Ozark Wildflower Season Starts Any Day

Last year at this time I had been shooting wildflowers for 5 weeks. We had much better weather and none of the snow storms like Sunday. Daffodils are blooming now, the single most reliable sign that the wildflower season is beginning.

If wildflowers interest you, the spring season is a few month long and there are many different places along the river where you can get pictures. Virtually any Ozark feeder creek to the Buffalo National River will have a decent wildflower bloom.

Filtered Top Light, Shallow Depth of Field
and Bokeh Make This Composition Work 

Photographers can learn a lot about existing light photography from shooting wildflowers. I personally don't like flash photography because it washes out detail that I want. It also tends to compress the dynamic range from light to dark that animates a good photo. Yes it can be done, but why not hone your observation skills and learn how to manage existing light. It will strengthen your photography.

So wildflower coverage begins today. I expect to see the first wildflowers now.

2014 Wildflower Season Just Weeks Off

The annual spring wildflower season is now just over a month away. There are many outstanding Ozark wildflower venues in the Buffalo River region, probably too many to list. Virtually every feeder creek and river access point is pretty good.

Spring Beauty, Ponca Access

One reliable sign of the arrival of the wildflower season is when you first see daffodils popping up. I use the appearance of daffodil foliage as the signal to hit the trails to map out flower locations and estimate the timetable of the blooms.

The spring wildflower season is pretty long. If you wish to create a "bucket list" of species, you will have to visit often. Some species bloom across the entire spring season, others bloom only a couple of weeks. I like them all, and I enjoy the unfolding of the bloom across the roughly 3 month season.

Learning to take great wildflower photos will strengthen your photography because it forces you to understand the interplay between light, shadow and color to achieve what some call "cinematic lighting".

Cinematic lighting is what I seek when I stalk wildflower pictures. Master this lighting strategy and your creative expression will really improve with every photographic subject you tackle.

4/5/13 Elk Viewing & Ozark Wildflower Report

Elk viewing remains very good and all day long most days.  There are 4 herds and many stragglers in

Pale Corydalis is Blooming Right Now
(with other wildflowers)

the valley now. The best viewing is the herd that moves around south of the Ponca Access up to the then entrance road to Lost Valley.  Of course the herd is in the fields on the east side of HWY 43.

The wildflower bloom is finally underway in earnest in all the wildflower venues along the river including Lost Valley, Smith Creek, Pruitt (east), Tyler Bend, and the trails at Buffalo Point. Just about any tributary creek woodland area along the river should be very good.

The water table is very high now so waterfalls are flowing very well now too.

Great floating and hiking weather. There is plenty to do and see at the Buffalo National River.

2/24/13 Elk Crowd Boxley Valley After Storm, Wildflowers Rebound

Elk Viewing is Outstanding

The recent ice storm has focused elk in into Boxley Valley.  Elk viewing is arguably the best so far in 2013 with 6 herds in view and straggler elk, mostly bulls, here and there elsewhere. With so many elk in the valley they probably will move around quite a bit to compete for grazing fields. Remember the bull elk will have their antlers at least another month. 

Early Wildflowers Weathered the Ice Storm

The ice storm did little to damper the wildflower bloom in Boxley Valley's Lost Valley hiking trail. White trout lilies are the star of this early bloom. Yesterday there were at least 5 times as many lilies blooming compared to just a few days prior. If I had to project a peak for the white trout lilies in Lost Valley, it would be the first two weekends of March. There may be another snow storm coming Tuesday, but these tough wildflowers will bounce back quickly.  

It is time to get here if you want to see or photograph white trout lilies. The very best place I know of is just across the bridge at Lost Valley hiking trail and to the left. There is a rock field in the woods just past the fire pit. Stay on the trail, but look carefully and you will see these flowers among the moss covered rocks. They will be gone in 2-3 weeks. If you miss them at Lost Valley, Smith Creek Preserve also has a bloom and it runs roughly 1 or 2 weeks later. http://smithcreekpreserve.com  for directions, maps and more information.

