Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography
This blog is for my insights on life, the Bible, hiking adventures with my grandson and whatever is important to me
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … AlL Rights Reserved
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (now called Daniel Stowe Conservancy); Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Admire the Flowers. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Sofia Alves is the host for this week’s Lens-Artist Challenge. The basis for her theme this week is Looking Back to the past #20-Doors and Doorways hosted by Tina.
I have chosen to Look Back to past doors I’ve photographed in 2023 at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. These are Artistic Doors painted by various local artists displayed with the Stowe Gardens.
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #361-Looking Back to #20-Doors
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm and EF75-300mm lenses
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Pull Up a Seat at
The Farmhouse Gardens
Daniel Stowe Conservancy
Welcome back to my saga of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating. This week we are continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat. Coleman’s choices this week are located at The Farmhouse Garden Center on the grounds of The Village at Stowe.
Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 27
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Trailhead Store
Daniel Stowe Conservancy
Carolina Thread Trail
Continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat. This week’s Coleman’s Choices are within the Gazebo at The Trailhead Store on the grounds of The Village at Stowe.
Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.
Stay tuned next week for the continuing saga of Coleman’s choices of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating Part Four-The Farmhouse Seating Choices.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 26
Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments plus Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Location: The Gazebo; The Trailhead Store; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The White Farmhouse which is now the Garden Center was once an administrative building. It has been thoroughly renovated and transformed into a charming garden retail and horticulture education center.
As you drive into The Village at Stowe you drive past this Dog Statuette. It signifies that dogs on leashes are welcomed here.
The steps lead to the front door are lined with flower pots filled with a variety of beautiful flowers inviting you to come on in and explore the garden.
Upon walking inside the Garden Center, you’ll find a mix of vintage farmhouse style and modern character. At The Farmhouse Garden Center you may purchase plants and gardening tools. However, that is not all that is offered. Here is a list of other options …
There is more to The Farmhouse Garden Center than just selling plants and various retail supplies. It also offers a variety of educational opportunities such as learning about gardening and all there is to know regarding plant care. It also provides workshops for floral arrangements and wreath making.
Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC)
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic weekend. Take time to enjoy nature and all the beautiful flowers and sights all around. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Good day! I trust everyone has had a wonderful week so far. Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). The theme is Any animal in your which way. Let’s see the amazing Which Ways y’all can come up with to display Animals in your Pathways, Sidewalks, Trails, Roads, or in any Which Way You Choose. Here are my entries …
Dogs on Trails or Pathways:
Turtles on & Seen from the Trail:
Bugs Encountered on Trails:
For enhanced/enlarged viewing click on each image.
Thank you to all who have supported and contributed to the Which Way Challenge this past week or at any time. Be sure to check out other Which Ways by clicking on the links below.
GERIATRI’X’ Fotogallery – LITTLE ANIMALS
Dawn’s Which Way: Squirrel Moving Up
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Next week we will be discovering Which Ways (CWWC) with Any type of Signs featured in our Which Ways.
Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any animal in your which way – Part Two
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Locations: 1-9) Rocky Branch Trail; 10 & 12) Goat Island Park and Greenway; 11) The Trailhead Store, Belmont; 13-15) Seventh Street; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Get Outdoors and enjoy nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Farmhouse Garden Center is located at The Village at Stowe, a part of the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. It is more than just a Garden shop, it is a delightfully warm and inviting destination for those who love and admire plants and flowers regardless of you are a home gardener or not. The flowers are beautiful and displays are enticing.
The Farmhouse offers educational opportunities such as workshops on wreath-making, floral arranging, gardening, and any and all other aspect related to plant care.
For more information about Thursday Trios check out Mama Cormier’s page by clicking here.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the rest of your week and have a marvelous weekend. Take time to admire the flowers wherever you may wander. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Trailhead Store
Daniel Stowe Conservancy
Carolina Thread Trail
Continuing with Coleman’s Choices of Pulling Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, we uncover a variety of seating arrangements Coleman selected to Pull Up a Seat.
