Walking Through Summer: May 2023

Looking down onto the native grasses of the peninsula along the French Broad River
at Seven Islands State Birding Park.

This State Park consists of 416 acres of natural area along the
French Broad River and is only 20 miles east of Knoxville.

Click here for directions and more information
about the Seven Islands Park.

Click here to see a topographical Trail Map.

This is the Upper Trail Inner Loop trailhead (see map).
We will be making a large counter-clockwise loop
around most of the park.

It's a gradual uphill climb to the top of the hill.
(refer to the topo map at any time)

I love the smell of the Japanese Honeysuckle,
as well as the taste of the nectar.

Sara tasting the nectar.

Click here for info about Honeysuckle.

Ascending the hill, slowly...stopping often to look and listen.

The beautiful flower of Deptford Pink.
Click any photo to enlarge it.

Click here for a close-up view of Deptford Pink.

Lots of Daisies along the way.

I like the pattern of the central part of the Daisy flower.
(What is the name of that pattern? The answer is in the caption of the next photo)

It was still foggy when we got there, and the dew
could be seen on all the spider webs.
(The daisy flower pattern is in the form of Fibonacci spirals,
the most efficient spacing pattern.
For info on Fibonacci spirals, click here.)

The trail now descends toward the river.

Schumpert's Pond is in the background.
See the map to find our location.
Trail Map

Sara's getting a photo of one of the many spider webs.

That's the French Broad River,

which we'll be walking next to, soon.

At this point we hiked through some woods heading

down toward the Seven Islands Loop Trail and Wayne's Pond.

Trail Map

Wayne's Pond off of the Seven Islands Loop Trail.

This trail (off the Loop Trail) took us closer
to a rock bluff area.

Some Wild Roses next to the water.

Click here for info on Wild Roses.

We took another short off-trail to find this view
of one of the islands.

We watched a Great Blue Heron fly into the trees,

and then Sara spotted this nest!

Click the photo to enlarge it.

Click here for info on Great Blue Herons.

This little island was home to many birds. You can see

another Heron's nest with one of the parents below and to

the right of it.

Cormorant Info

The French Broad River with a landmark knob in the background.
Map of the French Broad River

This part of the Loop Trail is adjacent to the river.

Looks like a species of rust growing on this plant.
Rust is a kind of fungus that infects plants.

We just got onto the Seclusion Bend Trail and
followed the Turkey until it got tired of us.

Nice looking bluff across the river.

Smooth Vetch

Click here for information on Smooth Vetch.

Click any photo to enlarge it.

Yarrow

Click here for info on Yarrow.

We walked almost to the end of the peninsula, where we turned
left onto a trail that lead to the Maple Leaf Barn (see map).
Trail Map

We connected up with the Seclusion Bend Trail again
now going north on the winding trail toward the Window Barn.

On the left was this huge field of a small species of Sunflowers.

A beautiful Red Clover.

Click here for info on Red Clover.

A mass of foam created by Spittlebugs.

Click here for information about Spittlebugs.

The trail takes you to the top of a hill looking east at the River.

Looks like a species of Beardtongue (Penstemon).

Click here for information on Beardtongues.

I liked the shape of this massive tree.

The Window Barn (I'm facing south).

You can see the Kelly Lane Greenway on the right.

At this point we got back onto the Seven Islands Loop Trail
and headed toward the Bluebird Barn, our starting point.

Low Hop Clover

Click here for info on Low Hop Clover.

Saw many Buttercups along our walk, today.

Click here for info on Buttercups.

Close-up of a Buttercup.

Come back in July to eat some Blackberries.

The Bluebird Barn, the end of our walk.

Whether you're a birder or not, if you're ever in the
Knoxville area you must see this fantastic natural area,
the Seven Islands State Birding Park.

Print a map (or find it on your phone) before you go to any
wildlife area so that you can
appreciate the walk without worrying about getting lost.

Get out and explore your surroundings!!

The view of Shanty Hollow Lake from below the parking lot.

This lake (reservoir) is one of the most beautiful natural areas in this region. It has a trail which extends along the SW edge of the lake and ends at a horseshoe-shaped bluff with a waterfall. As you walk the trail look for wildflowers and migrating birds as well as unusual fossils in the bluffs.

Click here for information and trail map: Trail Map

If you are looking at the lake, turn right to see the trailhead,
which is at the end of the parking lot.

This is the beginning of the trail to the waterfall.

During the first part of your walk, the lake will be to your left

and rocky bluffs will be to your right.

You'll see many different species of wildflowers on this walk,
such as this Greek Valerian.

Greek Valerian aka Jacob's Ladder

Info on Greek Valerian or Jacob's Ladder

On your left side as you walk will be a view of the lake.

We saw a Scarlet Tanager, in this area.

First time I've ever seen one.

Click here for Info on the Scarlet Tanager
and to hear its song.

Photo taken from the Cornell site.

