Sunday, July 29, 2012

Roadside Beauty On The Cherohala Skyway

Yesterday, we drove the length of the Cherohala Skyway which runs across the crest of the Unicoi Mountains.  The Cherohala Skyway crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests, connecting Tellico Plains in southeast Tennessee to Robbinsville, in western North Carolina.  The skyway's name comes from a combination of the two forests --Chero from Cherokee and hala from Nantahala.  This two-lane blacktop covers 40 plus miles and rises to an elevation of 5,390 feet, at its highest point.

The views from the overlooks are amazing, but one of my favorite things is the wildflowers that grow next to the roadside all along the skyway.  This year, we finally took the opportunity to photograph some of these flowers.  One flower that I had particularly wanted pics of is the Turk's Cap Lily.  I've been admiring it from the car in previous years, but we've just never found the time or the right spot to stop and take pictures.  This year, we got lucky.  In addition to Turk's Cap Lily, we photographed some wild, miniature Daisies; wild Phlox; Queen Anne's Lace; Clover flowers; tiny, wild blackberries, and...a Dandelion spore.  :) 

Mr. Forest Manor is the best nature photographer at our house, hands down.  He also has the better camera, a DSLR, which I'm certainly welcome to use, but I'm not very proficient with it yet.  I normally just use our digital point and shoot.

The first mosaic is comprised from my hubby's pictures.  I thought they turned out fantastic.


I forgot to mention there are butterflies galore on the skyway this time of year.  This particular one was very accommodating during the photo shoot.

The second mosaic is of my pictures, which were taken with the point and shoot camera.  I took more, but they just weren't that terrific.  I thought these were the best of the bunch.  I did have fun trying, though.  Doesn't the Queen Anne's Lace look just like a snowflake?


I'm joining the other folks at Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary at Little Red House.  I hope you'll stop by to see all the other mosaics by some really talented photographers and thank you, Mary, for hosting!

So glad you visited House at Forest Manor -- have a great Monday!

Denise

8 comments:

  1. Hi Denise. Your husband is a very talented photographer. Both mosaics are wonderful. Those are really special wildflowers. xo P.S. Are you going to the SBC in Oct.? :)

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  2. That sounds like a lovely drive - especially with the wildflowers. A perfect weekend treat.

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  3. Such sweet photos - whoever took them!

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  4. I'll be finding that road next time we run up to the cabin in Sylva. I stay out of cherokee now that its so industrialized..
    beautiful photos- thanks for sharing those with us.

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  5. Denise,it's it fun to travel and see all God's glory!...your/hubby mosaic's are amazing!...wish me and hubby was traveling taking photo's right now.I think that beautiful butterfly is a Tiger swallow-tail,I love butterflies,I could take photo's of them all day long....thanks for visiting me and I appreciate your comment,I am new follower!

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  6. Gorgeous photos. Isn't the Skyway beautiful? We've driven on it a couple times. It's been a few years since our last trip that way.

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  7. Those flowers are so pretty! I can't get enough taking shots of flowers they are blooming now. Thanks for the visit I do appreciate it.


    Kim,USA

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  8. Denise, your photos are lovely. Thanks for sharing them with us.
    Helen

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