Click on each image for enhanced enlarged viewing.
Stay tuned next week for the continuing saga of Coleman’s choices of Benches, Chairs, and Other seating Part Three.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 25
Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments plus Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Location: Goat Island Park and Greenway; The Center; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Walking along the Pathway parallel to the Big Pond we spotted the Blackberry Flowers. Coleman notices them quicker than I do, he really likes it if they have ripe blackberries on the vines.
Getting a closer look we noticed the bee foraging the nectar from the flowers.
A little further down the pathway Coleman noticed some box-like structures through the grassy opening. As curious as he is he naturally wandered into the grassy opening to investigate the structures. After closer examination he informed me that they were Beehives.
After checking out the Beehives from a safe distance, we walked back towards The Trailhead Store hiking past the Himalayan Blackberry Flowers. Noticing more than just the flowers, I zoomed in to examine what was feasting on its nectar. Then I noticed not only the Common Eastern Bumblebee, but also the Cetonia aurata, which is called the rose chafer or the green rose chafer.
Two for one foraging on the European Blackberry flowers. Think it’s nice that different species can share their delicacies.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Trailhead Store Pathway; The Village at Stowe; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy Nature. Admire its beauty and intricacies. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.”
May Sarton
God Bless. I am Grateful for each and every one of y’all. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week’s theme for Terri’s Sunday Stills Photography Challenge is Paths and #Trails in the Great Outdoors. This week’s theme is difficult except in deciding which photos to select for the challenge. Coleman and I go hiking along trails and pathways at least once a week, most times several days out of a week.
For this week’s challenge I have chosen to select images from our latest adventure hiking from The Trailhead Store in black and white.
Terri’s Sunday Stills-Paths and #Trails in the Great Outdoors
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: Pathway around the Big Pond; From The Trailhead Store; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a beautiful relaxing weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Trailhead Store in The Village at Stowe is a cozy coffee shop nestled amidst the beautiful nature which is preserved through the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. The Trailhead Store specializes in brewing Jade and Elise Coffee. [I am not a coffee drinker so I cannot personally comment on the quality of those particular types of coffees, however, the coffee served here is highly recommended by many guests who have visited.]
The Trailhead Store serves more than merely coffee. It offers a delightful array of refreshments, snacks, and provisions on top of coffee to fuel your outdoor escapades. It offers a wide assortment of fresh to-go meals, including sandwiches, wraps, salads, parfaits, vegan options and desserts, ensuring you stay energized throughout your outdoor activities.
Guests may quench their thirst on their varied selections of coffee, tea, beer, and wine to delight your palate and enjoyment for both on-site and your to-go adventures.
The Trailhead Store offers a wide variety of seating options both in the screened-in patio and outside spread across the vast lawn where you may enjoy beautiful vulgar nature.
Whether you’re stopping by for a quick coffee run, a bite to eat, or just wanting a place to relax in a tranquil environment to study, read, write, or simply enjoy the beautiful outdoors surrounding the Store; it is a fantastic to place to stop by for a visit and even stay for awhile. Highly recommend stopping in and treating yourself, or someone else to some of their delectable food and beverages.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Trailhead Store; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful weekend. Take time to get out and enjoy nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the Outdoors. Visit a Garden. Admire Nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) is a species of New World sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.
This bird is a partial migrant with northerly populations flying southwards in the fall to overwinter in Mexico and the southern United States, and flying northward again in spring.
It molts twice a year. In its breeding plumage it has orangish-rust upper parts, gray head and underparts and a distinctive reddish cap. In non-breeding plumage, the cap is brown and the facial markings are less distinct. The song is a trill and the bird has a piercing flight call that can be heard while it is migrating at night.
