Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center

November 2012

Just out of the city is a little hidden jewel. There is a walking trail, a canoeing area, a boardwalk over the wetlands, an area with rescued wild animals, a breeding area for one of the most endangered mammals in the U.S., an arboretum home to more than 120 different species of trees, plaques commemorating battles on the spot from colonial days through the Civil War, and a Reflection Riding trail.

As always click to enlarge any photograph.

 

Along the wetlands leading to the creek, where you can rent canoes, is a walking trail and a boardwalk. Here is the TreeHouse along the boardwalk.

 

Inside the tree house is just as pretty as in the outside, including some carved wood pillars.

  

 The roof opens around the trees.

 

The back door is a wonderful metal sculpture.

 

Around the back. Check out the great woodwork.

There are many rescued animals here that have been injured in some way and cannot return to the wild. Owls, eagles, and some big cats. The chain fence is awful to photograph through, however, so I didn't take too many pictures of this part.

These are red wolves. Not too long ago they went extinct in the wild. This place was one of the few in the country that bred red wolves and introduced them back to their native land in the south east.

One of the things I found the most interesting (that I couldn't photograph) was the way they smelled.

 Photographing through this fence became a ridiculously hard challenge. Frustrating...

 

  

Walking through the birding trails.

Entering the Reflection Riding trail. A "riding" is a concept from the Victorian era of a trail through a garden. These were meant to be ridden through on a horse and the scenery is set up according to that pace. This trail was paved in the 50s and designed for cars to be able to drive it. The road can be close, but then also has places to pull over so you can get out and walk about at your leisure.

 

Although we came in the off-season, the beauty of the trees was still undeniable. 

Leaves falling in front of Look-Out Mountain.

 

The idyllic little farm with a pond and horses.

 

 

The view from inside.

 

I had to stop to take a picture of this contrast between the two trees in autumn colors and the bright evergreen.

 

I'm not usually happy with my landscape photos, but there were several from this day that I finally got the right contrast in.

 

Heading around a corner revealed a large bamboo forest...

...with a path cut through it.

 A closer look at a young unique bamboo plant. I wonder what made it grow like this? I also like the little red berries in the shot.

 

Entering into the forest felt like going into another world.

 

 

 The sun peaking through the shoots like the slats of window blinds. Managed to capture the play of light and shadow that I was seeing -- complete with natural lens flare.

 

Looking up with wide-angle.

 Keep expecting to see a fairy somewhere there behind the trees.

 

  

 There were many battles fought here. Some during the Civil War, and some earlier between the white settlers and the American Indians. One of the plaques on the ride tells the legend of how this rock became in the shape of an Indian man, that he might never be forgotten.

 

You can also see the rock in the far background of this picture.

To the right of these boulders and gazebo is a pond. Also the scene of a bloody Civil War battle, the feel of the place reminded me strongly of Shiloh. Ponds seem to collect sorrows.

 

 A view of the road.

  

Next to a rentable building.

 

The Squincy Bird Cabin, a historic house, moved to this site from North Carolina.

Hope you enjoyed our trip through the Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center. Check it out if you get the chance. Been working to catch up with my photos after taking sometime out for family issues. The next few posts will probably be in Virginia.