On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
SkyBluePink
I live in a little cove in the foothills of North Carolina, nestled by woods and nearly surrounded by small mountains in the distance.
No matter the weather, everyday is a new sight, whether changing leaves, mists, new greens of spring, stormy days, and my favorite – snow!
The flowering cherry puts on a show every year. The Bee Chorus sings as you walk by in early spring. And then the fallen light pink blossoms carpet the ground in color.
The sun shone just right on the sign.
One of my favorite trees on the road to the highway. I was fortunate to pass by when it was clothed in mist.
Cardinals conferring on a conifer.
There’s gold in those hills!
For me, trees have a holiness, a sense of sanctuary, a coming home. Just a few more steps into the light-
The yearly pilgrimage to the Winter Lights program.
What could be better than trees. colors and lights!
All dressed for the fall ball!
There’s a sense that these trees have officiated at many ancient ceremonies.
Flowering cherry and redbud just out the door. Beauty and majesty-
MissWimsey
These are beautiful. I learned a valuable lesson in the three glorious years that I lived in Asheville: how to enjoy being outdoors in nature. I can’t say that I had done too much of that before being surrounded by so much natural beauty. The fall season was my favorite. I do hope to one day get back.
JanieM
Great set, and perfect for the purpose. I love trees too. The cardinals conferring made me smile.
tomtofa
I spent my childhood in Hendersonville and Asheville; your pics bring back memories – thanks for posting them. And I agree with you about trees.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I have never seen such a conclave of cardinals! One of my favorite birds
WaterGirl
Love the trees!
The redbud in the final photo is a deeper color than ours are here in Illinois. What kind of tree is that in the fall photo? Glorious color.
Dagaetch
Love the tree in the 3rd pic. Thanks for sharing!
Grover Gardner
Decades ago, now, my parents retired to North Carolina. I *loved* going down there to visit them. What a beautiful state.
cope
What relaxing, soothing pictures. Thank you. I’m also especially taken by the college of cardinals. Yes, I had to look it up. “College” is one of several designations for a group of cardinals besides the above cited “conclave”. We get cardinals all the time but never more than a pair at a time. Thank you again.
SkyBluePink
@WaterGirl:
My love of trees unfortunately does not extend to knowing their species. I don’t know what this festive one is.
SkyBluePink
@cope:
and Jim-
I did not know the names for a group of cardinals- thanks.
Tehanu
I live in California so I’ve never seen cardinals in snow like that. What a great picture. Thanks.
frosty
I read earlier this year that cardinals are the birds that turn ordinary people into birders. They’re so striking!!
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@cope: @SkyBluePink: I was snarking on the Vatican, I didn’t know it was official. I love how humorous…. somebody, I imagine several somebodies over many years, has been about coming up with names for groups of animals.
stinger
What a gorgeous place you live in!
randy khan
The mist photo is so great.
J R in WV
Great photos. The tree swathed in mist especially — the senior tree in the photo set.
Thanks!!
Mary G
Wow! What is the name of the tree in the mist? You live in a cathedral.
susanna
What a lovely place and a picture can speak for a 1000 words. These gave a recognizable feeling of comfort with their organic sense of nature. It’s a pleasure viewing them, and I hope there will be more.
Benw
@Dagaetch: yeah the down the road tree. It’s like if you made a firework into a tree that was a firework
Mike in Oly
One of the few things i miss from the midwest – cardinals. Wonderful pics! Thanks for sharing them.
Dan B
@SkyBluePink: I know trees but it would be necessary to have a detailed photo, or several, of the big tree to be able to identify it. The color and size suggests a Maple. The distant trunk does as well – a medium dark gray and fairly smooth bark.
SkyBluePink
Its a maple in the mist
WaterGirl
@SkyBluePink: That would be a nice title: maple in the mist :-)
Betsy
These photos are beautiful. The subject is beautiful and the artistry of each photo is also beautiful.
It’s enough to make a person think about moving from the eastern part of the state.
Or at least visiting when the thing is over.
Betsy
@SkyBluePink:
@Mary G:
@Dan B:
I’m going to hazard red maple or southern sugar maple (in the mist), sourwood (bright red against blue sky), white oak by the road frontage (from the structure of the branches, general gale, and trunk color) , tulip poplars (aka liriodendron tulipifera or yellow poplar) as the tall ones in the golden light.