Maple Seed Abstract

I pre-visualized this picture on my morning hike. These maple seeds are back and cross lit in early morning light. Bokeh and selective focus complete the idea. Don't neglect nature-as-abstract photos. 

Maple Seed Abstract

Flowering Trees, Wildflowers, and Waterfalls are Going Strong

Horned Violets, Ponca Wilderness

Waterfall photo fans often use flowering trees to improve compositions. Red Buds, Serviceberry,
Wild Cherry, and Wild Plum trees are now peaking.

Early wildflowers are also peaking.  This year the bloom is very strong due to ideal rain conditions. Don't miss it.

The water table is still high so waterfalls are flowing well.

I would say this is the best year in many years for all these things coming together.

This weekend is also perfect for floating and hiking.  Get here now. The magic of the early spring season is upon us and this is an exceptional year.

Sunrise Anemone, Lost Valley Trail

Sunrise Anemone, Lost Valley

This Rue Anemone picture was taken 2 days ago. I hand held it from about 7 feet with my big 100-400 zoom.

The flower was in the middle of a bunch of dead grass that softened the morning sun. Look for these situations, often photographers don't notice slightly hidden flowers. They offer great filtered light opportunities. It is the small things that make flower photos exceptional. Note the tiny drops on the edge of the leaves.

Anemones look an awful lot like Sharp Lobed Hepaticas, but the leaves make it easy to tell them apart. Hepatica blooms have no leaves on the stalk around them. Rue Anemones always have leaves on the stalks. This picture is very typical.

The Rue Anemones are now coming on and they are a relatively long blooming wildflower compared to other spring wildflowers. Colors will range from this pink to white.

4/19/13 Elk Viewing Good, Wildflowers Outstanding

Wild Plum Blossoms near Broadwater Falls

Elk viewing is strong in Boxley Valley especially in the south end near the trailhead to the upper
wilderness.

The big news this week are the dogwood trees that are blooming everywhere. Waterfall fans will want to visit to get their chance at dogwoods and redbuds framing the waterfalls. The waterfall flow is now very good -- this is in an outstanding opportunity.

Floating conditions are outstanding in all areas of the river.

Hiking conditions are also ideal.

We are now entering the peak of spring season with many things to do.  It is a great time to vist the river.

4/12/13 Elk Viewing Good, Wildflower Bloom Strong

Wood Bentony Lost Valley

Elk viewing remains strong at both ends of Boxley Valley. The antler drop is now almost complete except for young bulls. The most viewable herd is closest to Ponca about a half mile south from the intersection of 43 and 74.

Wildflowers are the big story now. After many cold snaps, the spring show is on. Most early species are blooming well. Flowering trees are also in bloom with the dogwoods lagging just a bit.

Waterfalls are running well and popular with photographers and hikers.

Floating conditions in all areas of the river. Visit the Buffalo River Chamber website for our list of floating outfitters and current river conditions.

This is prime time for hiking and horseback riding.

It is time to visit the Buffalo National River and its many natural attractions.

Pictures of the Day 1/26/13

This morning in Lost Valley was enchanting. I have the place to myself. I am sure that has changed now, but I want to share the sunrise experience in Lost Valley. It is magic even in January. The picture below was taken just east of the natural bridge. Today I saw the first signs of wildflowers -- I think they will be quite early this year.

January Sunrise at Lost Valley Hiking Trail

Of course in Boxley Valley there is always more for wildlife watchers. The elk did not disappoint today. I get there quite early and today one of my favorite bulls "Twinforks" was posing in front of an old barn. In 2012 he was the bull that seemed to be jumping in front of my camera all year.

Twinforks at Sunrise, Boxley Valley

9/15/12 Elk Herd Locations, Elk Hazards Now Marked

Elk have not moved much in response to a day of rain. The concentration of elk is in the south end of  Boxley Valley with 1 herd showing up in the mid-valley area.  

Elk love rain, don't let rain hold you back from visiting. Rainy cloudy days also extend viewing times. Rain coupled with this cool weather could have the elk out all day long. 

Rainy weather means fogging conditions. Fog and rain often pull the elk closer to the road so there is more danger of hitting an animal that is grazing along the roadside. Drive slowly, especially in the south end. 40 MPH maximum is best. 

There were roadside elk this morning and for a few days now. The most dangerous spots recently have been north of the mill pond (a tame bull elk), and especially by Beech Creek. See map. 

