Come to the Limberlost with Me

Put on your walking shoes and go with me into the Limberlost Forest!!

Dear Friends,   I invite you to go with me on an interesting hike in the woods on the LIMBERLOST TRAIL,   off of  Skyline Drive in Virginia  (8/7/19).   Even if you aren't much of a 'hiker' --you would enjoy this trail.  It is only 1.3 miles total,  in a mostly flat area --and the trail is in GREAT shape with benches all along the area for resting and/or reflection.

This trail is a little different from many of the trails along Skyline Drive --since it is just a short walk through the woods  (with no overlooks or views).   BUT--depending upon when you are there,  there are LOTS of things to see and experience--including wildlife (deer, bears, rabbits, etc.).

Years ago,  this area was known for its HUGE Hemlock Trees.  I grew up with Hemlocks in our yard,  so I've always had a special affection toward them.   Most of you know that many of the Hemlocks throughout our country have been killed over the past ten+ years by an accidentally imported insect (the Hemlock wooly adelgid).   Seeing the dead Hemlock trees is just SO sad for me.  

When we hike,  I enjoy doing some research in order to find out more about an area.  Here's some history about this trail/area.  Addie Pollack bought 100 of the large Hemlock trees in the area for $1000 to help preserve this land in 1920 from logging.  Her husband named it the Limberlost Forest after the novel,  "A Girl of the Limberlost".   The Pollocks were responsible for establishing Skyland as a resort destination nearby (which is where George and I stayed recently).

Today,   I'll share some of the things I observed while hiking this trail....  Hope you enjoy 'our' hike  today!!!!!

George waits patiently for me --while I stop and check out my surroundings.

There are beautiful (and large) ferns everywhere...

Deep into the forest we go... What can I see?

How 'bout a Centipede (OR some kind of insect)???

OR --this strange tree!!!!  I named him Mr. Knotty!!!!

George is waiting on me again!!!!!!! ha ha

Oh My---see the pretty little Wildflowers?

We did see a few larger Hemlocks along our way.

Here's a close-up of a Hemlock --in case you don't recognize them.

Something is enjoying this dead tree!!!!  (It's not a beaver though since there's no water nearby.)

Called the "Rock of Ages" --Such an interesting rock formation!!!

I did some research on this interesting group of rocks...They are called  Columnar Joints which formed many years ago as volcanic rock cooled and contracted,  and is thus a geological structure where sets of intersecting closely spaced fractures,  referred to as joints,  resulted in the formation of an array of columns... Column diameters can measure anywhere up to about 10 feet, and the length can be as much as 100 feet.  They are typically parallel and straight--but can be curved.  The number of sides of the individual columns can vary from 3-8,  with 6 sides being the most common.   If you want more information,   click HERE.

Here is a better picture of the "Rock of Ages";  Interesting, huh?

I love seeing all of the different mushrooms.

Maybe I'll just sit in the ferns for awhile!!!!

Or maybe I'll just enjoy seeing the deer showing no fear of our presence nearby..

HOPE:  A Baby Hemlock!!!

I'll end our little hike showing you that there is HOPE when it comes to nature..... Things do come back--even though it takes awhile.  I loved seeing the 'baby' Hemlocks!!!!!!!   Do you enjoy checking out all of the glories of nature when you are out walking or hiking????   I certainly do!

Hope you enjoyed our hike on the LIMBERLOST TRAIL today....

Happy Labor Day to ALL.

Hugs,

Emoticons

Beautiful LILIES in our Yard --2019 (Part I)

Montenegro Lilies,  6/03/19

Dear Friends,  As most of you know,  we have a "Deer Eating Our Flowers"  problem at times.  As George always says (and I agree):  "I love seeing the deer as long as they are NOT in our yard".... Last year,  they loved munching on our LILIES  (one of my favorite plants).... And once they eat the lily buds/blooms --that plant is finished for the season. (At least the Roses will come back --after being munched on.)

SO during the Fall,  George dug up ten of my favorite lilies planted in the front yard,  and replanted them in containers --which we put on the deck.  This year,  I/we enjoyed watching those beautiful Lilies bloom...  I could even enjoy them, and smell their wonderful fragrance,  from inside our home --since some of them are close to one of our Sliding Glass doors... Moving the plants to the deck worked well--and I was/am a "happy girl".... Thanks, George!!!!

I have two blog posts showing our LILIES... They bloomed off and on from the middle of May   to the second week of July.  We had 12 different types of Lilies to bloom this year --and,  since the deer stayed away from our entire yard MOST of the time,  we not only had them blooming on the deck --but also in the front yard...   It has been a good year for the LILIES....  (And with the rainy winter and spring,  the deer had plenty to eat elsewhere this year..)

Hope you enjoy today's pictures.... You'll have to pick out a favorite (or two or three)....

Some of our Lilies on the deck,   6/9/19

Pink Lemonade Lilies after a rain,  6/18/19

Orange Electric Lilies,  6/8/19

This Lily, Pink Perfection,  just kept GROWING....  Not sure how tall it was,  but probably about 7+ feet.   George is 6'2" --so you decide!!!!!! ha....,  6/19/19  (NOW--see picture below!)

Pink Perfection Lilies,  6/19/19  (Thank Goodness for the zoom lens on my Canon;  otherwise it would have been hard to capture this huge Lily.)

A favorite of mine,  Muscadet Lilies, 7/3/19;  These beauties bloomed both in the front yard and on the deck.

Always a favorite,  Rosella's Dream Lilies,  6/8/19

An old-time favorite of many folks:  Stargazer Lilies,  7/6/19   (Those are Muscadet Lilies to the right.)

Golden Splendor Lilies, 6/19/19;   We were blessed to have these Lilies blooming both in the front yard and on the deck.

Purple Prince Lilies,  6/25/19

One of my favorite Lilies,  Lombardia Lily,  7/1/19;   This one's color is so amazing;  Looks like it could glow in the dark!!!!

Lilies are interesting to study... There are about 8 (or more) varieties.... Since making a 'combo' lily OR hybrid lily has become popular,  there are and will be even more varieties...

Two things come to mind of most people when thinking about Lilies... First are EASTER LILIES...  I always thought they were a Trumpet Lily --but they are in their own category,  Longiflorium Lilies...    The second thing which usually comes to mind are the DITCH LILIES.... Those are the orange lilies which grow along ditches or used as ground cover (since they are invasive and will spread)..  What you may not know is that the Ditch Lilies are actually Day Lilies --since the blooms only last a day..  BUT---since there are usually SO many blooms,  most people don't even realize that each bloom only lasts a day.

We grow Day Lilies also ---and ours get prettier every year --since the plants get bigger and stronger --and give us many more blooms per plant.....

Here's a webpage if you are interested in learning more about the VARIETIES of LILIES. Click HERE.  Two of our Asiatic Lilies in today's post are Montenegro  and Rosella's Dream.   Two of our Trumpet Lilies are Golden Splendor and Pink Perfection.  Two of our Oriental Lilies are Stargazer and Muscadet.    AND one of our Orienpet Lilies is Purple Prince.   The Orienpet Lilies are a cross between an Oriental Lily and a Trumpet Lily.  We used to have the Turk's Cap Lilies (which I always called Tiger Lilies).  We no longer have that variety.

As I have said,  Lilies are interesting --and so much fun to watch them grow and bloom.  Hope you enjoyed seeing some of our beautiful Lilies.... There's more to come soon!!!!!

Have an awesome day --and remember to contact those you love.  My sons have no idea how wonderful it is to hear from them.... I SMILE really big when I get those phone calls...

Hugs,

Emoticons