Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Greenbriar in the Smokies


When I surprised George with his birthday trip to the Serenity Falls Cabin in Cosby, TN in March, we spent part of a day at one of our favorite places in the Smokies, the Greenbriar area. We drive on a gravel road way back into the mountains ---following beside the Little Pigeon River.

After alot of rain, this river can be a 'wild and raging river'... There aren't any waterfalls per say ---but there are some beautiful cascades all along our way. Today, I will share some of our pictures in the Greenbriar area, using our new cameras!! Above is one of the beautiful cascades. Below are more!





Seems like we took a million pictures of EACH and EVERY cascade along our way!!!!! ha ha





Here is a picture of the Greenbriar area. I'm glad that they have pull-off areas along the way for people like us to get some pictures. In Summer, the locals use this area for swimming and kayaking. There is a picnic area not far from here also.





Here's another picture of the powerful water flowing over the rocks. Aren't the colors gorgeous?




George is standing on the bridge which leads to the Ramsey Cascades Hiking Trail (which is an 8 mile round-trip hike). Several creeks join up with the Little Pigeon River along our way. This is such a gorgeous area.




Finally, here is one more picture of the Little Pigeon River as it rushes over all of the rocks. I hope you have enjoyed these pictures---and IF you ever get to the Smokies, be sure and visit the Greenbriar area.

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We have some more color in our yard FINALLY this Spring. If you remember from last year, I talked about our favorite ground cover --which we have in several places throughout our yard. That ground cover is PERIWINKLE, and we love it. The tiny blue/purple flowers are beginning to bloom now and are just so pretty.

Have a great Wednesday.
Hugs,

47 comments:

Catherine said...

Purple in your yard ~ lucky girl!

pam said...

I want some periwinkle!

Beth said...

Beautiful, Betsy! I especially love the one of the water flowing over the rocks, with the lovely colors and swirls and eddies.

Love that pretty periwinkle, too.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Lovely area for hiking.. isnt it?

Judy said...

Hi Betsy, I see you over at Rose's blog and thought I would stop by yours. Beautiful photos. I'll be back to visit more.
Judy

penny said...

Your camera captures the action of the water flow very well, Betsy. Your photos are lovely.

Your header photo makes me smile :)

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Lovin those water photos Betsy...I have a few strawberry blooms!!!

Joe Todd said...

Betsy I can tell you are having a lot of fun with that new camera. Warm weather and sunshine in Ohio. I think it's going to be a hike day..Have a great one

Darla said...

Love the new look of your blog! Your header is just gorgeous...lovely color purple on your ground cover.

Dorothy said...

Betsy, You get such wonderful shots of the waterfalls. I think you and George are having waaaay too much fun:-)

Susie said...

Hey Betsy, I don't remember where that Greenbrier area is but it looks like a neat place to explore.

Love the blue of the periwinkle. So springy!

nanny said...

The shots of the flowing water are so good....I would frame the first one....I love it!

I Am Woody said...

Greenbrier is such a lovely area:)

Roses and Lilacs said...

Can you imagine the thrill of kayaking on that river? I love the first photo.
Marnie

Harriet said...

Looks like a great place for a picnic!

MadSnapper said...

todays favorite photo is the periwinkles, they are lovely. next in line would be the picture of YOU in front of the wooded area. third is the car sitting on the road by that wonderful creek bed. great shots all of them. I was off the air yesterday and now am having trouble catching up on everyone,

Anonymous said...

Your periwinkles are gorgeous. I liked the pictures of the rapidly flowing river too. By the way the template that you are using is very pretty. I like your header picture too.

Arkansas Patti said...

With all the raging water you and George enjoy, you must have very muscular bladders. Something about running water----LOL
Love how Spring make your wild water features much more spectacular. Just love the cascades.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Beautiful photos Betsy. It looks like you guys have settled into the perfect area for all your waterfalling trips.
Congrats on some yard color!!!

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful pics again, Betsy. I really like the first picture. great falls. I am tickled by Arkansas Patti's comment about bladders. So true.

Vinca is just an invasive plant out here. although sold at the nursuries it will take over a garden and into the lawn and everywhere. But such a pretty flower. MB

Unknown said...

I;ve been to Smokies many times but never to the Greenbriar area. Cades Cove is as close to nature that we get.