They mostly forage on the ground for seeds and other food items, as well as clambering on plants and trees, feeding on buds and small arthropods. Here in the East, they breed mainly in woodland, farmland, parks, and gardens. [We saw this Chipping sparrow as we left The Farmhouse on the way to The Trailhead Store.] Breeding starts in late April and May and the nest is often built in a tree.
The chipping sparrow feeds on seeds year-round, although insects form most of the diet in the breeding season. Spiders are sometimes taken. Throughout the year, chipping sparrows forage on the ground in covered areas, often near the edges of fields.
The Chipping Sparrow although common in the area is not normally observed by the Stowe Birding Club which track and monitor the birds using their bird houses strategically placed around the Stowe property. [This one Coleman spotted first a short distance from where we were walking. He loves to watch the birds and tries to keep a squirrel out of our bird feeder at home.]
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Village at Stowe; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Looking up or looking down you might spot a bird fascinating enough to watch. Maybe even capture their likeness with your camera. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Click on images for enhanced enlarged viewing.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy: Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Have a Walk Amongst the Gardens. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stop and admire the Flowers. Enjoy Nature’s Beautiful Creations. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Trailhead Store is a recent addition to Daniel Stowe Conservancy having just opened last year with The Farmhouse Garden Center opening in May of 2025. The Farmhouse Garden Center opening brought awareness to The Trailhead Store. [I was not aware of its existence until I read about the opening of The Farmhouse Garden Center and the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens name change to Daniel Stowe Conservancy].
The Trailhead Store is a cozy coffee shop nestled amidst the beauty of nature in The Village at Stowe. The Store is owned and operated by Daniel Stowe Conservancy. There is no admission fee for The Trailhead Store, The Farmhouse Garden Center opening, or the eight plus miles of trails on and connected to Stowe Property.
Although Coleman and I did not purchase anything in The Trailhead Store, we did look around to check out what it had to offer as well as the wide variety of seating options available to guests. The Trailhead Store’s outdoor seating consists of several rustic wood chairs and benches scattered around the lawn with magnificent charming views of the Pond Loop Trails located a short distance away.
There are so many choices for people to choose to Pull Up a Seat and relax (and naturally Coleman had to investigate them all) that I’ve elected to make this a two part post series (may be three if I add the seating at The Farmhouse Garden Center).
Here is my first edition to Benches, Chairs, and Other seating — Coleman’s Choices …
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 24
Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV and CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Trailhead Store; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have an adventurous week. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for Visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
2 Cairns, 2 Towns, 1 Trail
The Rocky Branch Park Trail was developed by an enhancement project in partnership with the non-profit trail advocates the Tarheel Trailblazers, the City of Belmont and Town of Cramerton. [2 Towns]. The project transformed a public open space in the City of Belmont into an urban trail system for mountain biking enthusiasts, runners, hikers, and walkers that extends into the Town of Cramerton.
The progressive trail system created beginner, intermediate and advanced trail features, fun for a diverse range of interest and skill levels. The park now features three entrances, two feature trail heads marked by a 6-foot cairn. [2 Cairns].
The first is located in Belmont, NC on Sacco St just one mile from Main Street shops and restaurants and 12 miles west of uptown Charlotte. The second is in Cramerton, NC on Eagle Rd just one mile from Center Street and its shops and restaurants.
Coleman and I begin our hikes at the lower Cramerton entrance, hike to the Cramerton Trailhead with one of the Cairns and then proceed to hike The Rocky Branch Trail. Naturally, Coleman finds the need to climb the Cairn before we continue our hike.
Hopefully you have guessed what a Cairn is, but if not let me explain. A Cairn is a human-made pile (or stack) of stones. The purpose for the pile of stones (rocks) as a marker (in this case) or burial mound. Cairns have been used for centuries as trail markers, especially in mountainous regions or across challenging terrain.
The Rocky Branch Trail [1 Trail] connects the city of Belmont and the Town of Cramerton, weaving through forests and offering over 4 miles of mountain bike trails for cyclists of all experience levels.
Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC)-Rock
Terri’s Sunday Stills: Paths and #Trails in the Great Outdoors
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved
Cameras: 1, 4-5, 8-9) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 2-3, 6-7, 10) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Belmont/Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Hike/Walk. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
As Coleman and I were walking along the Carolina Thread Trail with all the twists and turns we wound up at a dead end. Not knowing which way to go from there we tried this trail and that trail without much success. Thinking we might be Lost as we kept trying to figure our way back out of the trail and back to the Trailhead Store where our adventures began; we spotted a few construction vehicles working across a road from the trail we were on.
Click on each image for enlarged viewing.
After while we were not only confused and turned around encountering another dead end of a trail; I decided to try our Luck and approached one of the construction workers to see if he could help us figure out how to get back on the correct trail to take us where we needed to go.
Click on each image for enlarged viewing.
The John Deere 700L series was designed with a 17-percent-larger cab than models prior to them. It features more glass
area, larger doors, and a streamlined
hood profile, optimizing comfort and
visibility to the blade ahead and the surrounding jobsite.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments
Location: New Construction Site; By The Trailhead Store; Daniel Stowe Contributed; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
The Northern Sugar Maple is a deciduous tree in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae) native to Eastern and central North America from Canada south through the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia and west to Minnesota to northeast Texas.
Here in North Carolina, it is found in the mountains and sporadically in the Piedmont region. Northern Sugar Maple trees may reach around fifty (50) to one hundred twenty (120) feet tall with a dense, spreading crown that provides heavy shade and grows slowly to medium, although it may grow faster in open areas. It tends to grow best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil in full sun, but it tolerates average well-drained soils in sun to part shade.
This particular tree is located on the grounds of The Trailhead Store, a property of Daniel Stowe Conservancy. It provides shade for visitors to enjoy a respite from the hot sun and humid heat of a sunny summer day.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: The Trailhead Store; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy the Outdoors. Have a rest under a shade tree. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Last week Debbie had us Looking Up, it was fun to see everyone’s take on Looking Up. This week’s theme is Looking Down. There are many different and interesting things available to see all around us if we only Look and observe what’s all around us.
Coleman and I paid a visit to the expanded and upgraded Daniel Stowe Conservancy, formerly known as The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. Looking all around the trails surrounding The Trailhead Store at the Conservancy there were some interesting views which we Looked Down upon.
…. Such as the Pond down and slightly to the right of The Trailhead Store.
…. Or this little Pond with a waterfall surrounded by rocks a short distance away from the Dog Park.
Moving along further down the trail we spot an interesting painting on the pathway with a Trail crossing sign nearby.
And lastly for today, I’m Looking Down upon Coleman looking down at something on a bench.
Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Looking Down
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1 & 5-6) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 2-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: The Trailhead Store; Carolina Thread Trail; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Discover Nature’s amazing beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Click on each image for enhanced/enlarged views.
The North American Wheel Bug is one of the largest terrestrial true bugs in North America, reaching up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) in length in its adult stage.
North American wheel bugs prey on caterpillars and beetles, such as Japanese beetles, the cabbage worm, orange dogs, tent caterpillars, and the Mexican bean beetle, all of which they pierce with their beak to inject salivary fluids that dissolve soft tissue.
The North American wheel bug is most active in daylight, but may engage in predatory behaviors at night in areas illuminated by lights.
It is considered beneficial since most of its prey are pests, however, I did not consider myself a pest and didn’t care for it as my sitting companion.
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: Outdoor Seating Area; The Trailhead Store; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful Bug-Free week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Clare from Clare’s Cosmos invites everyone to join her in Sharing Your Desktop (SYD). Below are her suggestions for participating in the Share Your Desktop Challenge .
To do so, simply share the photo (not a screenshot) you have set as your wallpaper; Provide as little or as much detail as you wish; Use a pingback, or post a link here so I know you have joined in on the fun; