Rainy Day Visitors

A flock of geese came near my back patio, so I rushed out to photograph them against the beautiful fall color. They weren’t in a hurry to go anywhere because fresh grass seed lay strewed along the lakeshore. They seemed to enjoy the free treats and stayed for almost four hours. Location: The Village at Westland Cove, Knoxville, Tennessee, on Fort Loudoun Lake

Back in Time

If you want to travel back in time, take a gander through Cades Cove, Tennessee. A good handful of cabins and historical structures still remain in the Cove. One such cabin is the Dan Lawson Place. Last week, I enjoyed a great day with a friend photographing the fall colors. This photograph is of one of the other outlying buildings next to the cabin. Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Charlotte

Charlotte is the prettiest black bear in Cades Cove. She is a sweet mama bear. The cinnamon coloring on her face, ears, and back make it easy to identify her. She also has tags in her ears. I have been fortunate to see several generations of her cubs. Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Hangin’ With Ma

The kindness of a stranger led me to this shot in May. As my friends and I were near the road going back to our car, I man driving by told my friend that a mama bear and her cubs were in a tree near the road. The mama bear’s name is Charlotte. She and her two cubs were just doing what bears do—hangin’ in a tree. Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee

Finally

“Finally” Finally, I was able to get the coveted shot I truly wanted while in Cades Cove, Tennessee—a deer jumping a fence. Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane are two gravel roads lined with barbed wire fences. I have gotten a deer sneaking under the fence but never while they jumped the fence like so many other photographers have gotten.

Lake Living

My husband and I moved to Knoxville, Tennessee recently. We really enjoy where we live. Our apartment looks over a cove on Fort Loudon Lake. It is a beautiful sight to wake up to. As I walked my dog this morning, I saw a great blue heron on the log where the cormorant usually perches. I dashed inside and grabbed my camera. The fall color is beautiful around the lake, so my goal was to position the heron in front of it. My desk looks out over the lake, so I will quickly see any birds or wildlife at the lake. I love living at The Village at Westland Cove!

Oh, Hi!

My husband and I went hiking in Cades Cove when suddenly my husband jumped in the air. Little did I know we walked up on a momma bear and her cubs. It was a tender moment as one cub looked up at me to say, “Oh, hi!” Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee

Come Down Please

I thought I’d celebrate National Wildlife Day by posting my favorite subject to photograph—black bears! This momma bear looks up to check on her cubs in Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Happy Fall and Halloween

Happy Fall and Halloween! I love fall and the amazing colors it brings to the earth. My husband and I searched one fall hoping to find beautiful color. On our search, we stopped at the Mountain Crossings at Walasi-yi in Blairsville, Georgia. It is an outfitters store perched on top of the Appalachian Trail. We stopped because pumpkins were scattered all over the property. The pumpkins made for a pretty photo op!

Double-striped Thick-knee

What a great way to celebrate World Photography Day by bring the world to others through a photograph. Photography allows people to see something they may never have seen before. This Double-striped Thick-knee sure can’t be found in North America. I photographed this little fellow while I was in Cartagena, Columbia. They breed in Venezuela, northern Brazil, Columbia, southern Mexico and South and Central America.

Cheese!

Did you know that giraffes don’t have upper front teeth? They actually have the same number of teeth as we do, but most of their teeth are molars in the back of their mouth. Backstory to this photo: My husband and I went to the Wild Animal Safari. Most of the animals roam freely on 500+ acres of land. The giraffes will come to your car to eat the special food that can be purchased in the gift shop. On the second trip through the park, our SUV made a very loud explosion and steam poured out from under the hood. While we waited for help and get towed out of the park, I photographed the animals near my car. Why not make the best out of a bad situation!? We ended up buying a new car that day as my car was starting to break down too often because it was old and had about 240,000 miles on it. Location: Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Blazing Beauty

Whenever I am in a foreign country, photographing birds is first on my list. My option to photograph black bears is put on hold unless I’m in North America, Canada or Mexico. When I was in Columbia, my eyes were peeled to find them. At first, I went to the Aviario Nacional de Colombia where I found all kinds of amazing birds. Later in the day, I found hummingbirds in their natural environment. This rufous-tailed hummingbird is quite beautiful! Location: Cartagena, Columbia

Once Again

Jamaica is a beautiful country. I visited Ochos Rios last year. I photographed the hummingbirds there and other wildlife as well. For each country I visit, I like to go to the beach and photograph a shell on the shore. Knowing that shells may not be abundant, I bring my own. This white armoured starfish once again gets to return where it started—in the ocean.