2/6/13 First Wildflower for 2013 Season

Wildflower season is starting early this year.  This white trout lily was the first wildflower blooming I could find in Lost Valley. This was the first one on 2/6, on 2/8 there were 5 more, and I am sure they are picking up steam now.

This is a beautiful wild flower and one of the very earliest flowers. The season for them is short so if you want to see them its time to visit.

If you plan to photograph most of the Ozark wildflowers in the Buffalo River Region you will have to get out a few times. Some like this lily only hang around a few weeks at most. You can stretch your visits by checking out different venues.  Another outstanding wildflower venue is Smith Creek Preserve just south out of Boxley Valley.

Other good venues are the Mill Creek trail in Pruitt, the loop trails at Tyler Bend, and the Overlook trail at Buffalo Point.  Call the rangerfor specific advice, they will be glad to show you where wildflowers are in the middle and lower Buffalo National River areas.

Pruitt Ranger Station Information  Upper River
(870) 446-5373

Tyler Bend Visitor Center Information  Middle River
(870) 439-2502

Buffalo Point Ranger Station Information  Lower River
(870) 449-4311

White Trout Lily -- Lost Valley Hiking Trail

2/1/13 Elk Viewing Great

Elk and wildlife viewing is very good now in Boxley Valley. This morning there were 4 herds visible and 2 were very close to the road. It was 18 degrees, perfect elk weather.

On the mill pond there has been pretty big flock of ducks now for a couple of weeks. The 2 resident trumpeter swans add to the show.  Yesterday there was a bald eagle hunting the pond, and this morning there were 2 otter.

Expect wildflowers to bloom early this year. Warm weather has them sprouting already. I photographed the first bloom of 2013 a few days ago -- Dead Nettle. I am certain Harbinger of Spring will show up next week at the latest, and shortly thereafter the rest of the early spring crew.

4/5/12 A Perfect Weekend to Visit

Woodland Snail Lost Valley

This morning I had Boxley Valley and Lost Valley Hiking trail to myself. This is absolutely prime time. The weather is perfect for hiking, riding and floating. Wildflowers are blooming stronger this year than in many years. In Lost Valley I am seeing species in new locations, and the number of blooming plants is just amazing. If I had to estimate, I would say the number of wildflowers is at least 2x recent years.

The dogwoods will be at peak this weekend. If you want to see the display you better get here. Dogwoods line the roadsides, creeks, and rivers. The earliest blooming dogwoods are now shedding their petals. Two weeks out there will be few dogwoods left. As I write this, the number of dogwoods in our woods would be difficult to estimate, I would hazard a guess at 100 trees on our land. The locust trees are in bloom too now.

The wildflower bloom is just amazing this year. Lost Valley and other trails are full of dwarf larkspur plants. We are in the middle of the season now. If you visit Lost Valley for wildflowers, hiking to the Natural Bridge is probably enough. Just below the bridge the columbines are peaking, and nearby wild geraniums are putting on quite a show.

Elk viewing is very good. Now we are past the antler drop so the bulls just look like huge cow elk with "stumps". Next up in the elk cycle is calving. Around June 1 is considered the peak for elk calving, but it continues for at least a couple of months. The herds are now located at both ends of the valley and in the middle. See the map below for exact locations.

Remember the best place to get in-depth information about the Buffalo National River is http://buffaloriverchamber.com. Chamber members are the businesses that serve the river and know the river. The Buffalo National River experience is in the rural counties along the river.

3/29/12 Elk, Floating and Wildflower Report

Spiderwort Wildflowers -- Broadwater Falls Road, Compton

This will be a great weekend to visit the Buffalo National River. Wildflowers arguably have just entered their seasonal peak now with only a few spring species left to bloom. We are roughly two or three weeks ahead of normal bloom dates. The very good news is that the timing of spring rains has been ideal for wildflowers. This is the strongest bloom in many years in this region.