Pat - Arkansas said...

What gorgeous water shots! I love to see rushing water -- in the right places, of course.

Your periwinkle is beautiful! Happy Wednesday to you, too.

Sunny said...

I love all the different colors in the water, really beautiful. Your Periwinkle is so vibrant; nothing much is blooming here yet. Lots of rain!
Sunny :)

Loran said...

I haven't been able to keep up with all your wonderful posts, but I do have a minute this morning to catch up. Wonderful waterfalls, periwinkles and daffodils! I like your very springy look.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Betsy,as I was looking at these pictures I couldn't help but wonder,how many memory cards I would need on a trip like that.You see I am famous for shooting way too many pictures.Goegrous scenery.Thanks for allowing me to have a peek at some of this beauty.Oh,and those Periwinkle,love the color.
Blessings,Ruth

Ginny Hartzler said...

The first picture is my favorite, it's fabulous! And a great surprise ending with the adorable periwinkles!! Yes, the colors are very pretty, including you in your red and black, you look so happy, and no wonder!!

Cheryl said...

I would love to have a yard full of periwinkles! Your trips are so awesome!

Unknown said...

Great pix. That river is amazing. SO nice to see them full and rushing over the rocks. I can almost hear it.

I love periwinkle, too. It comes back every year, and spreads. The purple flowers are such a joy.

My crocus and squill are blooming, but the periwinkle is at least a month away.

Happy last day of March.

Kay said...

Well I'm glad you finally have some spring where you live. It's about time (LOL).

Shelley said...

Betsy - you look like a pro w/ that camera around your neck! Nice to see these beautiful photos of yours and George's adventures! You 2 are my idols! Beautiful blog header too! Hope you're enjoying some warm weather. We hit 70 degrees today in Michigan!
Hugs,
SHelley

Diane said...

Great shots of the river, Betsy. I love your periwinkles. So pretty. I even love the name, it sounds kind of fairyish. Have a great day. Diane

Together We Save said...

Yes the water in the Little Piegon Rive flows faster than you might think, when we were little.... my sister lost a flip flop and thought she would just step in and get it, that rushing water about carried her away.

These pictures bring back wonderful memories.

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Very beautiful river photos.I love the flowers.I think I have not seen before this one------so like blue flowers.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

We have spent many a day on that Little Pidgeon River, it's one of the most beautiful places, and you are correct, can turn violent in a short while, with lots of rain cascading down the mountains.
Such a serene place, a good choice to get away and have a surprise birthDAY.
Betsy and George, you are one beautiful and romantic couple.
God Bless You both !

Anonymous said...

I suppose the noise from the water was fantastic.

Love Of Quilts said...

Beautiful pictures.God Bless Trish

Glenda said...

Oh, the periwinkles are so pretty - and such a beautiful color!

Love all the water pics - especially the first photo, which is just incredibly beautiful! Don't you think God must have so enjoyed designing all these places that you and George get to see and capture in photos?!

LV said...

One thing for sure, you two know the right places to go. This a truly beautiful area. I bet the water was cold.

Anonymous said...

We have Perwinkles too - lovely. Will have to visit that area for all the water - I just love waterfalls, creeks, whatever!

Rose said...

Beautiful place, Betsy!!! That water looks cold to me...

Femin Susan said...

Gorgeous pics! I love the flowing water. Awesome place.
Cheers!

Carletta said...

I'm definitely putting the Greenbrier area on my list for our next trip to the Smokies. It is just my kind of scenery.
Your perwinkle is beautiful!
I commented to George that I needed to learn to take water pictures as smooth as his - I see you have the know how too! :)

Connie said...

I can almost hear that water rushing over the rocks, Betsy. I love that sound. Your periwinkle is a marvelous color. Quite lovely! :)

colleen said...

Those pictures are very stirring!

Dorothy said...

Isn't mother nature fascinating, and the color in your photos is wonderful. Looks like your having such a great time.

Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com

The Retired One said...

As much as I love your waterfall photos, I think my favorite in this bunch is the flowers...the colors are beautiful!

SquirrelQueen said...

The river area is beautiful, it must have been a wonderful trip. Great shot of George on the bridge. I've done some whitewater rafting on some river in that area I think, too long ago to remember.

Love the little periwinkle.