Scroll down to view Steve Madden’s featured photos for April through June 2023.
All photos in this collection are copyright 2023 Steven L Madden.
SFP628 June 28 2023
Tennessee State Flower
I saw a few Purple Passion Flowers while walking the Upland Trail Outer Loop at Seven Islands State Birding Park this afternoon.
Along with Iris, Passion Flower was designated an official state flower of Tennessee. The plant was called Ocoee by native Americans, who prized it as their most abundant and beautiful flowering plant.
SFP628 June 28 2023
Flew The Coop
I reached today’s minutes target by walking along Will Skelton Greenway and thru Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area in Knoxville Tennessee.
The Hawk perched atop the tall tree was not thrilled to see me. As I aimed my camera its direction, the Hawk swiftly flew the coop.
STF621 June 21 2023
Glistening Wet
I visited UT Gardens this morning, certain that plant images would be enhanced by raindrops. I was not disappointed.
This boardwalk bisects an algae-covered garden pond. The boardwalk, too, was enhanced by glistening wetness.
STF621a June 21 2023
More To Come
Flowers, trees and shrubs at UT Gardens were wet all over as showers watered Knoxville Tennessee again this morning.
This Carolina Allspice shrub stood out because it displayed only two red flower clusters. I predict more flowers and rain to come.
SFP606 June 6 2023
Bird’s Eye View
I arrived by 6:30 at Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, but was disappointed that sunrise was not visible from The Pinnacle overlook.
This was my best photo from The Pinnacle today. It’s a bird’s eye view of historic Cumberland Gap Tennessee.
SFP606a June 6 2023
Christmas In June
This is one of the buildings from the birds eye view of Cumberland Gap Tennessee above.
There I met an artist burning elaborate decorations into wooden spoons she will give friends at Christmas time. How’s that for planning ahead?!
SFP530 May 30 2023
Sampson Mountain Wilderness
This view is from an overlook near the top of Turkeypen Cove Trail in the Sampson Mountain Wilderness of Cherokee National Forest.
SFP530a May 30 2023
Rejoicing Over Rhodo
I delighted at Mountain Laurel blooms as I climbed Turkeypen Cove Trail from Squibb Creek near Horse Creek Campground.
I was overjoyed to see Catawba Rhododendron in bloom near the junction with Middle Springs Ridge Trail.
I do not recall ever before seeing Rhodo and Mountain Laurel in full bloom during the same day hike.
SFP521 May 21 2023
Countless Blooms
I asked a Smoky Mountains ranger which trails have lots of Mountain Laurel Shrubs. Her list included Lower Mount Cammerer Trail that begins near Cosby Campground.
As the ranger predicted, after about two miles I saw short sections with countless of the heath shrubs in full bloom.
SFP521a May 21 2023
Thank God For Trees
I finished hiking around 7:15pm and decided to drive Foothills Parkway from Cosby to Interstate 40 in East Tennessee.
While awaiting sunset, I enjoyed views of summergreen trees as far as I could see. Thank God for trees like these!
SFP521b May 21 2023
Early Summer Sunset
Sunset occurred near 8:30pm, and it was worth the wait.
Smoke from distant wildfires seemed to enhance mountain images this early Summer evening.
SFP516 May 16 2023
Seeing P I N K
It began May 2 when Tom and I discovered several Pink Lady Slippers along Twin Creeks Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
A dozen days later, we returned to the Smokies and hiked Curry Mountain Trail where Mountain Laurel shrubs were near peak.
Today, I walked early morning with Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville Tennessee. My most excellent morning culminated with a close up of this Japanese import called Spiraea.
SFP516a May 16 2023
Indian P I N K
I am perplexed that this scarlet and lemon beauty is called Indian Pink.
I saw numerous Indian Pink blooms near an overlook of Tennessee River and Dickinson’s Island at Ijams Nature Center.
SFP511 May 11 2023
Select Succulent
This splendid plant was my favorite among the Succulents nicely displayed in the Children’s Garden at Racheff Park & Garden in Knoxville Tennessee.
PlantNet thinks this is a Hen-and-Chicks specimen. I appreciate its colors, its texture and its name!
