of the relaxing walk I had:-) The last of September brought the harvest moon. I couldn't miss getting shots of it. Using my iPhone 12, night mood adjusted to max ( you have to hold it still for 10-12 seconds, if it's real dark ). This first shot was taken at 3:30 am CST, Sept. 27 . The moon was low in the southwest.
This was the next morning about the same time. The clouds are starting to break up.
September 30, the brightest night all year. This was taken at 2:21 am.
The next shots are first days of October.
If you notice the star, the higher up the earlier it is.
The moon is new and sky overcast. I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
The next shot was on October 16 at 4:30 am. At the very top you can see the Little Dipper:-)
The rest are about the same, maybe a different time. You can watch the star:-) between 4:00 and 5:00 am is when the Little Dipper shows up.
There is one other I gotta show you:-) Can you find the squirrel holding the nut?
Here's a day time shot.
I sure enjoy looking at them and it takes no knowledge or skill to snap a picture. Some make wallpaper for my phone for a few days:-)
My mornings usually start early. I enjoy the night sounds of frogs, insects and owls.
This morning the moon was 3/4 full and west below the tree line.
Here's a few of this morning's blessings.
I see shapes in the tree lines:-) top left.
I set in my rocking chair drinking my first cup of coffee listening to God's creatures making their own unique musical melodies. As the sun rises, the music changes to the awakening song birds. My home is surrounded by thousands of acres of wooded ridge land separated by eighty to one hundred feet deep hollows. This area is my target to slowly walk through and try to spot as many wildflowers as I can. I have little knowledge of what I may find. I start moving west near the top of the ridge on the south side. Here's a map of the path I made earlier.
Small plants struggle here, deep shaded by the high thick, mostly white oak canopy. Usually only one or two plants found together. If you look closely, you become one of the few that ever gets to lay eyes on them. Here's what I found on the south rim.
I can see the beauty in this one, even after her show is over:-)
I see a head and hair:-)
God provides for all who thirst.
I found this Indian Pipe a few days ago. The next day I walked out to see it again and it took me a hour and a half to find it again. I flagged it after that:-)
I headed back east on the north rim which is steeper. When the wind picks up it signals the mighty oaks to unload their contribution of food for the wildlife. There is nowhere to hide. These white oaks have a 1" acorn and when they lose their caps they are stream line. Not much I can see while escaping. Luckily the deer had a path that moved me out safely:-)
They also contribute to the health of the other critters.
Another special find from the other day is approaching on the north east. I mark this one also.
It's a Slender Ladies Tresses
I can't believe I even saw it.
One other found on the way home just before the remnants of an old logging road that the ferns decided to homestead in its ruts.
That's all for today. I'm hoping to cover more area and uncover as many hidden gems as possible:-) God bless you all.