There are so many giant boulders with many species of plants growing on them.

A very large species of wood sorrel.
Price's Wood Sorrel...I think.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Click here for Info

What a strange looking flower!

The leaves with the scaly pattern belong to Liverworts,

which are tiny plants closely related to mosses.

The stalks are their reproductive structures.
Click here for Info

I'm not a bird expert, but I'm sure I heard a bald eagle on Sunday,
and when I returned on Tuesday with my son, we

both heard it, again, in this area (below). We never saw it.

At times you will see short trails veering off to the left
to the lake's edge. If you have the time you may want to
take one of these trails...explore the area!

Wild Geraniums

Click here for Info

Descending toward the lake, now.

A plant called Solomon's Seal revealing its small flowers.
Click here for Info

I decided to take this short trail up to the bluff to explore

the hillside. You can see the yellow flowers on the bottom right,

in the close-up, below.

A species of Coriopsis

This Cricket Frog was a little bigger than a quarter.
I almost didn't see the little creature!
Click here for Info

Violet Wood Sorrel (not clover!)
Notice how each leaflet is heart-shaped;
the leaflets of clover are not heart-shaped)
Click here for Info

Found some beautiful Spiderworts above the boulders.
Information on Spiderworts

A kind of grape fern called Rattlesnake Fern.
Click here for Info

A beautiful landscape!

Cinquefoil
Click here for Info

Looking toward the lake from atop a hill...

you can see a bit of the lake in the background.

Back down on the main trail.

A little non-poisonous Garter Snake (not garden snake).

Info on Garter Snakes

These Shooting Stars were hiding under
the edge of a boulder.

French's Shooting Star

http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/pso/article/illinois_audubon_protects_jewel_in_the_shawnee_national_forest

Information on Common Shooting Stars

Someone exploring the lake in their kayak.

The left trail takes you down to the creek. I chose the

higher route on the right, which takes you along some

very large boulders and cliffs.

Here's a very tiny mushroom!
(compare the mushroom to the penny)

A Phlox species

Fantastic rock formations almost the entire way to the waterfall.

White Baneberry or Doll's Eyes

The fruit of this flower look very much like the
porcelain eyes once used in dolls.

Info on Baneberry

Watch this great video of baneberry flowers turning
into seeds (doll's eyes).

There are some small unusual ferns growing in the crevices
of the boulder.

An Asplenium hybrid.

This looks like a hybrid between 2 Asplenium species.

I like the "green boulders."
Such a beautiful hiking trail. Be sure to stop once in awhile
and just look around you...smell the air.

Beautiful Mountain Laurel flowers!

This is a popular spot for rock climbers.

A group of Fire Pinks on the top of a boulder.

Fire Pink

The flowing water from the waterfall ahead
carved out this mini-canyon over a long period of time!

It's about a 10 foot drop/fall into the canyon,

so don't slip!!

Bishop's Caps or Miterwort
Apparently the seedpods look like the caps that bishops wear.
Click here for Info

Miterwort flowers
(not to be confused with Mitrewort, a different plant)

Looking down into running water in the mini-canyon.

The mini-canyon.

A male gametophyte of Juniper Moss (highly magnified).
The yellow-green structure at the top is where the sperm is produced. Eggs are produced on a separate plant.

This stream is coming from the waterfall
up ahead on the other side of the boulders.

Beautiful ferns, Polypody vulgare, growing
on the side of the boulder.
Click here for Info

This was carved out by the force of the
running water over countless years!!

Not much water, today.

Click here to see a video of the waterfall after a few days of rain. When I get to this point in my hike I like to just sit down, relax, listen to the birds and insects and just appreciate the waterfall.

Can you find Marilyn (on the left). She gives you an idea of
the scale of the rocks.

When I found this wild orchid, below, I yelled outloud...I was

so excited!! Just look at its beauty!

This wild orchid is called Showy Orchis!

A fantastic find!

I climbed down to the creek and decided to walk back part of the way in the creek.

A non-poisonous Milk Snake.

(look at the head, top right, sticking out of the water...
it's not a large, triangular head like that of a copperhead)

Looking at the top of the hill from the creek.

Solomon's Plume
(some books call it False Solomon's Seal, but I think that's a lack of creativity.)
Click here for Info

What a stunning sight!!!

Wow!! Look at this gorgeous White Violet.

Click here for Info

Looking across the creek at the many different

kinds of deciduous trees.
This is where I saw these two birds...both beautiful!
Click the websites to see and hear the birds.

Info on the Summer Tanager Info on the Prothonotary Warbler

Photo taken from the Cornell site.

Click here to hear the call of the Prothonotary Warbler !

Toad or Frog?
(the answer is in the caption of the next photo)

Synandra, aka Guyandotte Beauty
This is the only species in this genus!

(The previous photo was of a toad. You can tell by the kidney bean-shaped
parotid gland that toads in the genus Bufo have, behind each eye.)