I have added red elk to show roadside elk danger areas to the map. Roadside elk will be found everywhere in the valley, these red elk markers are in places where roadside grazing has been most frequent recently. 

5/4/12 Elk Watching Very Good -- Before 7:30AM

Morning Light, Fog & Clouds in Boxley Valley

Elk watching has shifted solidly to a summer viewing pattern. Before 7AM today I saw 4 herds grazing in Boxley Valley fields. By 7:45 they were starting to migrate to their bedding areas. This is the summer elk viewing experience.

Is it worth it to get up so early to see elk?  Absolutely yes. The elk are grazing in foggy fields. You can get photos of elk in the fog, around the edges of it, and fully emerged in the same photo. This makes ordinary field shots special if conditions are right. 

Besides seeing the elk, Boxley Valley on foggy mornings is just stunning.  If you are a photographer it is a great time to take moody landscape photos that exploit the fog as it lifts and animates the fields and buildings. Speaking personally, these are the summer landscapes that interest me besides the pooled-up river. This weather is wall-hanger weather if you can get your exposure correct. Perhaps it is a good time to learn HDR techniques to incorporate in your images. 

Hummingbird Moth at Ponca Elk Education Center

Roadside wildflowers are now blooming heavily. These are great places to get pictures of butterflies too. Make sure you pull off the road and be alert to traffic. There are many places you can prospect for roadside flowers along country roads. This is all day shooting. Butterflies like heat so you can shoot elk and landscapes early, then look for butterflies and roadside wildflowers later.

A great place for butterflies is the grounds of the Ponca Elk Education Center. There you park and be safe out of traffic. Any of the river access points are a good bet too. Remember that butterflies like to "puddle" along the edges of the river and creeks. 

The elk today were in southern pattern. Most of the elk are from the Highway 43/21 intersection and points south. There was one herd near Ponca.  I did see bulls in early velvet in another group. See the  brand new May map below. 

I have edited the wildflower list, although it is possible in some hollers a random specimen might show up of the early species, most are done. 

4/19/12 New Wildflowers, Mobile Website for Floaters

Shooting Stars Blooming Now in the
Buffalo National River Region

Hot weather early this year pushed the blooming date of all the wildflowers earlier in the year. As a result, the spring wildflower season is already post peak and tailing off for many species at least 3 weeks early.

Mountain azaleas, shooting stars, and lady slippers are now in bloom. If you want to get pictures, you will need to visit this weekend. the blooming window is narrow for these species, although there will be differences in blooming dates across the Buffalo National River region.

Bull elk have dropped their antlers.  The next big event is the elk calving season, beginning just about a month off. It peaks in early June. More on this later.

Floating has been pretty good this year so far. Early rains and warm weather made early floating possible for average folks. The river is down a bit now, but this weekend promises to recharge the river if the weather forecast holds. Weather forecasts are kind of lousy around here so it will be important to pay attention to the actual weather. The good news is the main rain events are set for Friday. It will be a cool weekend if the weather holds.

Floaters will want to check out the revised river gauge pages at http://buffaloriverchamber.com and http://buffaloriverchamber.mobi.

Mountain Azaleas and Hummingbird Moth

The Buffalo River Chamber's mobile website has been completely revamped and is still being expanded. There are about 120 pages of information on the Buffalo National River. The mobile site serves real-time USGS river gauge information for the entire river, much the same as the regular chamber website. The mobile site is formatted at 320 pixels wide to accommodate smart phones, but the river gauges are also served in wide format. Serious floaters will want to bookmark these gauges on their phones and tablets for up-to-date information. Links to the river outfitters serving the length of the river are integrated into the gauge pages. Information on lodging, places to eat and other services are covered as well.

Remember that floating opportunities exist all along the river. "Shop" the river for good floating conditions. There are expert outfitters to assist you in each area of the river.

This weekend will be great hiking and camping weather and it continues at least through the middle of next week. Serious hikers love the extra stamina that cool weather provides.

Elk report tomorrow and an update on wildflower conditions.

4/12/12 Elk Viewing Good, Wildflowers Still Good

Wild Geraniums are Peaking, Seek Filtered Light
for Emotional Compositions

Elk viewing remains good.  As the weather warms, viewing times will compress. We are now in a cold snap so viewing times remain in the spring pattern. Mornings extend to 9AM or later if overcast. Evening viewing could start in late afternoon and extends to dark. Weather is everything.

