Semiquincentennial Books

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. 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.