Our lodging was located in Townsend, TN. There are several lodging choices in this town, and it is located to the northwestern corner of the park near Cades Cove, a popular area of the park for wildlife and historical structure. We made a late afternoon drive through this area on the first day of the trip and saw 14 black bears and cubs. However, due to the unpredictability of wildlife, we had only one sighting during the other four days of our trip. All the wildlife images were made in the Cades Cove area with the exception of the snail which was found on a tree near the river along the road to Tremont. While we occasionally sighted white-tailed deer and turkeys a few times, the opportunities were not great most of the time. That’s nature for you.

Wildflowers were everywhere in the lower elevations, the trees and other vegetation at the higher levels were still bare. Some species, such as the white trillium were past prime and showed a pink coloration. Occasionally, a blossom or two in good condition found their way in front of my lens. Since I was traveling with a group I was conscious not to get too carried away with any particular patch of flowers, although John encouraged me to get the images I wanted and did not rush me.  There were several roadside river locations that had a variety of flowers growing, and several images could be made in a short time. Once in a while I had to rely on flash or small LED lights to provide illumination in the darker areas of the forest.

Rivers ran near many of the roads, and small cascades and waterfall were found in many locations. The ideal weather to photograph these water features is overcast, preferably after a rain. The overcast conditions provide an even lighting and the rain wets the rocks and vegetation darkening their color. The last day was the only one that was cloudy and we had saved the road to Tremont for the last morning. John said that we would have visited this area earlier in the trip if the weather had been better.

Additional images from the Great Smoky Mountain trip are coming in the next post.

Scenes in Couplets

by Francis Dinneen, Cortland Place

We say lovely scenes – not a car, house or steeple.

Just flowers, birds and faraway tiny people.

In the yard we saw Indian Pipes and other fungi.

And butterflies whose colors struck the eye.

Craggy mountains with their ancient folds

And striking deserts – eons old.

Hills and Valleys made a scene.

I even remember a lovely ravine.

Ancient trees so gangly and stark.

How many years since they’d had bark?

There were streams and gulleys and a water fall.

So much beauty – can’t remember it all.

I recall a desert stretching forever.

I heard someone murmur, “Well I never!”

I saw a double rainbow with all six shades.

Glowing through the mist – a colorful sight it made.

Then there were creatures, some of them small.

Little bugs and snakes, can’t recall all.

Next came the lion – mouth open to roar.

Great fun to look at – not to adore!

There was a geyser in old Yellowstone –

Believe me when I say, it doesn’t ‘geys’ alone!

Clouds and sunsets were there for us.

We got them free – no need to fuss.

The musical scores surrounding them all –

There only one phrase – they did us enthrall.

I’m sure to have omitted a scene or two –

Or three or four – possibly more.

It was a marvelous, splendid afternoon.

Will you please, I beg you, come back soon.

Photographing inside the exhibition was frustrating in that there were so many people there, even though I went the first day at the opening time.  Macro photography is the best choice as tripods are not allowed, you can get close to the subjects, and using flash can light up areas within blossoms even while hand holding the camera.

Watch for next year’s flower show scheduled for 25-27 June 2010.