Monday, October 29, 2012

Autumn on the Blue Ridge Parkway

I'm writing this post as a follow-up to my story on Holy Trinity Church of the Fresco.  We drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway after touring the church, and the leaf colors were really gorgeous that day.  Sometimes I save my pictures and material and wait weeks (or months) to write about them; but I wanted to go ahead and get this out because the leaves are being blown off the trees faster than I've ever seen before.  There have been years where some of our trees in the area still had pretty leaves as late as Thanksgiving.  I'm pretty sure that won't be the case this year.

Not only were the leaves spectacularly colorful, but the sky was colorful as well, and full of interesting cloud formations.  I love the different layers of sky colors in this picture.  There are violet, pale rose, white, pale blue, and then the smokey blue of the mountain ridges in the distance.



More layers here as the sun gets lower in the sky...


Our first stop was here at the Basin Cove Overlook.




You can see the blue ridges in the distance that gave these mountains their name. I tried to frame these views with the overhanging pine branch.



I did a few macro photos of these pretty wildflowers that were growing at the overlook where we stopped to admire the views.




These pictures give you an idea of how rich the colors were that day.  It makes me sad to think that those leaves have probably all been blown off the trees by now.  But it's even worse to think about what our friends in the mid-Atlantic are probably dealing with at the moment.

The image below is in my blog header.




This was the last overlook we stopped at.


The view in the valley reminds me of a patchwork quilt, with the little farms divided into patches of smooth green and colorful trees forming the borders of the quilt squares.  These are my favorite views; they look so peaceful and pastoral.




The picture below shows Stone Mountain State Park in the distance.  My husband and son hiked across the top of this with our son's scout troop about six years ago. 



My husband did this last picture by taking five pictures that overlapped and then stitched them together in Photoshop to make this panorama.  Unfortunately, the size got reduced when it was uploaded to Picasa.


I'm so glad you decided to stop by House at Forest Manor, and I hope you enjoyed seeing the beautiful colors of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  To my blogging friends in the north, I hope you're all safe, dry, and warm tonight.  Our thoughts are with you.

Denise 

8 comments:

  1. Am I the first to visit today? I hope that isn't due to our blog friends blowing away with Sandy! The view in this post is just breath taking, Denise. I am putting a trip to your neck of the woods on the priority list for next fall. I have been itching to visit since first finding your blog, but even more so now. Just plain beautiful!!

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  2. Gorgeous photos. I think I made it up to the mountains at least once a week (except this one) this whole month. I just love fall and I didn't want to miss a thing. Just last week on Wednesday, Tristan and I went back for a redo of a previous picnic trip that was a little too chilly for us to eat outside. This time it was VERY warm and I was wishing my 3/4 sleeves were short sleeves or a tank top. And now they have snow. Crazy.
    I am already missing the leaves myself. I was looking forward to enjoying them for a while longer down here off the mountain but at the winds we have had, it doesn't seem there is going to be many to enjoy. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos. I never tire of looking at our mountains.

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  3. Oh my, What exquisite color!!!! Just beautiful!!!!! Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!! Cathy

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  4. There is nothing like the Blue Ridge for Fall color....Beauty everywhere!!!...

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  5. What gorgeous country! The layer upon layer of color and the beauty of autumn still sitting on top of it all. I'd like to see those views one day myself, though if I never do, thank you for sharing them here.

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  6. Yes, I did enjoy visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway through your pics! What wonderful photos, Denise and such pretty country that you live in. I get to enjoy NC some more through your eyes. XO

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  7. *Sigh*, simply gorgeous. And peaceful! I've never been much of a fan of autumn, as where I lived before the season was so fleeting with winter nipping at it's heels. But in England, the season lasts so long that I can really savor it and appreciate it to the fullest. Thank you for sharing your capture of the gorgeous season!

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  8. Denise,
    That is the most gorgeous color in that landscape. My Dad used to have us go down to TN every fall when the leaves were at their peak. We have been on the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Great shots! Thanks for taking me back to those trips.
    Sherry

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