Old Growth - Tumblr Posts

I will be writing more details on the Bald Cypress tree species in a later post. However, the ONLY way I could possible capture the size of this tree was through this video. This Bald Cypress is 30ft in circumstance and estimated to be well over 1,000 years old. Absolutely amazing.

*My dad (the forester) has promptly informed me that they are called Cypress Knees and not “knobs” after watching the video. oops😂

Lowcountry Live Oaks. I love you.

Balsam Trail, Mount Mitchell, NC

This mountain is known for its height. At 6,684 feet tall, it is the tallest mountain and peak east of the Mississippi River, and the tallest peak in the Appalachian mountain range.

The old growth forest on this mountain is an extremely rare and special place. The Balsam Trail is one of my most favorite places in the world. It feels like you are transported into another world. It’s absolutely amazing.

From my walk tonight.

Camping Nantahala National Forest under some beautiful old growth.

I love this home of mine.

Home will never lose its magic.

My most special place in the world. Congaree National Park. This place has held a very special place in my heart since my very first visit a few years ago. It’s so much more than a boardwalk through the woods. You have to truly understand the rare beauty you enter. Pictures can never capture the magic of an old growth forest. There are very few left (like count on one hand few) - especially in the southeast.

When I step into the canopy of Congaree, I enter a time machine showing me what the land here is suppose to look like. Still to this day, wetlands are in grave danger and are flattened and filled in with sand and dirt in the name of cookie cutter neighborhoods. No retaining pond could ever make up for the loss. Then when entire towns by the coast get flooded by the storm seasons, people act surprised. Floodplains and swamps are vital to the natural ecosystem of our home. Not to mention the rich habitats and diverse ecosystems they hold. It’s recently been discovered that bald cypress trees can live longer than 2,000 years. Congaree is ancient. Once you ruin a wetland, you can’t get it back- not for several lifetimes.

We drove up to Congaree tonight because we received a permit from the lottery system to view the synchronous fireflies. They only occur two known places in the world. Congaree and the Smokies. More to come on that later.

Old growth forests are special in their own right. Add floodplain, southern swamp, and wetland elements to it, and you have such a diverse landscape. With the lack of rainfall in recent weeks, the floodplain has soaked up much water, leaving many guts and swamps with dry beds. You can see the underside of what these trees look like under water. Not to fret though, rain will come soon and so the wetland cycle continues.

I usually do not bring my camera bag with me when I’m deep in the woods, but I decided to this weekend in Congaree National Park.

The floodplain old growth forest, full of swamp guts and land often under water, hides truly ancient bald cypress trees. They are treasures the land works to preserve. The ecosystem within Congaree is hard to navigate and most of the time is not a friendly place to explore. You have to accept the creatures, bugs, mushy ground, and very long walks - but when you see the old growth- it’s always worth it. It reminds me that we are all here as a small part of this world among trees that were here 1,000 years before us. The old growth and the young cypress trees will be here long after each of us. To me, it is a humbling, calming reminder.

I often have a hard time picking favorites, especially when it comes to nature… but, the Balsam Trail at Mt. Mitchell is absolutely my favorite I’ve hiked in the Appalachians. It’s the most unique trail - completely different from anything you’d ever see in this region of the world. Stepping from the peak of the tallest mountain in the Appalachians, and into the threshold of the Balsam Trail - it teleports you. The fog you see in the background is no fog, we’re in a cloud 6,684 ft in the sky. Pisgah National Forest has a huge piece of my heart.

More photos from the Balsam Trail. Mount Mitchell, NC. The magic of Appalachian summers.

The South Carolina Lowcountry. My home. My heaven.

Homage to home and the unnamed beautiful old growth. Based on a real tree