These are from my visit to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens the first week of November on their free day. It was packed as this was the last week of the Chihuly installation. I love what happens to the blooms in the autumn. The seed pods are at their glory and there are still some beautiful flowers in bloom and vibrant berries.
It is everywhere… red… and orange and yellow… such beautiful contrast to foggy mornings and blue autumn skies. The trees are shedding their lovely leaves. The leaves cushion the sidewalk and yards creating amazing natural works of art!
The gibbons and siamangs who live at the Nashville Zoo show their presence before you actually see them. They are loud! Actually it is the siamangs that are singing from high atop the trees creating sounds that can be heard in surrounding neighborhoods.
white-cheeked gibbon enjoying the show
reflection in the moat surrounding Gibbon Island
Siamang singing from the tree top!
Jooooooeeeeeeyyyyyy, Baaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbyyyyyyyy…. The Nashville Zoo has a fabulous group of Bennett’s Wallabies in their Critter Encounter area. You know, the area where the goats live and the camels. I first encountered the albino male and was swept away by his charm. He is very friendly licking hands and hanging onto visitors arms with his claws. I was at the zoo all day on Tuesday. I am glad I stayed because I had heard there was a seven month old joey living in his mom’s pocket. Right at closing after visiting the clouded leopards, red panda and flamingos one last time for the day I swung by the critter encounter area just before they locked the gate. There he was. This sweet little albino baby poking out and grazing along with momma.
Momma and Baby
Papa. Reminds me of Alice In Wonderland.
Baby peeking out. You can only see his little ear and arm.
Papa greeting visitors. I think if he cigars he would have given us all one.
Awwwwww....no denying who daddy is!
This is a lovely story. My friends after years of waiting have welcomed a baby girl into the world and their lives through adoption. How exciting it is that they asked me to photograph Chloe while she was still tiny, only nine days old. She was so alert and think she is going to be really smart. Look out mom and dad!! I have known Brad and Chantelle for years. I photographed their wedding at Craigfont in Gallatin and worked with Brad. They have been parents to several sweet four legged children including Tululah who has amazing eyes and Jasmine, the bengal cat who is smart as a whip. Being a birth mom myself, I know the struggles and heart break of letting a child go. It is painful and stays with you for your entire life. You can only hope and pray that the people who are now your child’s parents will love your child as much or more than you could. I know B & C are going to be incredible parents with more love for Chloe than anyone else in this world!!
Baby Chloe feeling the love from mom and dad.
What a beauty!
Getting comfort from mom.
Napping during the shoot.
Proud papa!
I love this image... just perfect. B & C painted the tree on the nursery wall. Chloe's birth parent's names are painted on the truck along with B & C in a heart.
baby hands
baby feet
baby face
So alert!
sweetness
Beautiful Jasmine and Jasmine and Tululah waiting for a treat.
Best friends.
Sleepy time.
Happy parents.
Content dog.
One of my favorite pleasures in life is watching fog roll in and be burned off by the sun. Fall Creek Falls Lake is the perfect place for this as you can easily wake up and go onto your balcony at the Fall Creek Fall Inn and watch this wonder of nature. This morning was especially lovely with the cold temps, the bare trees, the trees still holding onto their orange and red leaves, a beautiful sky reflecting into the water and of course thick rolling fog.
Nashville says goodbye to the Chihuly exhibit at Cheekwood today. What a lovely addition to Nashville and Cheekwood’s history! How in the world will Cheekwood ever top this or at least something on the same level at the Chihuly exhibit. It seemed like only yesterday that the announcement was made that the stunning glass sculptures would grace the grounds of Cheekwood and now sadly it has come to a close. It was reported that 8000 people passed through the gates on the free day on October 20th. And in the last few weeks the lines to get onto the ground for night time viewing were a mile or two long. These photos are from my night visit and from the free day. I also visited in June during the day. See my post here.
the "Sun" at night on the front lawn of the mansion
"Mille Fiori" in the reflection pool behind the mansion
Installation inside the Frist Learning Center
"Cattails" by Chihuly
Red glass reeds mingle with the bamboo.
"The Boat" proved to be very popular.
"Walla Wallas"
Floats in the Japanese garden.
"Blue Marlins"
Another view of "Mille Fiori" in the reflecting pool at dusk.
More from the reflecting pool.
Glass reeds in the reflecting pool and "Persians and Blue Reeds" at the Frist Learning Center.
Reflecting pool, "Mille Fiori"
"Saffron Tower" in the afternoon light.
"Saffron Tower" detail.
"Blue Polyvitro Crystals" in the Howe Wildflower Garden Pond
"Erbium Fiori" at the herb garden.
"Silvered Purple Herons" detail at the herb garden.
the herb garden
Onion reflection, "Walla Wallas" at the Robinson Family Water Garden.
An orange onion in the "Walla Wallas".
This is the house that my neighbor Scooter built for two young squirrels who had a rough start at life. About a month ago these two guys fell, one in the grass and the other four stories from the roof to the concrete drive. Mrs. Scooter immediately rescued them and her friend was able to nurse them back to health. They now live in the little squirrel house but have also taken residency high up in a tree to avoid the neighborhood cats who come running when Mrs. S. calls the squirrels for their milk. It also seems that the raccoons have discovered the comfort of this shelter with it’s purple towel provided for warmth.
these guys are very shy
food
cuter than a rat
ready to come out and climb the tree
touching my hand. this guy was so nervous.
Can not believe it is almost November. This crazy year full of many lessons is about to come to a close. This year also had many great things to it such as the beautiful autumn weather and what better place to appreciate it than a walk through the woods full of sparkling sunlight, reds, oranges, yellows and evergreen colors. The leaves crunch, the crows caw and everyone has a smile on their face. What is better than all of this? Music in a cave, of course, along with a little intermission surprise!! I present to you some of my favorites from Bluegrass Underground on October 30, 2010. Travis Stinson got the crowd ready for the smooth sounds of Donna Ulisse and the Lonesome River Band.
waiting .......
travis stinson
Donna Ulisse and her band
Whoa.... what is this? Yes, a couple saying their wedding vows and Bluegrass Underground's first wedding! Congratulations!
The Lonesome River Band
