What a boy takes pictures of ....

The clouds because they looked amazing from a hill.

A cattle water station because there was mud.

The rusted chain just looked so old.

Looking back at where he had been.

Looking at how he made the earth look different just by being here.

Bluets at Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The tiniest packages sparkle at 6,643 feet above sea level at Clingmans Dome...

 The dandelion shows off the perky yellow centers of the bluets as well as their petite size.

Bluet Confetti amid the rocks, moss and lichen.

...

and then you turn around for a long distance view to Fontana Lake and up to the next ridge.

 You will of course note that we did not make it far

from the parking lot. 

The hour walk would have put us halfway up at closing.

Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Nantahala National Forest NC

First off, Joyce Kilmer was not a woman.  Joyce Kilmer is actually "Alfred Joyce Kilmer" who died while serving in World War I.  He is known as a soldier and poet. 

"The text stated below is the original written by Kilmer.

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree."

Wikipedia

The Kilmer-Slickrock Wildreness contains the largest tract of old growth forest east of the Mississippi River.

It was well worth the 2 mile hike to see the rare old growth cove hardwoods at the memorial. 

From the tallest of the Tulip poplars to the tiny partridgeberries on the forest floor, every direction held beauty, but no poems to compete with "Trees".

Mountain Laurel in Brasstown North Carolina Mountains

 When we first arrived in North Carolina, the buds were getting ready to pop open, the children thought they looked like popped balloons. These first three are only a few of many showers of blossoms over the Brasstown Creek at The Brasstown Creek House.

 White Moutain Laurel at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard, North Carolina

 Pink Moutain Laurel at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard, North Carolina

Brasstown Creek House - Visiting Western North Carolina

thebrasstowncreekhouse.com

Loved this vacation home.  It was fantastic, simple, clean open floor plan with wood floors and plenty of closets and cabinets.  The setting is wonderful, with the creek right outside the three sets of french doors, tumbling over rocks you can see between beech, rhododendrons and mountain laurel.  The doors are great for blocking out the creek if you don't want to hear it too! 

For miles you can amble along paths through pasture, hemlock woods or along two different creeks. Here's one of the pastures filled with buttercups. 

The true treasure in staying at the Brasstown Creek House were the hosts. 

You must be very careful not to jump into buying a house next door, not for this gorgeous scenery,

but to simply be able to visit more

with the owners, Bass and Sandra Hyatt. 

Pictures don't do it justice, and the feeling of welcome is complete.

We spent time visiting the John Campbell Folk School, walking the Chatuge Lake and Dam, Ducktown Copper Mine and traveling a bit afar.