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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

More Photos from the Smokies

When we took our driving tour of the Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail on Saturday, we hiked a short nature trail at one of the old cabin sites. Here are a few photos from that walk.

What do you think...woodpeckers?

This wildflower was growing in the woods.

This tree fungus was growing on the lower portion of a fallen log.

And this tree fungus was growing on the upper portion of the same fallen log.

Violets were out in abundance.

Even when the weather isn't great, there is beauty to be found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
 
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15 comments:

  1. Elizabeth GrimesMarch 29, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    Beautiful collection of photos! Great job.

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  2. Ruth HiebertMarch 29, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    The fungi remind me of the skirts that fashionable ladies wore years ago.Beautiful flowers as well.

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  3. Linda at To Behold The BeautyMarch 29, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    Thanks kindly, Elizabeth.

    Oh my, Ruth. I hadn't seen that in the fungi before, but I do now. Thanks for your kind comments.

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  4. HilaryMarch 29, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Wow.. that would be some supersized woodpecker. I have no idea what caused those holes but I don't think I want to meet up with it either. Love the fungal growth.

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  5. Linda at To Behold The BeautyMarch 29, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Hilary - Pileated Woodpeckers are common in that area. They're very large, and they're known for drilling large rectangular holes in trees. We saw some of the birds, but I was never able to get a photograph of one. I don't know for sure that that's what created these holes but couldn't think of anything else.

    I'm glad you enjoyed the fungi. They were really pretty on that log.

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  6. Out on the prairieMarch 30, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    What a delightful array of beauty found.Excellent photos Linda.

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  7. Linda at To Behold The BeautyMarch 30, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    Thank you, Steve.

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  8. Cheryl KohanMarch 30, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    Wow-talk about great photo ops! Fabulous photos, Linda! I've never seen holes in a tree like that. The wildflowers are very pretty and the fungi is so sculptural.

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  9. Linda at To Behold The BeautyMarch 30, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    Thanks for the kind comments, Cheryl. I'd never seen a tree quite that riddled with holes before either.

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  10. DeborahApril 1, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    Amazing and beautiful photo's ... and as for the holes in the tree? Fascinating! I'd love to know how/what did do them!:o)

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  11. Linda at To Behold The BeautyApril 1, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Thanks, Deborah. I'm guessing the hole driller was a Pileated Woodpecker. But I won't stake my life on it. :)

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  12. SandraApril 4, 2011 at 7:01 AM

    Woodpeckers on steroids. :)

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  13. Linda at To Behold The BeautyApril 4, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    Sandra - Ha! That IS what it looks like.

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  14. ethelmaepotter!April 5, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    Fantastic! That tree is amazing, and I love Sandra's comment! The tree looks like a condo for various bird families. Was it the only one you encountered with such holes?

    The wildflower looks almost like a white passion flower, but I have no idea if there even IS such a thing. We have purple ones that grow in a thicket in our back yard.

    Isn't is interesting how the fungus on the upper side is widely different from the lower? Both have their own beauty, though.

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  15. Linda at To Behold The BeautyApril 5, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    ethelmaepotter! - Yes, Sandra nailed it with her comment. She's pretty sharp. That tree was the only one of its kind that we have seen up close and personal.

    I'm terrible about identifying plant life of any kind. I count on my blogging friends to tell me what I've photographed. :)

    That blue-green fungus on the lower part of the log was actually prettier than the photo shows. But I did think it was odd to have two different kinds of fungi growing on the same log.

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