On Monday (8/27/12), we had to go that direction to run some errands, SO we headed to the gorgeous SMOKY MOUNTAINS for a day of hiking and photography... We visited Tremont and Cades Cove. Surprisingly (since it was the end of August I guess), most of the tourists had left the area... We love having visitors to the Smokies --but we also love to have it to ourselves (if you know what I mean).
One thing I noticed about this particular trip there were the hints of Fall all around us....It's still late summer (and our temperatures remind us of that) ---but I did want to share some of the early signs of Fall which I saw... As we drove and drove higher and higher into the mountains at Tremont, I noticed several trees beginning to show off their colors... I'll share a few of them with you today.
There was quite a bit of yellow ---and we even noticed a yellow tint to things when we got into Cades Cove. This yellow was found in the mountains in the Tremont area.
And I love these little yellow wildflowers... They are everywhere in the Cades Cove area. Aren't they pretty?
One other wildflower blooming in Cades Cove is the purple one shown here. These may be Thistles (same color)---but I'm not sure. Maybe one of you wildflower experts know... Whatever they are, they are pretty.
I love the REDS of autumn ---so just 'had' to get a close-up of this one for you... Oh --how I love Autumn ---and all of the beautiful colors. AND--as I've said before, I not only enjoy seeing the colors of autumn, but I also love to 'smell' autumn in the air....
Here is a gorgeous photo taken in Cades Cove. There is not nearly as much color here as in Tremont --but the elevation is lower. I love this picture of the cove with those gorgeous Smoky Mountains in the background... Don't you think that Fall is on the way when you see a picture like this? I love the 'yellow tint'....
This one is from the Tremont area --beginning to show its Fall colors... I was really surprised to see as much Fall color as I did since we were still in August... We don't have any color much here at home yet, but the dogwoods are beginning to show their Fall colors.
Finally, this one is not really a Fall picture (could be any time of the year I suppose)---but I love it ... SO --I just had to show it to you all who love barns and fences like I do.... This was taken at Cades Cove. (Well--there is some yellow in one of the trees --so I guess it can be a Fall photo.... ha)
Hope you enjoyed seeing a hint of Fall today.... Wish now that the temperatures would cooperate ---and that it would get cooler!!!! There's nothing like a cool, crispy morning to make the Autumn colors pop....
Hope you had a great weekend. We certainly did. I enjoyed going to the Bridal Brunch for Dawn, and George enjoyed his time together with Jeff. They had lunch out together --and Jeff took George to visit an old Civil War railroad tunnel.... George loved that!!!!!
Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Hugs,
Betsy
