Caddo Lake 2010

I recently wrote a post about our trip to Caddo Lake State Park in the fall (you can see that post here), but well before that trip we went in the summer - when vegetation is thick and green and the air is hot and muggy!  In this post I'll share what we saw in August of 2010.

These lures caught in the tree near the fishing pier were the first things that caught my eye, probably because that's where mine would have wound up!!!

After shooting a few pictures from the pier we walked down along the bank of the river.  It was still early enough to catch the light shining through the trees.

Then we decided to go on a hike. This is how the trail started...

then it became "steep and rugged" (according to the map, that is).  We actually completed the trail when we came back in the fall - that is where we found the beautiful pavilion...wish we had done it this time too! It was pretty warm to walk around in though!

As we were returning to our campsite Rick stopped so we could shoot some pictures of this honeysuckle vine climbing a pine tree.

I walked around the lake a little and this is what I saw along the edges...

and closer to the boat house/canoe rental area.

We stood on the pier to take sunset pictures.  Strangely enough the sky didn't look very pretty, but when I looked at the sunset reflected in the water.... 

We got up early for some sunrise pictures too.  This time the sky cooperated and I was able to get a shot of the sky growing pink through the trees.

Some early morning fishermen out on the water before the sun came over the horizon.

And the first kiss of sunlight!

 And finally the morning light filtering through the Spanish Moss...lovely!

 We had such a great time, and this is such a nice campground we knew we had to come back again!

Ft. Richardson With The 'Rents

It was decided that Mom, Dad, Pepaw, and I would take a trip in the new pop-up (yet to be named) to Ft. Richardson for the 4th of July.  It would be our first trip in the camper and Mom and Dad's second.

This is a Historic Fort and Pepaw and I enjoyed walking around the first day getting some pictures.  Our favorite saying of our time there was "Look at all that cactus!"

Next to one of the Historic buildings in the park.

We got up early our first morning there and I loved the way the light hit this unusual blossom...

but because we hadn't really had time to scope out the park we really missed the best light at the best places... no problem we still had time and knew we would be up early the next day as well...
We went up next to the visitor center and I got this shot of a turtle swimming under the water above the algae...the water was so clear in the small lake!

We got up early the next morning and walked over to the area we had found the day before and got set up for the sunrise.

Loved the way the light lit up the colors of the small cliffs next to the tiny lake.

Nothing quite like the golden light of morning!

Lantana

It pays to get up early - sunrise over the visitor's center

My bird friend was trying to wake everyone in the park up to enjoy the sunrise!

Went back to the campsite and just enjoyed some family time!

Camper and screen shelter.

Mom, Dad, and Memaw

Caddo Lake In the Fall

Mid-November we headed to Caddo Lake State Park to see if we could get any fall pictures there.  What a great time we had! This time it looked like we were a little LATE for the color - but there was still some there.  Actually we think the rain knocked a lot of the colorful leaves to the ground - but it was still lovely!

Stopped when we saw this on the road to the park.

 See - some color!

While I was waiting for Pepaw I walked a little of the trail above the boat rental area.

See how many of the leaves are on the path?

Went back down close to the lake and found these colorful leaves on a backdrop of Spanish Moss.

Looking down the road to the campground by the boat rental area.

We decided to go ahead and hike the path I had scouted out a little earlier, and I'm glad we did.  We found the CCC pavillion, we didn't even know it was there!

This is one of my favorite pictures of the entire trip!

Sights along the trail.

Back to the road again...

Loved this splash of color surrounded by the gray of the Spanish Moss.

 Golden light as the sun begins to dip toward the horizon...

Final random shots around the boat rental area...

We love the photo opportunities in this area, and I'm sure we'll be back!

Tyler State Park in June

Pepaw and I went out in early June (right after school was out) to try to get some wildflower shots.  Here is what we got! I don't know much about flowers - but I tried to identify some of these...if you KNOW what the names are, or if I have them wrong, PLEASE let me know.  

I think this first is a Stemless Evening Primrose

 Several shots of Texas Plume

 Yucca blooms

These have been identified as Prairie Fleabane (Thanks Pam!)

Just liked the contrast of the bright green vine on the rough, dark bark.

Possibly Prairie Larkspur

These are Dayflowers

Wildflower mix!

I THINK these might be Yellow Gaillardia or possibly Coneflowers?

I know this was in the garden, but I don't recall what type of flower it was.

Texas Lantana

Could this be an Obedient Plant?

Firewheel

 And finally just some random shots of flowers in the wild.

It was a wonderful trip and I can't wait to go back again!