Peaceful places – Page 19 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Mountain Magnolias. A True Joy.

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Peter’s Creek Magnolia 52221a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Two months ago I published a brief introduction to using the leaf scars as a way of identifying trees. One of the examples I found was the Mountain Magnolia on the edge of my property. The long purple buds an easy identifying trait but packed up tightly inside that bud is one of our finest natural treasures.

The Early Spring buds of Mountain Magnolia.

The leaves inside the buds are probably the largest of our native trees. Young princess trees have a much bigger leaf but the mature princess trees leaves are tiny compared to mature mountain Magnolia. Inside that bud is several leaves that can be twenty inches long and eight inches wide. I think that the one in this image is too young to flower because I’ve never seen it bloom. But in the surrounding forest there’s others that put on some of the beautiful floral shows on my mountain. When fully open they’re average is ten inches in diameter with a fragrance that is unmistakable.

A Mountain Magnolia flower bud read to start its show.

One of the mature Mountain Magnolias in my backyard.

At this stage the flowers are just starting to open and I’ve always thought that they reminded me of doves rooting as a flock. The whole property is filled with a sweet scent and in recent days this is where the Eastern Towhee has been. He sticks to the shadows and flees any time we come out to see him. His favorite hiding place is in the thick undergrowth beneath this tree where the large leaves shelter him from both sun and rain.

A closer look at one of the Mountain Magnolia flowers starting to form.

We’re so blessed with wildlife here that it’s almost impossible to pick a favorite. But I really do look forward to seeing these beauties.

Another forming flower on the tree in my backyard.

This particular tree was one of the first to spring up after the Derecho of 2012 leveled my forest. Ever since the Mountain Magnolias have been a sort of symbol of hope for me. Beauty often springs from brokenness.

The Magnolia flowers seem to go through several stages before they fully open.

The small seedlings that came up to grow didn’t flower for a few years. I watched as year after year they graced the landscape with their huge leaves but no bloom.

In this stage they are already pumping out that sweet fragrance.

I’ve always commented about how opportunity slips so easily into the past. But it’s also true that the past carries away our sorrow as well. As the Magnolias and their companions reclaimed what the storm had broken I began to see that beauty doesn’t fade as much as it goes into a transition. The larger trees that fell made room for the seeds that lay dormant waiting for their turn to grow.

Once fully open the spectacular flowers reveal an intricate cone.

The flowers are only open for about two weeks and easily bruised by rain. The cones in the center will form a bright red cluster of berries that are dispersed by birds and squirrels. A lot of them will simply fall to ground and leave a black lump that’s often mistaken for bear scat. You can have a little bit of fun with your younger siblings by pointing them out and implying that we’re not alone.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.

We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

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

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

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

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

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! Simply use 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=238248269630914251Lastly, 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 photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️

To Catch The Wind

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Eastern Red Cedar 51821a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Thick evergreen boughs shake lightly in the still afternoon air. The Eastern Red Cedar is just beginning to flower and soon the light colored cones will be replaced by fragrant blue berries. I hoped to find a Cedar Waxwing building a nest or simply hanging out among the boughs but whatever the sly bird was it made a hasty egress on the other side of tree. I remember when this particular Cedar was just a tiny sprout growing among the brambles on the border of my parent’s driveway and the neighbor’s fields. In those days the only occupants of the large open hill were cattle. On warm Spring days the huge open field was the perfect spot to try and launch a kite. In the days before drones a kite was the best way to touch the sky. I seem to remember that we had one with Snoopy on it and the other was embossed with the markings of the Red Barron. We were by no means expert kite pilots. In fact we were happy to just get them airborn most of the time. We were thrilled if one made it above the trees! Now we have drones of every imaginable type and automatic return with high quality video. But the connection is virtual. The skill of reading the wind by the slightest vibration of a string and knowing that it’s time to reduce or increase tension is rare if not lost within the general public. And now it’s the little sprout that I used to brush past on my way to the open field that touches the sky. My she stand for generations and hopefully one day see children rediscover the lost art of catching the wind with a string.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

