Virginia Pine

There are sights so common where I live that I dare say that many, if not most, of us, myself included, hardly give them a second thought. But occasionally there are times, when I'm either alone or with one other person, I'll stop, look up, and just marvel at these giants of the woods near where I live. Like a parent gawking at his growing teenage son, I marvel at how these trees reached such awesome heights. Could I have been asleep when this all happened? Was I unduly preoccupied with something else? How could I have missed this? 

In any case, there they are. Unmistakable. Quintessentially Virginian, even though I know they are quite common throughout what we here generally refer to as the Middle Atlantic states. And every once in a while, sometimes quite a while, I pause and take note.

Hydrangea

A surprising discovery this morning! The genus, hydrangea, was "first described from Virginia in North America," according to this article in Wikipedia. So I doubt that I'll ever look at the same way again. :-)

Box Turtle

Ah, the Eastern Box Turtle. So underrated. I mean, just look at that coloration! And that look--fierce, determined, unwavering. Even if I did just momentarily think about picking her up off this walking trail and sending her on her way into the nearby woods.

Giant Cane

Unless I am mistaken, and I may be, this is an example of Giant Cane. If so, then this is pretty cool, since, according to Wikipedia, canebreaks like this are considered endangered ecosystems. What's more, it's located along the edge of a conservation easement very near my home.