Golden Christmas

Our Christmas Eve hike led us by this little winter jewel, a blooming goldenrod on the lip of Walden Ridge. It sits in a small patch of dirt between the sandstone outcroppings that layer the last pitch to the ridge top. It would have been easy to miss or step on. I have no idea what species it is. In such harsh micro habitat, a particular plant can get dwarfed and twisted in the fight to survive, and the normal identifying characteristics escape me and my book.

December Anole

Taken this afternoon with my Christmas present to myself...

She's Alive...For Now

In the Morning Mist

Fossil?

I noticed this rock that turned up when I was digging on the edge of a service road above the creek. We see fossils in sandstone a lot but nothing like this in a conglomerate. The rock itself is about 6 inches across. What can anyone tell us about this?

More pictures

Whites Creek Fossil

November Morning

Seems like it is staying beautiful longer this year.

Morning after the storm

I was expecting all the leaves to be knocked to the ground but this was the view in the early light. As you can tell, in winter we don't get first light. The Rhea County side of Whites Creek Gorge hogs it all. That's fine with me because we get the views.

Looking Up the Hill

Taken from the bedroom balcony looking north. We're getting storms today so this may be the peak. I am amazed at how the same view looks so different as the light changes at different times of the day.

 Here's another shot in different light. The main tree species from left are black oak(still green), shag bark hickory, tulip tree (triple trunk, also mistakenly called yellow poplar), assorted soft maples, dogwoods, and a southern red cedar (actually a juniper).

Evening

Morning

Sunday Around the Yard

A Dahlia from the garden.

I think this plant is the most under appreciated plant in Tennessee. It'a a Farkleberry. (Yeah, I know) It's native and is a most beautiful landscape plant. The berries are edible, though a bit seedy. The foliage is spectacular in Fall. And it grows in lousy soil...But slowly. So it won't be a nursery favorite. Would you pay a bit more for a native plant that was good for the environment and the native wildlife?

I would!  This one is just outside my kitchen window.

Fall

Fall Visitors Now Dropping In

This Summer Tanager hasn't been seen all summer but is hanging out at the suet feeder for a few days now that it's fall. We've had scarlet tanagers all summer until a few weeks ago. This guy seems almost tame. Too bad he likes the shadows. A full sun photo would be spectacular. 

"Crack Them Dams Wide Open!"

American Rivers is the premier organization in the USA that works on the restoration and protection of America's waterways. One of their projects is to remove old dams and restore free flow where it can be done safely. You can watch this happen today.

Whites Creek Gorge Natural Area

I'm working on a slideshow for a project that involves Whites Creek.

The Difference a Day Makes

Compare to the last set of pictures.

Before The Storm

There's a big blow currently drowning the Gulf Coast that is supposedly on its way here. We can use it. In the winter this is usually a class two/three shoal just above the Blue Hole.

Here's the view of the same spot from below.

Here is the entire flow of Whites Creek coming into the Blue Hole at the moment. That leaf will just fit through the slot. There is a historical measurement of zero flow for more than ten days on Whites Creek, so this isn't too bad. We've seen it lower but never zero.

One of the cool things to see at low flow are the fish trapped in shallow pools. They can hide more easily than you think. As you walk up to it, a pool will be churning with fish and then the water rips to pieces and there's nothing there when it settles. I watched one pool for a bit and this guy moved from one rock to another. Cute!

This shows his relative size,  just so you don't think there's a monster catfish trapped in a shallow spot, although there may well be one somewhere with that exact problem right now.

In addition to the catfish I watched log perch, tangerine darters, several other darters, white tail shiners, log rollers, warpaint shiners, goat head sucker, and several mystery fish. A biologist may be able to i.d. some of these but I can't. I'm thinking I really need that underwater digital camera in a bad way.

The rain starts tonight.

Spotfin Chub

Spotfins used to live in Whites Creek and may still. We certainly haven't seen them lately, as in 50 years or so. Whitetail shiners, however, are abundant.

Flowers from Today's Walk

These are taken near the start of the classic Whites Creek whitewater run. I think the orchid is the showy orchis but I don't know for sure. It was a pleasant surprise to see them after my hiking buddy spotted them.

Things That Make Me Happy

Placing an area into a biological reserve is often fought by extractive interests, in this case fishermen. But ten years later the fishing along the perimeter of the reserve has more than made up for the loss and the reserve itself is the healthiest and most productive in the world.

Opponents of conservation, however, argue that regulating fishing will destroy jobs and hurt the economy–but they are wrong, and there are real-world examples that prove this. A scientific study published today by the Public Library of Science shows that protecting an area brings the fish back, and creates jobs and increases economic revenue for the local communities. I have seen it with my own eyes and, believe me, it is like a miracle, only that it is not–it’s just common business sense.

World Heritage Biosphere Reserve from Gulf Program on Vimeo.

An Ocean Miracle