Monthly Archives: April 2011

Abundance of Green at Fall Creek Falls: Tennessee Nature Photographer

This past Saturday morning I did what I had not done in about 30 years… climbed down to the bottom of Fall Creek Falls. I remember the time before. I was 18 and dating a man from work, Neil, who loved hiking and caves. So in January of 1982 he took me Fall Creek Falls and we proceeded to climb down in the ice and snow with proper gear to the ice caves that formed at the bottom. I must find the pics from this time, scan and post … it was incredible as this hike was full of spring dewiness, green ferns, fiddleheads, slippery rocks, trees fallen from recent storm, the chill as I neared the bottom of the trail and few people on the trail.

Fall Creek Falls April 2011

New fern emerging.

new growth

moss

trillium

Bluegrass Underground April 2011

Another great show down in the cave at Cumberland Caverns!! Frank Fairfield and the Emmitt-Nershi Band!

Frank Fairfield, one man, three vintage instruments, sitting in a chair, tapping his feet.

Drew Emmitt's mandolin and Bill Nershi's guitar.

Mary Claire Crow

Tulips and Raindrops

A tribute to the tulips of this spring!

I Am Peony!

This is what can be heard all through the natural world come the last few weeks of April. These beauties reveal themselves after a year of hiding. My landlord has a whole line of light pink and salmon colored peonies that come back every year. They are brilliant and stunning and so proud to be peonies!

The Protection of a Dogwood Tree: Tennessee Baby Photographer

Nine months and so full of spunk and personality!

A happy little art lover!

Cuteness!

Peek a Boo!

Pure joy!

Buddah Maggie

A wise old owl once told me....

Happiness is being with mom and dad.

Serenity under the dogwood tree.

A botanist in the making!

Maggie was fascinated with the tree.

Sad that her session is over!!

The WOW Clematis! Tennessee Nature Photographer

A nice vision, driving into the Wags and Whiskers parking lot in East Nashville, of the color purple. Their clematis was in bloom and wow is it ever spectacular. This is the first clematis I have seen this year in bloom. I did not have my camera with me so I drove back the next day to create some art of this gorgeous plant.

Check out more beautiful visions from nature!

Back in the Garden: Tennessee Nature Photographer

Back to the community garden this year. A wonderful place for little treasures and little creatures.

Ladybug working on some blooming rhubarb.

Little flying creature enjoying time on the flowering rhubarb.

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Hitchin' a Ride

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I think this image and the two below would make a great series, printed large!!

Love the color palette of this image of fennel fronds.

Charley the Cat: Nature and Animal Photographer

Sweet Charley. I first met him through the fence when he was just a cute little kitten. He and his brother Romeo were adopted by my neighbors to join their little animal kingdom. I immediately fell in love with Charley. He has this cute little chirp and loves to rub against my fingers when I reach through the fence. Here he is three years later, a big guy, shy but still a lover!!

A little camera shy.

Check out photos of Charley’s sweet dogs, Bonnie and Clyde (RIP, Clyde). It is rumored that Charley grooms Bonnie’s fur!

And Charlie’s brother, Slim Jim, back when he was slim (mer).

The Dogwood Tree

Never have I ever been in love with the dogwood tree until this year. It must have been all the rain from last spring that has made these glow with white and pink light. They are absolutely beautiful especially in the morning sun.

Having gone to Catholic school I remember the story the nuns told us about the dogwood trees. They said they always bloomed the week of Easter and that the flower, shaped like a cross and with the dark marks on the petals, is reminiscent of Jesus on the cross.

Young dogwood blossoms with raindrops

Dogwood blossom shadows on a fence in the morning

Pink dogwood blossoms against a pine tree.

See other pretty gifts from nature here!!

Spring Wildflower, Star of Bethlehem from Nature Photographer

I first discovered these little jewels last year. Check out last year’s post about them here

The afternoon light brought some glorious shadows to the patch of the Star of Bethlehem in the front lawn of a random, empty house that faces the lake in Old Hickory Village. I was sad to see them all get cut back just the other day.

Star of Bethlehem from a cat's point of view.

Growth pattern of the Star of Bethlehem with wild Violets.

Afternoon shadows on the Star of Bethlehem patch.

Cool shapes that create the Star of Bethlehem form.

Life size Star of Bethlehem

Star of Bethlehem getting ready to close up for the night

See more floral and fauna images at Mary’s website! Mary Claire Crow

Life After Photography: take 2

journal and photographs of life redefined