What's next? Elk calving. June is peak month for elk calving. The tiniest calf elk are seldom seen before they are a few weeks old. When calving starts, getting to Boxley Valley at daybreak is key to seeing them. The general rule is cows with newborn calves disappear into the deep cover at the first sign of danger. Remember this, a cow elk with a newborn calf is dangerous. We are a few weeks from seeing the first calf elk, but they need to be given space.

Spring wildflower season is now giving way to summer, just about a month early. The blooms are very heavy but quite early too. In some cases the blooming periods have been compressed presumably because of early hot spells. Rain has been ideal.

Lost Valley and Smith Creek remain wildflower hot spots. I would estimate that there are perhaps two weekends left of good wildflower viewing. This varies widely according to altitude and moisture.

This could be the last weekend to get good dogwood shots. Dogwoods bloomed early this year and petals are dropping now. Possible thunderstorms this weekend could knock the last of the petals off. My guess is that this weekend is safe. Dogwoods in the deep woods will be a bit more protected.

Elk Locations and Wildflower Blooming Dates, Buffalo National River 

3/9/12 Early Wildflowers Are Peaking, 2 Elk Herds

Ozark Wake Robin Trillium at Lost Valley

Early wildflowers are now peaking. I like to think of the wildflowers in 3 shifts, so these are the late February and March wildflower species. Some like white trout lilies and harbinger of spring are at about peak now, and in a couple of weeks they will be harder to find.

If you want to see the white trout lily bloom this weekend is surely peak. The white trout lily bed in Lost Valley is just past the bridge on the left. These are great flowers but the bloom is always short-lived.

Elk viewing is good. Two herds are now in the valley. One is about mid-valley, the second view-able one is just south of the 43/21 intersection.  A bull herd is kicking around in that same area.

This will be a great weekend for wildflower viewing if you are into them. Don't wait more than another week if you want to see all the early species.

3/4/12 Ozark Wake Robins are Blooming in Lost Valley

Elk Viewing
Elk watching is now limited to one cow elk herd by the Ponca Access. This is a pretty good sized herd of all cows (and young bulls). The next big thing for elk will be calving that peaks traditionally around June 1. March is considered the last month that big bull elk will still have antlers so they can still be seen for a few weeks (just not today).

Wildflower Season

Ozark Wake Robin in Canopy Light

The wildflower bloom at lost valley has really accelerated. This morning I saw the first Ozark wake robin trillium blooms and pale corydalis. It is a little alarming to see the bloom so early in Lost Valley, it is a couple of weeks early.

Wildflowers can be found all through the Buffalo River region now. Generally speaking, the low lands along tributary streams are very good, moisture is the key. In many areas springs provide the moisture needed. Check with locals about your area.

Wildflowers are also a study in micro-climate. East-west hollers have different bloom dates, that north-south hollers. Altitude also factors into bloom dates, mountain tops are generally a week or two later than low land areas for the same species. Some species only occur at altitude or at river level. The bottom line is that there are many variables and these make the season fairly long.

2/29/12 Wildflower Season Begins this Weekend

White Trout Lilies Peak Early March 2012

With the remarkable change in the weather, the wildflower bloom is beginning in earnest. This coming weekend will be the first peak of the early species.  Stars of this early show are the white trout lily, harbinger of spring, the sharp-lobed hepatica and cutleaf toothwort. My visit to Lost Valley this morning confirmed the acceleration of the pace of the bloom.

If you are a wildflower fan, you will want to catalog the early species. If you don't visit within the next couple of weeks, you will probably not see either the harbinger of spring or the white trout lilies. To see the whole wildflower show I recommend at least 3 visits over the length of the season.

Species do vary in terms of the blooming date, and importantly the duration of their bloom. If getting great pictures of any specie is your goal, you need to photograph fresh blooms. Basically this means getting here toward the beginning of the blooming period. This weekend is probably that ideal period for the white trout lily. Lost Valley has an outstanding bloom of white trout lilies this year. You will find them just over the bridge to the hiking trail on the left. I got some nice pictures this morning.

