Blue Ridge Parkway

It won't be long until the Blue Ridge Parkway is open again, I hope. There will be trilliums blooming between the Great Smoky Mountains and Asheville, North Carolina, I am sure. With the recent snows it may be a week or two until the opening. Since the Great Smoky Mountains New Found Gap Road is closed until the landslide is repaired we are all awaiting the opening to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We also are looking forward to the opening of the New Found Gap Road, too, I expect. Let spring begin!

Sometimes

At Devils Fork State Park I just had to take another picture.

Oconee Bell Wildflower

The Oconee Bell flower is only about one half inch tall and as you may have guessed shaped like a bell. The day we were there is was raining so these are dripping with rain.

Oconee Bell Wildflowers of Devils Fork State Park

We did find Oconee Bell wildflowers blooming along the stream bed in Devils Fork State Park near Lake Jocassee and Salem, South Carolina. It seems Oconee Bell wildflowers only grow near sandy stream beds and only in local areas of North Carolina and South Carolina and Georgia.

Toadshade Trillium

Yesterday, Sunday, March 24, we were not deterred by the rain or cold. We traveled to Devils Fork State Park in South Carolina in search of Oconee Bell wildflowers. On the way we stopped at a favorite trillium site in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is along US 76 on the Georgia side of the Chattooga River. Literally, hundreds of trillium bloom here each year. Sure enough we found time doing well bursting forth in hopes of spring.

Congaree National Park Thrush

Here is a puzzle. This appears to be either a Gray-cheeked or a Bicknell's Thrush. It was kind enough to just allow me time to take several photos. These species are very similar. An amateur such as myself would have a difficult time making an ID. So, I will leave it up to you.

Great Blue Heron & Cypress

Jean spotted a Great Blue Heron hunting among the giant Cypress trees in Congaree. I put on my 55 to 200 zoom lens and tried to sneak up on the wary great blue. When I would take a step it would take a step. In order to get the shot I had to anticipate where it would be next. Hiding behind a Cypress tree, I was able to get this photo.