Elk viewing remains very good. We continue to be in the north south pattern in Boxley Valley, I think of it as the "bookends" pattern. There is one herd near the Ponca Access, and a second near the Upper Wilderness Trailhead.  This has been a fairly reliable pattern now for some time. As a photographer I would rate the south trailhead as the better photographic venue. There is an old barn down there and some interesting fence lines that you can incorporate in your compositions.

Floating is absolutely outstanding now. The water and the weather are just right. Remember to check floating levels for the entire Buffalo River go to the Buffalo River Chamber of Commerce website. It is the definitive guide for visitors to the entire Buffalo National River region.

Everything seems early this year due to the weather. Conditions could not be more ideal for a visit to hike, ride horses, watch wildlife, and experience the wildflower bloom this year.

Jacob's Ladder at Lost Valley

There are now two elk herds in Boxley Valley, one at Ponca and a second just north of Cave Mountain Road. Usually when a herd locates in the field near Cave Mountain Road it is moving somewhere else. This one could be moving north or south to better pastures.

The wildflowers continue to march on. The season is so early this year. The earliest species are gone now. If my memory serves me correctly, this is very fast. There are more species on the way like the Virginia Waterleaf, one of my favorites. The bloom for all species is heavy, rain and warmth has been ideal. The next two weeks or so could be the peak for the entire season.

Remember to be safe in hiking the slippery rocks on many trails. Our water table is high and water seems to be seeping everywhere. Hiking is absolutely outstanding now.

3/24/12 Elk and Wildflower Report

Blue Phlox at Lost Valley Hiking Trail

Elk positions today are pretty much unchanged except the herd at the south end of Boxley Valley has moved north by one field. Three herds are in the valley, one by the Ponca Access, one just south of the 43/21 intersection, and the third is in the south valley field north of Smith Creek.

Wildflower conditions remain outstanding. Favorite hiking destinations like Lost Valley and Smith Creek Preserve are also great wildflower venues. The blue phlox are blooming strong now along with all the violets.  And much more.

Be careful in Lost Valley. Yesterday a young man climbing over the Natural Bridge fell and was badly hurt. Respect the dangers of wet rock trails. They are no place for casual climbing and horsing around. During these high water table conditions there are plenty of slippery spots.

Floating conditions now are very good, even a little swift. For information on outfitters, river conditions, and maps visit http://buffaloriverchamber.com.

This is also perfect hiking weather. All the trailheads are loaded with visitors.

3/23/12 Elk Viewing Map & Wildflower Report

Reflecting Pool on Smith Creek 

Three elk herds this morning in Boxley Valley. One near the Ponca Access, another just south of Moore Creek, and a third down by the trailhead to the Upper Wilderness. Good viewing all around with lovely morning light and light fog.

This morning was great landscape weather. This is due primarily to relatively cool temperatures and high humidity from all the flooding. The river continues to rage above flood stage.

Unless you are ready to wade, the wildflowers in Lost Valley are pretty much out of reach. Today the dogwoods are in bloom -- just. Some are white and many blooms are still green. This will evolve very rapidly so if you plan to visit, certainly most will be white this weekend. Wildflower fans can locate plenty along trails on high ground all along the river hiking trails. Rain has been pretty ideal this year and the wildflower bloom is heavy.

Waterfall and cascade fans will experience what could be the very best weekend in 2012 for visiting so far. It could be the best all year because it does not get much better than this. There are now cascades where they seldom occur, and the traditional cascades and falls are running hard.

Smith Creek Preserve will be very good now. The road down to the creek is lined with wildflowers. The creek itself has many beautiful cascades and water features. Dutchman's Breeches are in bloom and Smith Creek is one of the best places to see them. The hike down to the creek descends about 500 feet in a mile, it is not hard, but it is also not easy. Experienced hikers will have no problem with it. See the website for directions and details. It is now marked with a sign on the north side of 21 as you head out of Boxley Valley. Park near the sign, and walk past the gate following an old road down to the creek. Remember this area is not patrolled so you should not hike alone, and also let someone know you are going to hike there.

If you don't mind getting a little wet, you can wade the bridge at Lost Valley and see the falls, cascades, and wildflower bloom along the trail. Water levels drop pretty fast so it might be dry by the time you visit.

