Look A Bit Closer During Winter.....

Transition day today in southeast Tennessee. From rather mild pleasant weather to windy, rainy conditions. May even get a bit of snow on the Plateau tonight. Normal hi/low temperature averages for today are 47/28 on the Cumberland Plateau. I hear many talk of the beauty of Tennessee in the spring and fall. One can also love the Tennessee winter and what it offers...but you may have to look a bit closer. And, once you are again 'out there' you may just discover some of nature's winter treasures, like the Pileated Woodpecker clinging to the Red Maple above (they visit my suet cakes daily)....

....or a Gray Squirrel perched high in an oak....

.....or appreciate the natural effects of elevation on a cold winter morning......

....or anticipate a sunrise just before the mighty helio peeks over a mountain......

.....or the small things hidden along the forest floor....like this Ground Pine (Lycopodium).....

....enjoy the serenity of the mountains while walking along a woodland trail.....

....or stand on a covered bridge and enjoy the natural soothing sounds of a noisy mountain stream...this is Mother's Bridge on Stone Creek - within our properties.....

....even appreciate the winter modifications of the various species of flora (perhaps like you....just waiting for the warmth of spring)...note the new buds at the apex of the stems on this Mountain Laurel. An 'old timer' once told me one could predict the level of harshness of the coming winter by the thickness of the covering of the buds...which begin to form as the leaves fall in the autumn. In some species of the conifers, like two species of local pines (Eastern White Pine and Shortleaf Pine/Yellow Pine), growth of the previous year will 'shed' (turns brown - then falls), while the green growth of the current year remains along the distal portion of the twigs. Thus the ground covering of brown pine needles beneath the pine trees. Happens every year.