Tag: Appalachian Spring

Tranquility Under The Dogwood Trees

Color Photography
Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Dogwood 41320” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

A breeze sweeps across the New River as the climbs ever skyward.
Behind me the geese are honking in the Gauley River as they Approach the Kanawha River. It’s a great morning in the three rivers area in spite of previous night’s storm and the loss of grid power. The open invitation to slow the pace of life cannot be denied so after learning that the grid would be down most of the day I spent some time with the little Dogwood trees on the Midland Trail.

The Dogwood trees are among the true pleasures of life in the Appalachian Mountains. The simple cross pattern of four pedals and little cluster in the center is one of the hallmarks of springtime. I have some of the best childhood memories of playing under a Dogwood tree. Now that I’m a little older I feel very at peace just taking in the atmosphere around them. No agenda, just tranquility in all of its beautiful simplicity.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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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

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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

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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!❤

Forage Friday #54 Speedwell

Color Photography, Forage Friday
Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Speedwell 32420a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Tiny purple flowers have just about taken over my whole yard. I have noticed them every spring and always associated them with a change in the climate from cold and snowy to warm and sunny. Give or take a few weeks. What I didn’t know was that they’re a forage plant with ancient origins.

They go by several names. Brookline, Gypsyweed, Birdseye and Speedwell. Overall, there’s over 500 varieties of this little flower. All are listed under the genus Veronica. I have chosen to refer to them as Speedwell.

Image Titled “Speedwell 32420b”.

As you can see by the oak leaf in the lower left foreground in Image “Speedwell 32420b” the plant is quite small but it’s also very plentiful. Almost as plentiful as the small white Chickweed that accompanies it. Everything that I’ve read about Speedwell makes mention of “several varieties” being used for one thing or another. In one culture it’s referred to as a weed another culture uses it for ground cover and in a mixture of both it’s revered as medicine. It is a living example of beauty being in the eye of the beholder.

In full disclosure, this is one of many plants that I have studied but never sampled. So as far as the flavor is concerned I’m taking other people’s word. And as one might expect, individual experiences seem to vary. But with 500 types of Speedwell it’s expected that different varieties would be more palatable than others. Some plants change their chemistry with stages of development and soil conditions so it’s likely that would effect flavors.

The species I believe that I have is Veronica americana. Which is said to have a flavor similar to watercress.

Speedwell seems to have a worldwide reputation as an expectorant. It does seem to emerge at the right time to be handy for use as a remedy for respiratory complaints. Some references say that it’s used to sooth the nervous system and just about all of them recommend that an ointment of Speedwell is good for skin problems.

Please remember that I’m not an expert on herbs and I’m definitely not a doctor. I’m just sharing what others have said. Further research is recommended.

Image Titled “Speedwell 32420c”

The preferred time to gather Speedwell seems to when it’s in bloom. The most popular form of using it seems to be as a tea. The tea is said to be a little on the bitter side and is astringent. It’s probably the astringent qualities that make it useful topically for skin conditions.

The season is just about over by the time this article was written but I do want to try this one. If anyone has used Speedwell I’d love to hear about your experience. Please let me know in the comments.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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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/

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 Happy Visitor

Color Photography
Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Honeybee And Dandelion 4720a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The sunshine flows over my mountain bringing life to the forest edge. As it graces my yard I find little golden speckles in it’s wake. The Dandelions seem to have sprouted up overnight. As look over patch near my walkway I noticed that a smaller golden speck rises from the bloom and lands on the next one.

I have already covered Dandelions as a wild edible in Forage Friday #5 but even more important to human life is what it means for the honeybees.

Most beekeepers actively ensure that their hives are well fed in winter and early Spring but the wild honeybees have no such luxury. They must refresh their stores st every opportunity and the dandelions are a golden harvest that comes just in the nick of time.

Image Titled “Honeybee And Dandelion 4720b”

In full disclosure, I’m not a beekeeper and don’t really understand the intricacies of honeybees. But as I understand it Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is still a thing. And while no cause has been scientifically proven among the top suspects in CCD are herbicides.

I’d love to claim that the reason why I don’t use herbicides in my yard is because of the honeybees but that’s only partially true. The simple fact is that I’ve never really been bothered by the dandelions on the lawn. The fact that they help support the bee population is a bonus.

Image Titled “Honeybee And Dandelion 4720c”

The little honeybee didn’t seem to mind at all that a giant hovered just inches away while she packed as much of the powdered sunlight into her saddlebags as possible. She just lovingly worked away in complete bliss of the treasury she found around my yard.

Just seeing her was a huge bright spot in my day because this was the first actual honeybee to bee seen on my property in about two years. The rest have been solitary bees like bumblebees. Perhaps this means that a new colony is somewhere on my mountain spreading joy in the forest.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

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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/

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!❤

Sunlight, Shadows and Serviceberry Flowers.

Color Photography
Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Serviceberry Flowers 41120a”. All of the photos are my original work and are available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The afternoon sun gently kisses the delicate flowers on the forest edge. The occasional breeze is strong enough to pick up a few leaves from the first floor and make them dance in the air.

Image Titled “Serviceberry Flowers 41120b”.

The wind brings a message of change in the air. Soon the cycle of warm and cool will awaken the rest of the sleeping forest.

The broken remanents of the gray shell that hid the cobalt blue eternity above are driven past by the same breezes that shake the boughs full of bloom.

Image Titled “Serviceberry Flowers 41120c”

At the time I took the photos it was about 70 degrees Fahrenheit but as I write tonight’s post it’s expected to be below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The oscillation of climate in the Spring causes the ground to “throw” one more cycle before the sun finally wins out. This churning of the soil helps the last few seeds that fell a few weeks ago to become situated in the ground and prepare to germinate.

Image Titled “Serviceberry Flowers 41120d”

The sacred dance continues on as I zero my lens on the clusters of small blooms. The shadows of the clouds fall on the flowers only for a moment before the wind moves them and they appear to shake the darkness off.

Image Titled “Serviceberry Flowers 41120e”.

Eventually the light comes chases the shadows back into the ether.

The gray shell of rain clouds dissipates and the birds that sheltered deep in the forest began to sing as they come out and sit next to flowers.

I take one last look at the beauty of my mountains and drop all the windows of the big blue truck to let the air in before taking my foot off the brakes and idling to my next destination.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. 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/

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!❤

A Promise Of Brighter Days

Color Photography
Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Serviceberry Buds 41120” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

A strong breeze shakes the trees as the big blue truck pulls onto Salmon Run Road. The serviceberry is is blooming everywhere and the bright sun washes over my world like a breath of fresh air. It’s only a pause in the inclement weather but it’s chance to get out of the house. Officially, the park system is closed but in my world there’s no real difference between a park and a quiet road. The forest is full of bloom and this time it’s the serviceberry that takes the spotlight. I noticed the tiny buds just beginning to open. A promise that is about to be fulfilled.

This post is out late due to a loss of electronic services and in my area that means that it may as well be the 1800s. Lord willing, I’ll be able to post more of the serviceberry photos tonight.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. 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/

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!❤