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

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

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/embed/#?secret=ZBipPVJdZw

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

In The Pink

Color Photography, wildlife

A warm glow spreads through my mountains and drives out the unseasonably cold rain. In the wake of the life giving rays of the sun all manner of woodland creatures scurry, fly crawl and swim throughout my forest sanctuary. I step out into the warm day myself and feel somewhat renewed by the sunshine and balmy breeze out of the south. The white azaleas have run their course and lay exhausted in the grass at the base of the shrub which is now sprouting new leaves. But my pink azaleas are still bursting into a glorious bloom. The little bush has found just the right spot to be happy on the Eastern Wall of my deck. The dense cluster of twigs and branches provide just enough cover for the songbirds that frequent my feeders when the shadow of the crows and hawks pass overhead. I’m still waiting for the hummingbirds to make an appearance here but they have been visiting my mother’s feeders on the other side of the river and mountains. In the meantime I am still visited by the sparrows, goldfinches, cardnials and towhee that are often found waiting their turn at the feeders in the pink azaleas.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

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

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

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/embed/#?secret=ZBipPVJdZw

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

White Azaleas & Waiting

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Azaleas 50221” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Cool air washes down the mountain and spills into the landscape around my home. Amid the gently rocking boughs my white azaleas sway in the breeze as if dancing to a tune that only nature can hear. This particular bush has been a fine companion in spring. It blooms early and holds its bloom until the rest of the forest has completely awoken. It’s not really uncommon for me to spot numerous types of bees lovingly gathering pollen and nectar from the pure white flowers. A few years ago I found a very small nest deep in its branches with a few jellybean sized eggs and it wasn’t long before my yard was full of hummingbirds. They like it along with my snowball bush and the winter honeysuckle to nest in. I’ve not spotted a hummingbird yet this year but I have noticed the level of liquid dropping in my hummingbird feeders. They’re around but they’re being sneaky. I continue to keep a sharp eye out for the living darts that zip across the window. I was once advised that 90% of wildlife photography was waiting and that has certainly proven to be true. Perhaps when the wind settles a bit they’ll show themselves.

Capturing the right wildlife photos is a bit like hunting. Sometimes you get out and scout for signs in areas where you have plenty of the things wildlife likes and needs hoping that you’ll bump into each other. Other times you sit down and wait while your quarry passes stealthily behind you. But there’s always a good story. It’s either how you got the shot or how you missed it. But our lives are a series of experiences and the the stories that come from them. The value of a good story is not only the teller but the listener and I thank you for being a part of mine.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

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

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

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/embed/#?secret=ZBipPVJdZw

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

A Few Ponderings On Panther Mountain

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Spring Blessings 50121” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The only sound is the dry grinding of gravel under the wheels of my big blue truck as I slowly coast down Panther Mountain. Among the various woodland violets and other mountain flora are the small creatures that are now fully awake and roaming the forest floor. A little movement through the ferns tells me that a chipmunk is scurrying for a hole to hide in. The Spring day is cool and dry for the moment. The county has come through and trimmed back the brush and graded the twisted mountain pass making for a more pleasant drive. I ponder exploring the road all the way to the end sometimes but the truth is I don’t know if the road is wide enough for my truck. There are a few places where only a couple of feet separate the wheels from the canyon below. The majority of traffic I encounter here are ATVs and off road vehicles with a much more narrow wheel base. Still, I’m drawn to the point where I know that I’ll have enough room to park and enjoy the views before turning around. The valley holds the pristine Gauley River and if it wasn’t for the occasional kayak you could easily imagine yourself gazing on a landscape that was untouched by the winds of time. After a few moments of watching the Gauley River making it’s way to the Kanawha River I decided move on. That’s when the crabapple caught my attention. It’s absolutely loaded with bloom this year. The presence of such a large fruit tree that seems to be the only one of its kind in the area is a sign that many years ago this was a homestead. And there are a few Victorian Age homes hidden on private property not far from this spot. For whatever reason they were abandoned and falling in now. One day all that will be left is the odd piece of broken glass and cut stones to make people wonder about the world that was. I do know of at least 2 graves of the veterans of the revolution that kept by their descendants not too far away as well. The crabapple is too young to have been a part of their lives but I imagine it too had ancestors here. I suppose that time has not forgotten the landscape after all. It’s amazing how fast nature can reclaim her mountains.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

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

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

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/embed/#?secret=ZBipPVJdZw