“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir
White Pine tree and Appalachian Mountains
“Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir
Mature Eastern Hemlock trees on the floodplain of a mountain stream
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
Puddling swallowtails seeking moisture, nutrients and enhanced reproductive success from the mud near a mountain spring
Maidenhair Fern after a rainy night
“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains.” – John Muir
Wild Columbine
Wild Mountain Azalea
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” – John Muir
Free-stone mountain stream
American Merganser on an early morning perch above a beaver pond
Newly hatched mayfly dun on the surface film of a mountain stream
Mergansers
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
Nick's Nature Pics 
Some superb shots here. My favorite was the Columbine.
Thanks Gunta. Me too. When I strip the experiences from each photo, the columbine stands alone at the top!
I love the mountains. I too, am especially fond of wild columbine. I now have a couple of plants in my flowerbeds from seeds that I collected at a friend’s in TN. When I grew up, my mom only had the red and yellow columbine.
It’s extra special when someone has a personal connection to a post and relates to the story. Appreciate your thoughts.
The title intrigued me. I look at forests like you have shown as full of life everywhere, tree tops down to inches or more deep into the soil. I am guessing that was your point. I liked all the Muir quotes. Ironically I was researching his work online for an up coming post and could not find what I was looking for, although I was sure it fit his philosophy. Even though he lived elsewhere (not here on the east coast) , all that he has done for the environment across the country is so inspirational and long lasting.
Thanks Donna. Much of my reading is bundled into the winter season and several years ago I lost myself in “A Passion for Nature – The Life of John Muir” by Donald Worster. A great read, with lots of little nuggets to ruminate on.
Thanks, I will look into that book.
Outstanding swallowtail photo, Nick!
Thanks babsje! I visit that remote section of NC PA every chance I get and the swallowtail puddling activity is something I always look forward to. Hundreds of square miles of more or less continuous deciduous forest is much to their liking! Spring was a little late this year and they were just beginning to congregate around puddles while I was camping and shooting. In recent years I’ve watched as many as 150 +- in a single probing, swirling mass around a muddy area near a campsite. There are usually several other species, fewer in number, doing the same.
You’re welcome. How remarkable yay sounds!
Just beautiful, Nick. I echo John Muir’s words. We should all get out there into the wild countryside more often. Those swallowtails are exquisite!
Thanks Jo. I always look forward to comments, curious to know which pics in a post will draw the most attention. The swallowtails are one my favorites too, partly because I have never seen puddling of that magnitude in central NY, or anywhere else for that matter!
That must be a wonderful sight. I love the pic of the hemlock trees, too (the one above it).