Top of Blood Mountain

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blood mountain, hiking, north georgia mountains, northeast georgia living

The day started off with a light rain…but cleared as we neared the top. Super hike…definitely worth the effort.

Forest….

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abstract art, abstract landscape, abstract photography, art and nature, artist life, being creative, black and white forest, black and white nature photography, black and white photography, black and white photos, getting outdoors, getting outside, hiking, nature in photographs, nature photography, northeast georgia living

Georgia is a green state….but I like the black and white version of this forest photo best because the lines and shapes are more pronounced in the BNW photo….

Happy Hiking…Sabi

Cataloochee North Carolina…

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black and white nature photography, bnwphotography, hiking, image of a bear, image of Cataloochee, image of elk, image of the Great Smokey Mountains, macro photography, nature, nature photography, photography

Went on a two day trip to the Great Smokey Mountains….camped at Cataloochee Campground next to the river…spot #5…great place! Just be ready for the bears….really recommend watching the what to do if you see a bear video by the National Forest.

Hiked the Buggerman Trail….about 7.5 miles…we really loved the log bridges…

The trails were full of beautiful snails, mushrooms, and flowers…

Full Buck Moon…

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full buck moon, full moon, full moon over Lake Hartwell, getting outside, hiking, nature photography, northeast georgia living, photography, rural georgia landscapes, Tugaloo State Park

Over the weekend we had a Full Moon….here in Georgia it is sometimes called a Buck Moon because the buds of little bucks push through during this month and is covered with velvety fur.

A great part of my job is leading Full Moon hikes….and we had over 50 people this time…we take a 3/4 mile hike into the woods and then we pass through a stand of pine trees that led down toward a clay beach….from that little beach we get to watch the moon rise over Lake Hartwell.

Below are a few pictures I took of that experience….

the water rings in the foreground came from a stone being tossed by two kids learning to skip stones…

caught the two little stone skippers motion….their motion was blurred by the 1 sec exposure and I like the story telling effect of that blurr…

artist of all ages were trying to get their special shot of the moon…..

last shot…..and the moon was looking like butter…

Meet Mr. Turtle and Mrs. Slime Mold….

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abstract photography, art, being creative, getting outside, hiking, image of box turle, image of yellow slime mold, life of an artist, nature, nature art, nature photography, northeast georgia living, photography

Went on a Bird Walk with the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society this Saturday and was suppose to be looking up for birds and getting their pictures…..but I couldn’t keep my eyes off the ground. It had just rained and the forest was a mixture of beautiful greens and browns…occasionally the sun would lend some dabbled patches of light…and the forest floor would radiate with song. Oh yes…I really enjoyed seeing the birds…even got to see a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo…but the things on the ground made better pictures….

So here is Mr. Turtle….a new red eyed friend I made….I think I caught him in the middle of eating his lunch.

And here is Mrs. Sime-Mold….she is doing her thing…her little arms (the small strands of yellow) are busily looking for a new source of food….she’s got to keep the family happily nourished and together.

Sabi

Orchids…..

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flowers, getting outside, hiking, nature art, nature photography, northeast georgia living, orchids images, photography

Went to the Georgia Botanical Gardens at the University of Georgia….and they had marvelous flowers….

HoneySuckle Bush…..

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flower image, getting outside, hiking, honeysuckle bush image, nature art, nature photography, northeast georgia living, spring flower image

It was getting dark when I spotted this blooming beauty…..this little honeysuckle bush looked like a shining jewel in the fading light….and it smelled really lovey too…

More Spring Flowers…..Blood Root…

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blood root image, hiking, nature, nature art, nature photography, northeast georgia living, photography, rural georgia landscapes, spring flowers, white flowers

Love this little daisy looking flower….grows low to the ground and seems to prefer SE facing slopes.

Native Georgia spring flower called Blood Root….Native Americans used this plant as body paint…

broke off a leaf and stained my finger with the plants juices….stain lasted all day…

Flowering Red Buds……

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flowering tree image, flowers, getting outside, hiking, nature, nature art, nature photography, northeast georgia living, photography, red bud image, rural georgia landscapes

Red Bud trees have these beautiful pink flowers in the spring, heart shaped leaves all summer, and pea pod seed packets in late summer and early fall…..but my favorite parts are the flowers.

Took these pictures yesterday while out with a group of hikers….super warm day at 83F here in Georgia and lots of pretty spring flowers.

Sabi

Top of Cadillac Mountain

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Acadia National Park, Cadillac Mountain, getting outdoors, hiking, Maine

Got to hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in Maine. If you ever get the chance to do it…..grab it. Such an awesome place….the Atlantic is a brilliant blue from the top….the winds are wicked……and the view is much much better than my picture.