When I Grow Up

I loved seeing these grey-headed cone flowers at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. They are stunning flowers¬–I love their slender, yellow petals. The smaller coneflower looks up to the larger one and knows it will be just as beautiful one day!

Diving In

This is an immature male ruby-throated hummingbird. Hummingbirds are great pollinators. They eat one and a half to three times their body weight in nectar and insects a day. So, they must visit 1,000 to 2,000 flowers every day!! They can’t smell but use their near ultraviolet vision to direct them to the flowers. We have a hummingbird at our house that I named Blonde. I know when I see her because her head is covered in pollen:) Location: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

Tender Moments

The fawns at Berry College are so cute. I love to photograph them there. I followed this little fawn around for a while. He decided to rest under the shade of the tree. Location: Rome, Georgia

Can We Share?

All kinds of critters have loved my Mexican sunflowers over the last few years. I usually have just a few. They grew over nine feet tall and were huge. My critters are in for a treat—there are over 15 plants this year! Location: Athens, Georgia

Henry

“Henry” Henry is the resident great egret at the Sham Creek Park Pier in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The fishermen there feed him from their catch and sometimes their bait. He is a very picky eater! Paul, a fisherman, gave me a shrimp and when I tried to entice Henry with it, he turned up his nose. Another fisherman gave him a large minnow—he devoured it quickly! He then turned his nose up again at the shrimp.

In Memory Of

This is my first time raising gulf fritillary caterpillars. I have 16 chrysalises that will enclose (become butterflies) and 15 more caterpillars. I asked my social media followers if I can release a butterfly in memory of one of their loved ones.

ZEU 853

I released this male monarch butterfly last year in memory of Todd Fielding Cooper who was tragically killed when he was only 16 years old. A small tag was placed on the butterfly from Monarch Watch. His specific tag letters and numbers were ZEU 853. Location: Athens, Georgia

Tranquility

I was in search of photographing hummingbirds at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, but my attention was quickly diverted when I saw the finch on the bog sage. Beautiful blue petals were scattered on an emaculate lawn below the plants. The petals gave a hint of the havoc caused from the finch feeding. I liked the angle I was shooting from, but I wanted to lie down on the ground. There were two issues. The ground was soaking wet, and the birds will not tolerate that much moving. I leaned forward and put my elbows on the ground. The finch decided to stay and even posed for me. Thanks once again Jesus!! Location: Athens, Georgia

Owl Jam

Wildlife deserves the right of way in Cades Cove, Tennessee especially when a momma black bear and her cubs are crossing Cades Cove Loop Road. The backed up traffic caused by tourist stopping to view the bears near the road is called a “bear jam.” It is expected and patience is required. This particular day, the long line of cars seemed like it wrapped around the entire Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When we got to where the wildlife was spotted, it wasn’t a bear but a barred owl. The owl was hunting for fish in a creek right off the main road. We were following it around like the paparazzi. The owl eventually flew across the road and posed for me on top of a dead tree. Check out those talons!! Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tiny-Jeweled Flyers

I am delighted to say the Hummingbird Trail, which I research and help design, at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia is officially open this year. The trail maps are printed and waiting for visitors to get a glimpse of the tiny-jeweled flyers. There are small numbers of hummingbirds right now. The best chance to see them in action is later in the season when lots of babies are born. The hot markers to find them this week are #5 feeding on the purple salvia and feeding on the major wheeler trumpet honeysuckle at marker #19. This photo was taken Wednesday as I sat at marker #19. Check out her face—it’s dusted with pollen! Photo taken May 15, 2019

Free

I love to watch the horses in the pastures of Cades Cove. My favorite time to photograph them is when they are set free in the pasture after their long day of riding on the trails. The mane of this beautiful pinto horse is half black and half white—it flows in the wind as he charges through the field. Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park