SFP510 May 10 2023
Sierra Columbine, So They Say
At Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum today, flowering plants were few and far between. Current bloomers, including this eye-catching flower, were mostly unfamiliar to me.
I consulted the PlantNet app and found there is a 12 percent chance this is Sierra Columbine. If so, it is endemic to California’s High Sierra mountains.
SFP510a May 10 2023
Made In Japan
Several trees in the Martha H. Ashe Garden at Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum featured these aromatic blooms in early May.
They are Japanese Tree Lilacs, and are native to Eastern Asia.
SFP502 May 2 2023
Sought And Found
I sought Pink Lady Slippers today near Gatlinburg Tennessee. Following directions from a fellow wildflower enthusiast, I found several of the feminine flowers in full bloom.
What a wildflower season I have enjoyed this Spring!
SFP428 April 28 2023
Orange Blossom Special
Orange you glad I noticed this Rose blossom at UT Gardens in Knoxville Tennessee?
As a Knoxville native and UT alumnus, I am an orange-blooded Vol for life. As a teenager, I even painted my bedroom orange.
SFP427 April 27 2023
Fleabane Flowers
In the past, I considered these weeds. God help me!
Even when I began to appreciate these dainty flowers, I mistakenly called them Robin’s Plantain.
Now I know this is a bonny bouquet of Fleabane flowers.
SFP424 April 24 2023
Seven Slippers
Until last week, I had seen two or three Yellow Lady Slippers in my life. On Friday, I saw five together along Huskey Gap Trail in the Smoky Mountains.
Today I retraced my steps with three hiking friends, so they could enjoy the same privilege. Julie discovered two more of the exquisite yellow flowers across the trail.
Nearby wonders never cease!
SFP421 April 21 2023
Smoky Mountain Sunrise
What do you do when you wake too early and cannot return to sleep?
I drove 1.5 hours to Newfound Gap where I captured this sunrise view of our beloved Smoky Mountains.
SFP421a April 21 2023
Showy Orchis
Showy Orchis showed off today along Little River Trail between Huskey Gap and Goshen Prong trail junctions.
These three Smoky Mountain trails, and many others, feature phenomenal Spring wildflowers.
SFP421b April 21 2023
PlantNet Says
I have seen only one cluster of this flowering plant, when I hiked Huskey Gap Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
According to the PlantNet app, this is Oneflowered Broomrape. Who came up with that name?!
SFP414 April 14 2023
Zoo Blooms
I returned to Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens for my second annual Zoo Blooms visit. Flowers and animals were quite photogenic this afternoon.
Last April, I accompanied my granddaughter Zoe for her first trip to the Zoo. This trip to Cincinnati, I met my newborn grandson Ezra.
It seems there is a connection between my precious grandchildren and Cincinnati Zoo.
SFP414a April 14 2023
What Big Horns You Have!
A Black Rhinoceros ventured so near, I could reach out and touch it. Seeing its horns up close deterred me.
What a superb day for observing animals at the Zoo!
SFP410 April 10 2023
Green Giants
The hills are alive with the sound of music. Perhaps you recognize this lyric from a 1965 epic film, the first movie I saw in a theater.
Hills were alive with shades of green at Cove Lake State Park today. Standing taller than surrounding trees, these green giants cast a huge shadow across the lakeside trail.
SFP409 April 9 2023
Geraniums Galore
I visited Frozen Head State Park again in pursuit of Spring wildflowers.
Among the profusion of blooming flowers along Panther Branch Trail, I saw Wild Geraniums galore!
(Note variations between this specimen and the cliff dweller at Ijams Nature Center. See April 6 photo below.)
SFP409a April 9 2023
Singular Beauty
Among the plethora of wildflowers along Panther Branch Trail at Frozen Head State Park, I noticed a single specimen of this emerging beauty.
I was completely unfamiliar with the plant. Thankfully, Russ correctly identified it as Wood Betony.
SFP406 April 6 2023
Cliff Dwellers
I saw my first Wild Geranium flowers of the season today at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville Tennessee.
A few flowers decorated pockets of soil on the rock cliff that fronts Tennessee River along the river boardwalk.
SFP404 April 4 2023