"There's a WHAT behind the trailer?"
----------
My landlord told me there was a creek about 1/4 of a mile behind the property and a trail that went all through the woods, at a peak of property lines owned by 3-4 different people and the state, collectively creating a general no-man's land of "forest" that no one really claims, but those able, curious or interested, wander around in, drive 4x4's through and, as I have, "vibe".

Areas like this exist all over North Carolina and it was common where I grew up for older folk to own a few acres of property, but then ignore the entire back half of it like it isn't there. That's all well and good, curious people, weird folk and kids on journeys to find themselves make good use of these areas throughout their lives.

The first four photos are of the creek area I found, actually, what part of it I walked... because there's actually far more I didn't have time or energy to deal with today, but I did walk a fair half mile of it.

You know, if a guy wanted to take a tent out there and go camping, he might just enjoy that. Hm... that's a fun thought.

Someone aught to do that.

#photography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #landscapephotography #canon #mirrorless #bofipho #r8 #cameras #northcarolina #nc #winstonsalem #highpoint #trees #flowers #plants #blueways #greenways #spring #springinforest

Highpoint Lake Rematch* and The Busted Heel
----------
Yesterday night at work, I grabbed my toolbox to put it up and ran over the back of the heel of my foot. That night, I fantasized about the next morning, this past Thursday, a sunny, slightly-hazy spring day, where I could venture to places at the HighPoint lake trail I had missed previously... after being at work for 10 hours, awake for 14 hours, with a busted up heel. I am a stubborn person.
Even so, some part of me is entirely unaware that it's early spring and that there really isn't much in the way of things to take photos of at the moment other than fisherman taking advantage of the weather-changes as fish move from place to place, but even without a camera, I'd still be hiking, and there were a few good shots here and there... but really, I didn't consider this much of a win day photo-wise, I just had fun hiking lol. ow... yeah, my heel hurts.

I think this area will be a lot better in the mid-fall or late spring when flowers are everywhere, or possibly when it gets damp for mushroom hunting. There are deer here, although I'm not skilled enough, nor do I have the lens (you camera guys know "the lens") to get a deer reliably but there were a few running around.

For now, at least as far as hiking photos go, I need to let Spring bake a bit. There are some local targets to go after around my house tomorrow to get. Apparently our neighbor has a HUUUUGE redbud tree in their front yard that just bloomed all-magenta.

Next "big" trip will be Natural Bridge, but it's going to be an overnight stay at least and require some planning. I'm pushing the lighthouse trip off until late summer. With the war going on, I need to be conservative on money for my own safety for now.

Natural Bridge will also be an exercise in timing. Would you want to go with 200 tourists photo-bombing your shots every five seconds? lol, off-season or bust, yo. I gotta get it done before Spring Break at least.

Another one-off or two before Saturday, I'm taking my mom out to eat tomorrow and it'll be pretty tomorrow too and I'm sure I'll see something to hit the brakes for. Cya!
---
#photography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #landscapephotography #canon #mirrorless #bofipho #r8 #cameras #northcarolina #nc #winstonsalem #highpoint #trees #flowers #plants #blueways #greenways #spring #springinforest

Early Spring - Muted Pastels and The Eastern Redbud
------
I woke up today mad at how it looked outside. I get one valid day a week to go out and do this hobby and today was a constant melancholic overcast suited for a Danny Boyle film, and here I am wanting to go take pretty pictures of the plants.

In some odd way, I feel like I made it work, but in the most... crowbar'd way. lol, I wanted some sun, but I'll make do with what I'm given so I went for trying to get the most out of the pastel look the entire day had, mute the contrast a bit, make it look dreamy and like someone's playing shoegaze in the background.

Also the area I went to, "High Point Lake" had a small spot with a bird feeder so... I wasted way more time on that than I thought I would and felt like I could almost make an entire day out of sitting there aimed at birds. Every time I walked away something new showed up and I had to stop myself lol. It's EARLY spring. We will birdwatch... but not right now. Let it get a little greener.

I started this thing this year with the Bradford Pear where I want to photograph, if not native plants, then at least plants "that are here" and whether or not they're invasive or not invasive. In two of these photos I have here is an Eastern Redbud.

"The pink to reddish-purple flowers emerge in early spring on old branches and trunks, before the leaves. After blooming, the heart-shaped leaves emerge and mature to a dark green, turning yellow to yellowish orange by fall. The trees produce clusters of green seed pods that look similar to snow peas, but brown when mature."
https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/garden-detective-purple-flowering-trees-native-redbud-invasive-paulownia/

The Eastern Redbud is Native to the Eastern US and North Carolina. When I got up on it, I thought something was kinda alien about the purple flowers growing on it, but so far, considering my roster of... 2, this is my favorite tree thusfar this year.

My only real issue with this tree so far is that finding good examples of it that are planted on purpose seems to be a bit rare. They're every 70th tree on the highway, but I've yet to see one alone. This one I literally had to park 1/4 from and find. They're really pretty, I mean, I'd plant one. The entire tree has these little clusters of buds on it. Apparently they change color through to fall.

#photography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #landscapephotography #canon #mirrorless #bofipho #r8 #cameras #northcarolina #nc #winstonsalem #highpoint #trees #flowers #plants #birds #blueways #greenways

Farmers want a slice of agri-tourism. Build greenways along all road frontage, open cafes and B&Bs, welcome the active tourists https://www.independent.ie/farming/comment/hannah-quinn-mulligan-time-farmers-got-a-slice-of-the-agri-tourism-pie/a1471683616.html
#farmers #Greenways

#Greenways are critical transportation infrastructure. When they're shut down, DOTs have to be ready to provide a safe, suitable detour. This greenway is going to be unusable for the foreseeable future. @ncdot.bsky.social what are your plans to keep North Carolinians safe in the meantime?