Music City, Motoring, and Many Waterfalls

It's time for yet another photo spread. This time, it's from Tennessee, Kentucky, and a bit of North Carolina. Specifically, we're talking about Nashville, Mammoth Caves National Park, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and a few other famous spots, including The Hermitage and the Polk home. 

The Parthenon, which was a temporary structure as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. It was such a hit, that the effort was made to make it a permanent structure, which was completed in 1931.

A rain soaked Parthenon

Mammoth Caves - the historical entrance tour. We missed out on seeing more of the cave system because we didn't make reservations ahead of time. We'll know better next time. 

One of the many bears spotted during our trip through the Smoky Mountains.

There were countless waterfalls along the way. This is one.

Want to cross the Green River in Mammoth Caves National Park? Take a ferry. 

Grotto Falls, in Smoky Mountains NP

At the President James Polk home in Columbia, TN.

Nashville at night.

The Ernest Tubb Record Shop, home to one of the most famous radio shows in country music. Imagine the history told, the music strummed in those walls.

The Kitchen Sinks at Great Smoky Mountains NP.

Yet another waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains NP.

Outside the Nashville Symphony.

One of the many neon signs along the Honky Tonk Row in Nashville.

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At the summit of Clingmans Dome.

A natural bridge.

Broadway after a rain soaked night in Nashville.

A Trip Through History - Civil War and Presidential History in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia

Black Hawk Helicopters flying over Gettysburg National Park

Gun emplacement at Gettysburg

Memorial at Antietam

Looking down from the Observation Tower at Antietam National Battlefield

Burnside Bridge at Antietam.

Belle Grove plantation; focal point of the last major battle in Shenandoah Valley.

Dark Hollow Falls at Shenandoah National Park.

The night sky from Skyland Resort in Shenandoah NP.

Overexposed and light pollution from Luray in Shenandoah NP.

Luray Caverns.

Thomas Jefferson's masterpiece at Monticello.

Ash-Highland (James Monroe's residence, the original bit of which is the building on the left).

James Madison's Montpelier, which is undergoing ongoing archeological restoration and work to reveal slave quarters on the south side of the building.

Partial rainbow over Manassas (Bull Run).

Dramatic sky over Manassas.

Old Stone Bridge at Manassas.

A Colorful Open To Late Winter: NY Botanical Garden's Orchid Show

The New York Botanical Garden in The Bronx puts on a fabulous orchid show every late winter/early spring, and this year was no different. While the weather outside was nearly frightful (coming just days after a substantial snowstorm) and still colder than normal, the Haupt Conservatory was filled to the brim with amazing and colorful orchids from the world over. Every color and shape was represented as seen by the photos below.

One thing I did manage to learn from the orchid show is that the orchids I've been trying to maintain over the past couple of years aren't really tolerant of the temperatures I leave the house with during the day. There are cold tolerant varieties that do much better against overnight low temps down into the 50s and low 60s, but those aren't nearly as common as the ones you'll find at most garden centers.

Great Falls on Ice

The Great Falls of Paterson, New Jersey have been a national park for only a short time, but their power and size has been a draw since before the Revolutionary War. Alexander Hamilton saw the promise of the falls, and it became a generator for business making Paterson an industrial hub for decades to come.

Paterson may have fallen on hard times, but the Falls endure. The Falls are now part of a National Historical Park, and I can only hope that people get to experience the falls up close to enjoy the wonder and the important role they played in our nation's development. There's also a move to include the nearby Hinchliffe Stadium into the national park for its role as host to Negro Leagues games. It is one of the few remaining stadiums from that era to still exist.

The Great Falls iced over. The building on the left is a hydropower turbine room, which still produces power today.

The snow was beginning to fall as we were out taking pictures.

A closeup of the falls from the bridge seen in the photo above.

Looking across the national park.

Iced over.

You can't tell from the photos, but you could see the water flowing in behind the ice.

Memorial Day 2014

We remember those who gave all for our nation. All who have served have given of their efforts in defense of our nation. Some gave all. These photos were taken in Fountain Hills, Arizona at Veterans Memorial adjacent to the city's main attraction, one of the world's largest fountains. The Honor Guard was practicing the day before Memorial Day, and I just happened to be there at the time.

Branch Brook Park In Bloom

Branch Brook Park in Newark is one of the oldest county parks in the nation, and it also happens to have one of the world's largest and most diverse collection of cherry trees in the world. It's even larger than the cherry tree collection in Washington DC with more than 4,000 cherry trees. Many of them were blossoming this past weekend and this week looks to be the peak blooming period. Here's a small sample, and it's amazing to see this gem in the heart of Newark.

In fact, there are parts of the park that make one feel like you've entered a wilderness. It's truly a jewel of New Jersey.