Elk Watching
This morning I saw two herds in the valley. The most reliable herd is near the Ponca Access. It has frequented these fields for a while and is usually there at least 2 out of 3 visits for me. The second herd is on private land. I don't identify private land locations, but I believe this herd will rotate to one of the south ends fields down by Smith Creek in a day or two.

The updated map is below. It lists the beginning dates for wildflowers that are in bloom in Lost Valley as well.

Elk Locations and Wildflower Bloom Dates in Boxley Valley 

2/23/12 Updated Elk Viewing Map

There are 3 elk herds in Boxley Valley now, 2 all cow herds, and 1 all bull herd. This is a normal post-rut pattern.

Remember the antler drop is not until around April 1. If you want to see bull elk up close you need to arrive at Boxley Valley early. Bulls are more timid than cows and calves and leave the fields earlier.

Note the first wildflower blooming dates by species in the map below. Lost Valley is ready to explode, probably within the next week. The wildflower season is long so we are talking about the early species. A nice hike in Lost Valley complements the elk viewing perfectly. The current crop of white trout lilies bloom when the day warms up. Elk head for the woods about that same time. The weather is now perfect for wildflowers to take off strong any day now.

See map with elk herd locations below.

2/18/12 Elk Locations Update

Today there were 2 herds in the valley. The herd near the Ponca Access has been there now at least 3 days running.

The herd in the south end of Boxley Valley re-appeared just north of the Buffalo River at the south end. There is a nice bull with this herd, I think it is Junk Yard Dog, or JYD, He has a distinctive kind of hoop shaped rack.

The updated maps is below:

2/17/12 One Elk Herd in Valley

Harbinger of Spring

This morning there was only one elk herd in Boxley Valley. It is located up by the Ponca Access. The herd that was at the south end has moved off to a back field.  I think it is still in the same zone so it could show up any day.

Perfect wildflower weather is really stimulating the growth of foliage. The Harbinger of Spring flowers are in bloom. These tiny flowers are always early in the lineup. A good bloom of them is located at the Ponca Elk Education Center's wildlife trail. You will also find them near creeks and the river.

The latest elk herd map is below:

Outstanding Elk Viewing, Wildflowers Picking Up

Yesterday was a perfect spring day. The daffodils were blooming, spring frogs were screaming, and two elk herds were in Boxley Valley, each with a very nice bull. 50+ degree temperatures topped it off.

After the first of the year, elk viewing is often at its very best. I have written about that a lot. Yesterday the elk herds were bookends. One herd was near the Ponca Access, and a second all the way down to the south end of the valley near the south trail head to the Upper Wilderness. The viewing conditions could not have been better. Each herd had a big bull present, something kind of unusual after the rut.

Daffodils are blooming. That means the wildflowers are blooming. First a few will bloom, then many will come on as we move into the warm temperatures of next week. My look at the weather map indicates 50+ degree high temperatures for the next week. This is the front end of wildflower prime time.

The 2/16/12 elk viewing map is below:

Wildflower Destinations for Everyone

Spring Beauties Near Kyle's Landing

Surely we are in winter's death rattle. Wild flower season could not seem further away, but it is just a few weeks off now. Time to start planning for your 2012 campaign.

The list of destinations below are for people who don't really want to walk very far.  Here are my recommended hot spots for very easy wildflower viewing and photography -- places where you can drive up and take a short walk to great displays of Ozark wildflowers:

1. Lost Valley Hiking Trail
   It is hard to beat Lost Valley. Park your car and walk the first 1/2 mile and you will see most wildflowers when they are in bloom.  Lost Valley also has toilets.  Further up the trail are two falls and unbeatable scenery.
   
2. Kyle's Landing Access Road
   Hardly anyone knows about this one. Take the road to Kyle's Landing down to the intersection with the road to Camp Orr. Park safely there and walk the road toward Kyle's. This stretch has most of the major species, and it also has Dutchman's Breeches when they are in bloom, a less common wildflower.
   
3. Camp Orr Road (off Kyle's Landing Access Road)
   Not huge blooms along this road, but one rare wildflower -- Hoary Paccoon. You got to love that name. Bright yellow-orange clusters about halfway to your next destination, the Triple Falls at Camp Orr (below).
   
4. Triple Falls (at the end of Camp Orr Road)
   This area is on nobody's list of wildflower destinations, but it loads up pretty well. You will find the flowers in the short hike to the Triple Falls, a pretty nice set of falls. I find different species here in greater concentration than I do in Lost Valley.
   
