Long ago, this tree grew on land. Over the years, storms and tides eroded the beach and marsh around it. As saltwater invaded, it, and its neighbors, died. But, stubborn thing that it is, this tree is defying the water even long after death. Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Images
Irma’s Remains
It's always hard to feel "grateful" when a major storm misses your home. There's a sense of guilt about feeling good, when others are suffering. Thankfully, Irma fell apart quickly after making landfall. We're just now seeing rain out of the system she created, but its not the sort of thing (Camille, Hugo, Irene) that…Read more Irma’s Remains
Falling
Seems like just this week, fall has hit. Cooler temps prevail, and at least a few small trees have already committed and turned burgundy, while the black gums are going yellow. Soon, we'll have scenes like this. The mountains are calling!
Summer Milky Way
This summer has had some unusually clear, dry weather, which has made for beautifully starry nights. In this GoPro shot, the Milky Way arcs above the Potomac River on a late August evening. The teapot of Sagittarius is just below the center of the frame, and the galactic center is just right of it. The…Read more Summer Milky Way
Autumn Approaching
The trumpet vines have been blooming all summer. As temps get cooler, and these flowers drop (here floating on a bed of duckweed), you know autumn is on its way! Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Heron and Cypress
Another from the creeks of southern NC. As we paddled the White Oak River, we kept startling a Great Blue Heron. Here it circled back and was just landing in a large bald cypress tree - a perch safely out of reach where it could keep an eye on us as we went by. Photo…Read more Heron and Cypress
Another Insect
About the same time Lynn was photographing butterflies, she spotted this very large, well-camouflaged grasshopper hiding in the bush. It looks as though its right wing is a bit mangled - which could explain why it was still in this general area a day later. Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
King of this Log!
This Eastern Painted Turtle, surrounded by spanish moss on the White Oak River in NC, is proud to have completed his climb! Seems I'm never seeing them climb, and always seeing them jump off, back into the water. Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Swallowtail and Pickerelweed
I know I just posted a butterfly a couple days ago, but this was hard to pass up. Found this (and many others) Tiger Swallowtail on a flowering Pickerelweed in the blackwater marshes along the White Oak River in eastern NC. Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Small Boats
A throwback to the picture I shared this weekend about a beautiful campsite and sunset over the Potomac. This was the point of our trip - having a bunch of Scouts learn how to sail small boats - FJ's in this case. Turned out to be a gorgeous day, and nobody got wet unintentionally! Thanks…Read more Small Boats
After The Storm
We had a not-quite-named tropical depression move through today. Almost as soon as the rain had stopped, this Monarch Butterfly was back on the hunt, sipping nectar from still-wet flowers. Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Sandpiper
These little sandpipers live a frantic life. They rush into the soft sand to dig for food as a wave recedes, only to have to sprint back to dry land just ahead of the incoming foam of the next wave. Back and forth, all day, with their little legs blurred in movement. Photo Credit -…Read more Sandpiper
My Campsite For The Evening
Sunset over the Potomac River. (Note: I posted this realtime on Friday 8/25 for everybody except the native web page - app limitations!)
Hidden Pathways
Aside from being beautiful ecosystems, our waterways were among the original roads, shaping the growth and structure of our country. In our car and truck modern economy, our rivers pass through familiar territory in unfamiliar ways, and provide natural escapes close to home. Summer's not over yet! Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Watching
I'm still reeling from the eclipse experience. So are these guys!
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 