Caddo Maples
Caddo Maples, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Okla.
Walking through a forested canyon in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Okla., I felt like I was back in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park in Texas. Big Bend was the first park I worked at when the Great Recession ended my art business, and it changed my life. Read the rest of this entry »
Martha Songbird
There’s a pretty little nature park in the middle of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, named after the last passenger pigeon on earth. Martha died in 1914 in the Cincinnati Zoo. Her billions of other kin had been exterminated out of existence by greed and thoughtlessness.
Carolina Wren
Several decades ago, Fort Sill naturalists wanted to reclaim a part of the well-groomed military grounds for wildlife. They planted many native trees and shrubs, and let it go wild. Then they named it after Martha the passenger pigeon. Read the rest of this entry »
Leaf Studies
A stroll through the Martha Songbird Nature Park on Fort Sill a few days ago revealed many treasures, enough to fill several blog posts. This one is focusing on the leaves, fading in autumn glory.
A sycamore (or is it a red maple?) leaf was pretty enough with the sun shining through it, but when a little hole caught the sun, it just became extra-special. Read the rest of this entry »
Heart Rock and October Surprises
Heart Rock, Wichita Mts Wildlife Refuge OK
This is actually a pretty big rock. You have to view it from above to see it’s a heart. The bottom of the heart is about head-high when you’re next to it.
Wichita Mts Wildlife Refuge, mid-Oct, Okla.
It’s easy to get to, but there’s no sign, and it requires a little bit of rock scrambling. But the grip on your shoes is good. Read the rest of this entry »
Critters ‘n Flowers
Mikey and his Doggles
You never know what you’re gonna see when you get out of the car to stretch your legs. I was munching on an oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie when this little guy motored by at Queen Wilhemena State Park in Arkansas. Read the rest of this entry »
Oklahoma’s “Blue Ridge Parkway”
Talimena Trail, Oklahoma
Who’d a thunk it? Oklahoma has mountains! Not just the Wichitas, which are pretty darned lovely, but rolling forested mountains with endless views such as I’ve seen along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They are the Ouachita Mountains (Wash-a-taw or Wash-ee-tah). And the road to see them is the Talimena Trail, officially the Talimena National Scenic Byway. Read the rest of this entry »
October Explodes With Color in the Wichitas
I didn’t realize the fall wildflowers in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge rivaled those of spring. There are patches of brilliant yellow Maximilian sunflowers that grow along a single stem like hollyhocks. And the purple liatris is everywhere amid the prairie grass and prairie broomweed. I’m not sure what species it is exactly (gayfeather something I think) but even the wildflower lady at the refuge has a bit of a time narrowing it down, so I’m not gonna worry about it.
Maximilian Sunflowers
I haven’t been able to do much blogging as my computer was in the hospital for a month. It’s got a new 1TB hard drive, and some other upgrades. So now I can get back to my photo editing! Read the rest of this entry »
Autumn in California’s Eastern Sierras
McGee Creek Canyon after the storm Oct. 18
I’ve learned never to give up on photographing landscapes just because it’s raining. Especially in California, because it generally doesn’t rain all day. The season’s first snow and the moody clouds, combined with a touch of sun, created an image with much more character than the blue-sky postcard photograph I had planned on. Read the rest of this entry »
Spirit of the Cypress
A meditative water journey on a foggy morning, with inspirational nature quotes.
Banks Lake NWR Part 4 – Small Gems
Red maple and cypress
The final installment of my recent Banks Lake paddle shows some color, and some small treasures.
Poison Ivy is pretty in fall
Muscadine (wild grape)
Phoebe next to cypress seed ball
Great egret in fog
Cypress leaves turn rust before they fall for the winter
Tickseed sunflower
Sweet gum leaves on water lily
To see another view of this trip, see Marilyn Kircus’ blog
Photos and text copyrighted by Cindy McIntyre
Feel free to reblog
Website: Cindy McIntyre Images
Online gallery: Smugmug
