Rural Tennessee

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We definitely live in a technology-filled world which can get to be very hectic entirely too often. One nice thing about living on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee is that we don't have to go far to be immersed in a simpler way of life.

Gemini Rose

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Gemini is one of the prettiest two-toned roses in our yard. I really like the form and coloration of this rose. The light fragrance is a nice bonus.

Montenegro Lily

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I've posted quite a few of our roses, but we have been enjoying other flowers as well. Our lilies in the front flower bed have done very well with year. These red beauties are Montenegro lily. This picture was taken in mid-May of this year.

Clouds in the Sand

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I was walking along the beach of Ocean Isle, North Carolina, as the tide was going out, when I noticed the reflections of clouds in the wet sand. I couldn't resist taking a picture with the fishing pier in the background. This image was captured on May 10 of this year.

Summer of Love Rose

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The name of this rose, Summer of Love, first attracted my attention -- it seemed like a perfect rose for our yard. We've had it in one of our containers for a couple of years now, and we like not only the name but also the beautiful colors and light fragrance.

Custard Candy Daylily

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I've been emphasizing our roses in the pictures I've been posting on this blog, but we have other flowers in our yard as well. This daylily, Custard Candy, is in two of our flower beds. I really like the color and that yellow border around the inner petals. All-in-all I would say that Custard Candy looks good enough to eat.

Plateau Sky

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The Cumberland Plateau is the highest wooded plateau in the U. S., and most of it is rural. On a beautiful June day we are reminded of how fortunate we are to live here. This picture was taken near Hebbertsburg, Tennessee, just a few miles from our home in the Glade.

Golden Clouds in a Darkening Sky

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Sunsets on the Plateau can be beautiful, even when looking in another direction. The sun had dropped below the Plateau behind me when I captured this photo of golden clouds in a darkening sky.

Mister Lincoln Rose

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Mister Lincoln is one of the oldest roses in our yard. I had my first Mister Lincoln rose more than 30 years ago when I lived in North Carolina. Mister Lincoln is a beautiful red rose with a delightful fragrance.

Roaring Fork in the Smokies (2)

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The picture above was taken in April as Betsy and I hiked along Roaring Fork in the Smokies in late April. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail behind Gatlinburg follows this beautiful stream along much of the way, providing many places to pull off and enjoy the beauty.

A Cloudy Morning on the Mountain

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Sunsets and sunrises are always special on Mount Nebo in Arkansas. That's one reason -- but not the only reason -- we go back every year. We can enjoy the sunsets from the back of our cabin, but we have to get up and drive to Sunrise Point to see the sunrise. This picture was taken on a cloudy, foggy morning on our visit in 2011. We didn't see much of the sun that morning, but I did get this picture of the fog and clouds in the valley below us.

About Face Rose

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About Face is one of our most unusual roses. It gets its name from the fact that the outside of the petal is darker than the inside, which is the reverse of most roses.

Surf's Up

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I went to my archives to get this picture of the pier at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. We didn't have surf quite this heavy when we were there this year. I think this picture shows that the beach can be a beautiful place even without the bright sun.