The Roaring Fork is such a beautiful place to visit in the Smokies. I'm seriously wishing I were right here this weekend. It is 76 degrees and no humidity in Louisville right now, with blue skies, and those fluffy white clouds we all love. I'm hoping for the same all weekend long. Hope its beautiful where you are. ENJOY!
Driving along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail has to be one of my favorite things to do when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As I culled through all of my images, I chose this image as my favorite. I really like the composition. 
As I continue my drive farther along the nature trail, I stopped many times just to hear the birds singing their beautiful songs and to listen to the water of the Roaring Fork as it pours over the rocks and boulders making its way along the forest floor. Large carpets of moss cover the rocks and boulders gleaming like emeralds in the sunshine. This truly is a magical place.
There's something about the way the rhodendum bushes drape over the side of the stream with the Roaring Fork rushing by. The sunlight reflecting off of the rhododendum leaves reminds me of diamonds. They should rename this area of the Smokies "Emerald City." With the emerald green moss and the diamond rhododendum leaves, its as though the park has created its own style of jewelry. 
As I meander the nature trail, I pass over the Roaring Fork many times along the route.
Smell that? That's the Mountain Laurel growing all throughout the park. Along the drive, I encountered many trees and bushes blooming with these dainty little pink and white flowers. 
Notice the little dots that form a circle inside each bloom. Wonder what that's about. 
With all of the moisture around me, so close to the Roaring Fork, I expected to see toadstools. And I did. So dainty and delicate looking.
But what a treat when I happened across these dainty little fungi. Orange Peel Fungi believe it or not, I read, are supposedly edible. Although you won't find me munching on them. 
Hope everyone is having a nice week. Stay safe. There are storms predicted for this evening. I'm still trying to process the disaster in Joplin, Missouri, not to mention the Midwest and Deep South with their tornadoes and flooding. Makes one wonder what is going on with Mother Earth. ENJOY!
-2.jpg)
I've wanted to post this photo for quite a while and finally decided now is the time. I took this image when I stopped along the Roaring Fork Nature Trail drive to shoot the river rushing by. I love looking back down the river at all the rocks and foliage. It sounds so great too to hear the water rushing along. I can almost hear it now. This particular photo I decided to add a bit of softness to and put it in an oval frame. I like that Lightroom 3 software. Not bad if I do say so myself. Hope you like the photo. Enjoy!
Oh how I long for warm sunny days with cool breezes and lots of greenery all around. Well it's not going to happen right now as the temps here in Kentucky have finally made their way down into the 20's at night and 30-40's during the day. But I can dream. Here is one of many photos of the road as I winded my way through the Roaring Fork Nature Trail drive in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this past summer. Enjoy!
A little bit of heaven is what you find in the Smokies while driving the Roaring Fork Nature Trail. The waterfall is called, A Place of Thousand Drips, and I got lucky one fall and captured just about that many drips coming out of the falls. Believe it or not you can practically photograph this sitting in your car driving by. But I did chance it, although the road is very narrow, and got out and took some pics in between the cars driving by. The other shot is a bridge not too far from the "Drips". Enjoy!
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of my favorite parks, not just because it is a few hours from my home, but because it is diverse in so many ways. From Cade's Cove and its beautiful valley to Newfound Gap and Clingman's Dome high up on the mountains to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail winding in and around the various forests.
The first photo is the stream running alongside the road on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The road is very, very narrow with only one lane, one way. It is so narrow at times it feels like you're actually walking through the woods and not driving as the trees and moss and overhanging plants and flowers are right on top of you as you drive by. I got out of my car many times just to look at all of the wildflowers and mushrooms along the road. You will miss a great deal if you don't venture out. The sound of the creek and the birds and insects chirping filled my car as I drove with all the windows down to take in the sounds and the cool breeze. I'll post some more pics of my trip in a day or two. I hope you enjoy!
And if you're following me close enough, I didn't use my Pentax camera this trip. I stuck to the digital. Not sure if I'm happy about that or not.