   Destinations 2,3, and 4 are all basically the same because they are so close together. The difference between them has to do with altitude, moisture and soil. This is an interesting study in micro-climate. It is easy to get many good species pictures and not walk very far at all.
   
   
5. Road to Broadwater Falls

   

   Spiderwort on Road to Broadwater Falls 

   
   Head out of Compton to the flagpole at the Compton Fire Department, turn east toward the park and follow that road. Along this road you will find the best bloom of spiderworts I have seen anywhere. There are pull-offs where you can park and walk.  Also a great place for red buds, wild plums, and dogwoods in season. You will find less common green trillium here as well. Eye-level shots are often possible because of deep ditches next to flower beds. 

Wildflowers will bloom at different dates depending on location, so if you visit you can see a good mixture of species by visiting different locations. Some locations might be a week apart on blooming dates for the same species.  The big show starts in just a couple of weeks.

2/2/12 Wildlflower Season Beginning Now

Wildflower Season Has Begun
It is quite early for the wildflowers to begin blooming, but I have to report that the season has begun and the very first species are emerging now, first a very few, and building a few more every day. Early daffodils are blooming.

Sharp-Lobed Hepatica Flowers in Lost Valley

We are having a very warm winter and it is clear that the wildflowers think it is spring. The most common wildflower now is sharp-lobed hepatica. I saw one January 29, and today I saw perhaps 10 flowers on the Lost Valley Hiking Trail.

What a beautiful day to hike. Perfect spring temperatures. If you are a wildflower fan, this is the beginning of the beginning. Each day there will be more flowers and more species.

So far it is the Hepaticas just starting. I did not see the Harbinger of Spring, but it must be there. They are tiny and not easily seen.

The weather forecast for Friday is for rain. But it clears by Saturday and this warm period continues. Nothing in the forecast indicates a hard freeze going forward.

I will be posting the first bloom dates of wildflowers that I see along with photographs. I try to visit the valley 3 times a week to survey what is happening and post my updates. At least 3 months of wildflowers season is ahead.

Elk
This morning there was good elk viewing at the 43/21 intersection. A nice herd of about 30 animals was in the field along with a big bull. I got a few pictures.

If you plan to visit, elk viewing and wildflower viewing complement one another perfectly. About the time elk viewing ends, the wildflowers open. It is easy to spend a half day between early elk viewing a leisurely woodland hike to see the wildflowers. Because there are no leaves yet, bluffs and rock formations are impressive and majestic. Many consider winter hiking the best hiking of the year. This weekend should be very good.

1/29/12 Elk Viewing, First Wildflower for 2012

This morning after surveying the elk herd locations, on a hunch I walked a part of Lost Valley hiking trail looking for wildflowers. Our weather is now abnormal, I worry that is it permanent, and the daffodils are up and not blooming, but everything seems to be ahead of schedule. This poor flower bloomed in the recent warm weather and was drooped over in the morning frost. This is VERY early. I do have a witness too. I believe the plant is a toothwort, it is pretty tiny.

Don't forget frost blossoms in the early mornings. They are a great photographic subject and will fine tune your exposure control.

I will be doing a special entry on wildflowers this week.

The elk were following the recent patterns pretty well. There is one herd in zone 1 that is rotating between the woods, vacant Ponca fields, and the woods to the west of 43 behind the Ponca Bible Camp (private land). The second herd is down by the 43/21 intersection and they were close to the road this morning, actually on both sides of the road.

Frost Blossom Lost Valley 1/29/12

Remember bull elk keep their antlers until about April 1. The two herds have been viewable now in about the same locations for about two weeks. They are bothering no farmer since they avoid cattle. The herd down by 43/21 is grazing in fields that were planted as a food plot to attract elk. Certainly there is no complaint there.

This is just outstanding weather to hike. I recommend taking a hike in Lost Valley. The falls are running hard and the forest floor is now coming to life. There is something to be said for the beautiful cutting light that animates forest trails during leaf off.  As my attention gradually turns to wildflowers, I like to hike there often to see the entire wildflower cycle from the first sprouts through the climax of the season.

If I were homeschooling a child or just teaching kids about nature, the unfolding from now through the spring offers many lessons not only about plant species, but the dynamics of micro environments in the valley. It is also a great time to teach geology.