Appalachian Spring – Page 4 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Mayapple Flowers

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Mayapple 42720” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The welcoming sunshine guides my trek into the forest. As I move quietly through the undergrowth the small songbirds shift to higher perches in the trees. I have been trying to desensitize them my presence and some of them no longer flee the yard completely as I pass but they’re not quite trusting yet. I give them a drawn out “hi-lo” whistle just as I do while filling the feeders. My hope is that they’ll begin to associate my call with being fed and develop some trust. As I enter the shaded spot on the edge of the property a few Crane Flies cross the sunbeams and in t he mottled light it’s easy to imagine that the fairies have taken wing to avoid being found.

Looking around, I noticed that the Mayapple has bloomed. Even if I never got a chance to collect a little of the fruit I’d still keep them around for the beautiful flowers they produce. The flowers don’t really last long. They soon fade away and not too long afterwards are replaced by a single green fruit about the size of a grape. I’ll be watching them closely this year to see if I can beat the squirrels to a few but for now I the flowers to brighten my path.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The Oncoming Pollen Season

Color Photography

Virginia Pine In Bloom 5220a — Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Virginia Pine In Bloom 5220” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The big blue truck idles slowly through the forest edge to the bench where my wife and I had a mobile home parked early in ourlife together. I had refused to move the small pines when they were only a few inches tall. We moved from that spot decades ago and now these pines form a privacy shelter for the site.

In mid Spring in our area the pine sends out clouds of airborne pollen that coats everything. In some years we joke about the Department of Highways needing to bring out the snow plows and clear that pollen from the roads.

Image Titled “Virginia Pine 5220b”

They are really just getting started in these photos. I have seen days when the breeze would pick up and the pollen coming from the pines looked like smoke rising into the air. They really go into production in a few weeks. The pine pollen can be real trouble for those of us who suffer from allergies but there might be a little benefit from all that yellow stuff floating in the air. Some herbalists say that pine pollen not only stimulates the immune system ( thus the allergic reaction) but might also prevent some types of cancer, increase testosterone levels, promote weight loss and lower blood pressure. ( This is according to a quickie Google search and only presented as trivia)

I asked Google how much pine pollen humans ingest per year without trying to but she didn’t seem to have an answer. I suspect that it’s quite a bit because there’s so much of it this time of year. The loblolly pine (not pictured ) can produce as much as 5 pounds of pollen per season per tree. When you consider that my home state of West Virginia is the third most forested state in the USA that’s a lot of pines pumping pollen into the air. We have to be getting enough to have a little effect on our nutrition.

( For more about the food value of Virginia Pine check out Forage Friday post #22)

As I ponder the oncoming pollen storm provided by the pines in my area I decided to head back to the house and make sure that my snow shovel was accessible. Just in case the pollen falls overnight. 😉

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Do You Like Butter?

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Buttercup 5920” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

There was test that all Appalachian kids had to pass. In the Spring when the Buttercups were in bloom we had to pass a trial by nature in order to find the answer to one of life’s most important questions. “Do you like butter?” If the buttercup casts a yellow glow onto your chin then all who were gathered could see that the answer was yes. Amazingly, everyone passed! We all liked butter. Not margarine ( which is now referred to as “plant butter”.) It had to be “actual butter from the utter”.

Those were the days when magic was real. A buckeye in your pocket was a sure way to have good luck and a Granddaddy long legs ( also known as a harvestmen) could certainly point you in the direction of lost cattle.

Every Spring my lawn is blessed with a carpet of Buttercups. The bright yellow polka dots always make me feel like a kid again. And while the buttercup’s powers of divination are based on childhood games and excuses to giggle they do still have the magical ability to make me smile.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Orange Azalea In May

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Orange Azalea 5920a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The Orange Azalea is definitely one of my favorites. It seems like the point where this one blooms marks the last cold snap. Well, more or less the last one.

Image Titled Orange Azalea 5920b shows the bush’s likeness to living flame

Like the red maple keys this azalea make my imagination well up with images of the plant storing up the heat of the sun until it finally erupts into flames. The unopened buds even resemble fire with their conical form.

It’s also a favorite of the local butterflies. They all gather on it every year when the flowers open. I’m not certain that they’re native to the area but the do seem to grow wild. I don’t really see as many of them in the woods as I did when I growing up but we actually called them honeysuckle. Which they’re not. I have also noticed that the hummingbirds are attracted to them and when they bloom that means that I should be watching for the hummingbirds to return.

Image Titled Orange Azalea 5920c

The blooms are short lived. In a few weeks they’ll be scattered across my lawn but for now they are pure joy!

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The Jacob’s Ladder Has Bloomed

Color Photography, wildlife

Jacob's Ladder 42720a — Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Jacob’s Ladder 42720a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The Sun was still shining a few days ago as I looked upwards into the steep landscape. Cardnials played in the thicket near the bench on the edge of my property. An event that I have been watching for since Christmas was now taking place. The Jacob’s Ladder that I spotted in December wad finally in bloom.

Jacob's Ladder 42720b — Image Titled “Jacob’s Ladder 42720b” showing a closer look at the bloom.

I have lived on this mountain for about 27 years and I’m only just now getting a little time to explore and survey the all the little niches. I’m truly amazed at the variety of life there is just outside my door. All of the common little things that I’ve seen on a daily basis but never really paid attention to seem to jump out of the background and exclaim “Check me out!” It’s really an advantage of having a little extra time this year.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