3/22/12 Redbuds Peak Now, Dogwoods Starting

Dogwoods Are Starting to Blossom in Many Locations

I know some of my readers like to take waterfall pictures framed in redbuds and dogwoods if they are in bloom. For your information, this must be peak weekend for redbuds and dogwoods are just starting to bloom.

I doubt there will be better waterfall weather in 2012 than right now. The heavy rains have the water table topped off and more rain is predicted tonight, perhaps as much as a half inch. After that, this will  be perfect weekend weather for hiking and camping.

If you have been waiting for ideal hiking and waterfall photography weather, this is about as good as it gets. The falls will be running hard for a couple of days.

The wildflower show is very good now too.

If you want to float, watch the river gauges at the Buffalo River Chamber of Commerce website.
They shows data for each river gauge and the recommended floating levels below the gauge. As I write this, the river is just too high to float for the average person. It does drop very fast in about 4 or 5 days as a rule with no further rain.

3/10/12 2012 Wildflower Gallery & Tutorials

Sharp-Lobed Hepatica Lost Valley 3/9

Thought I would share some pictures from this year's wildflower season with commentary. It is still early, but I have a few wildflower images that please me. This blog entry is a brief wildflower tutorial based on my voice. The important thing though is perhaps to copy my approach to composition, even if you arrive in a totally different place.

My takeaway point for you is to THINK, please ask and answer your own questions about wildflower pictures and composition. This blog entry is a glimpse into my thought process. I want you to have one of your own.

This first photo is of a sharp-lobed hepatica that I took yesterday. I like long contrast scales with brights and darks. When wandering looking for compositions, I am drawn to selective lighting and shadow plays. This photo has them both. I believe pulling back to grab the context and grabbing the texture of leaves is essential. Spring wildflowers are about the renewal of life. Dead leaves provide the contrasting backdrop for rebirth. To me at least, the shadow tracing the bloom expresses the cycle of life -- it makes the connection. Note that the two flowers are counterpointed (facing a different direction and at different bloom stages). The photo has a huge negative space to the left that is unified with the flower though the shadow.

Done well, photography is poetry, communicating various inflections of the human experience. If an image does not pull you to take it, that quality of evoking viewer engagement and emotion is not there, after all, at some plane we all resonate as one. 

Emerging Trillium Sessile -- Lost Valley 3/9

The photo on the left is of an emerging trillium sessile. No purple bloom yet, but there is a bud. I was drawn to this because of the light and that magnificent leaf. The moss makes the photo sensuous to me, adding lush texture and color.

There is no need for a bloom. An effective photo can be carried by light, texture, lines and color. This image is rich in contrasting forms and textures.

To get a photo like this one you need to take pictures at the ends of the day. Low angular light is a key ingredient that animates texture and form with subtle shadows and gradients of light. What I often see is a nuanced composition absolutely fried by on-camera flash. Found light is your friend.

Found light and long tonal scales separate an artistic composition from a snap shot. 

Emerging Trillium Sessile 2. Lost Valley 3/9

This image goes to the issue of texture, lines and negative space, meaning here space away from the main subject. Note that the rib on the leaf on the left roughly resonates with the curve created on the right by the three trillium. This photo has a circular flow to it. Note that the light dynamics create their own shapes.

Maybe the biggest lesson here is to give your compositions space, and please, don't just slam your subject in the center of the frame. I call those pictures "splats".  I have taken my share of splats, but I hardly do anymore. Getting past "splats" is the first step to creating your photographic voice. The natural experience is both subject and context. Mine the context.

Now back to my first and most essential takeaway point. If you are to find your voice, you need to think, you need to question, you need to experiment and you need to fail. Be fearless about failure, failure leads you to insight and learning. If you gain a critical insight from coming up short is that really a failure? I don't think so.

I believe it was Einstein who said "insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result". Be thoughtful. Ask questions and experiment -- dig in. Inspired photography is about thoughtful hard work. Try this and that, learn, and bring together all that learning. You will find your voice.