Birch Trees by Dave Hileman

A small grove of birch trees in Alaska. We had birch syrup on some pancakes here. It takes 10 times the birch sap to make a gallon of syrup as it does for maple say to be make into syurp. Still interesting flavor and one place offered birch ice cream, now that was good.

Bluebell Dreams by Dave Hileman

These bluebells are softly shaded by 280 year-old live oaks along the alee at Brookgreen Gardens near Murrell’s Inlet, SC. We spent a lovely day wondering around the extensive grounds and gardens interspersed with 4500 sculptures of figures and animals primarily. There are several fountains, a nice, new indoor reception area, a native animal zoo, low country exhibits and several other beautiful spots to view or for contemplation. Plus we had a most excellent evening meal at the Harvest Restaurant on property.

Little Green Heron by Dave Hileman

This small heron blends nicely into the surrounding foliage while waiting in perfect stillness for a small fish or frog to wander past. Shot from a boardwalk in the Corkscrew Swamp in Florida.

Sunset Fountain by Dave Hileman

At the western end the property at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, is a large fountain that the water sits flush with the sides and that makes for nice reflections. This one is after our evening meal at the Harvest, a really fine restaurant on property. Then we took a bit of a stroll that took us past this nice sunset view.

Country Store by Dave Hileman

I ran across this country store near the Kentucky line in Western Tennessee. Not sure if it was Watts Grocery or Spot Cash Grocery - might have been both sequentially. Nice patina on the roof.

Galaucous-winged Gull by Dave Hileman

This bird was seen in Alaska racing across a marsh just a short distance from the shore south of Anchorage. I had never seen one of these before and it was a treat to see not just this one but several more in the same area.

James River Trees by Dave Hileman

There are some beautiful and rather untouched places along the James River across the length of the entire river but you don’t expect them, perhaps, close to population centers like Virginia Beach, Richmond, Portsmouth and Newport News. Yet this serene shot was made between Richmond and Portsmouth along the James on the south shore. Note the eagle’s nest in the low tree toward the center.

Lincoln by Dave Hileman

This is at Ford’s Theatre where Lincoln was assassinated by Booth. The restored theatre has a nice museum in the basement, the box where Lincoln was shot is restored as is much of the theatre and it is still used for productions today.

Last Stand by Dave Hileman

On my way to the hike I shared yesterday - I passed this house on a hill. I imagine it was once a showplace for this rural valley with beautiful proportions, a neat porch, perfect windows for the house and a view worth sitting on said porch. It is clearly near the end of its time with holes in the roof, glass missing and lots of decay. Sad to see this fade away.