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".

Chill Zones for Florida - Apples Peaches Nectarines

We were looking at Varieties of fruit trees that will bear fruit in Florida. 



available online through groworganic.com

 There are some exciting new varieties out there, but we were stumped at the store nursery by the chill hours requirement for different varieties.  Frustrating, but although the nursery attendant really wanted us to take home some trees, they weren't able to tell us whether they were good for our area. 

With a little searching, here is the chill zone map for Florida from the UF Extension Office.

January through March are considered the best times to plant apple trees in North to Central Florida.  (Although it was mentioned that December was okay too.)

Here is a link to the Low Chill Apple Page at the UF Extension Office.

Update:   I found an interesting website that addressed apples grown in hot climates at Kuffel Creek.

I love this tree. There were so many in our back yard when we moved in, and most were mown over, but this one was saved. It was an experiment. Here it is today, front and center. It is evergreen and has a pleasing form. There are yellow fruit that I have heard are edible, but we haven't tried them yet.



It makes my dogwood, next to it, miserable in comparison.