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Tennessee Nature Photographs
by Photographer Ron Castle
Savage Falls After Sunset
Sam Werner Memorial Plaque at Rattlesnake
Point Overlooking Savage Gulf
The plaque reads:
In memory of Samuel H. Werner, Sr. and his wife Ellen Young
Werner of Tracy City, Tennessee.
They acquired 3,800 acres here in 1924
and 1926 and protected its natural values, including its
virgin forest, until it was permanently preserved as a State
Natural Area in 1974.
"This magnificent creation of God will be
forever protected for the inspiration and enjoyment of this
and future generations." Tennessee Department of
Conservation 1978
Sunrise Ridge Over Laurel Creel (seen
from Stone Door)
My Secret Trillium Place
See my wildflower
photos on this page.
Fog Makes Pearls on A Spider's Web
A Foggy Morning in May On Top of the
Cumberland Plateau
Fungi on an Old Log
Pearly Crescent-Spot Butterfly on Black Locust
Phyciodes tharos:
A small golden orange-and-black butterfly, one of our most
“frequent fliers,” ranging across the North American
continent and abundant just about everywhere. Look carefully
when the butterfly pauses with its wings closed and erect,
and you’ll spot the pale crescent near the edge of its
hind-wings. This perky butterfly often flies fairly low,
visiting one patch of flowers after another, but it also
rises to greater heights to seek a perch. There it sits for
long stretches of time, wings outspread but ready to dart
into the air after any passerby.
(Male) Diana Butterflies Like Sweaty Outdoor
Photographers
(there were 5 - 2 flew away as I moved my hand in front of
the tripod - there was also one
sitting on my hat as this photo was taken)
Argynnis diana:
The Diana fritillary is among the most
spectacular resident species of
butterflies found at South Cumberland.
Diana was the Roman goddess of light and life (Artemis in
Greek mythology), later known as the goddess of the moon and
hunting, and as a protector of women. Fritillary is derived
from the Latin word fritillus, meaning “dice-box,”
probably referring to spot patterns on the wings. The
butterflies are large (3.5" wingspan) and showy. Males are
blackish-brown with orange markings; the larger females are
black with iridescent blue. The species was first described
in 1777 by Pieter Cramer from a male discovered in
Jamestown, Virginia. The female was described in 1864 by W.
H. Edwards from the Kanawha and Elk Rivers of West Virginia.
Hackberry Butterfly - One of my
favorites.
Asterocampa celtis:
Lepidoptera, Family Nymphalidae. The hackberry
butterfly's natural habitat is rich, consisting of deciduous
woodland and forest edges, along wooded streams.
Sometimes referred to as the Hackberry Emperor. The
Hackberry butterfly ranges from most of the eastern United
States, central Plains states, and the southwest mountains
to northern Mexico. They are also known to occur as far
north as southern Canada. Hackberry butterflies fly in
a fast and erratic manner, and often rest upside down on
tree trunks. Adults feed on sap, rotting fruit, dung and
carrion and can often be seen taking moisture at wet spots
along roads and streams.
Summer Evening Sunset at Savage Gulf
A thunderstorm to the north swallowed the sun. |
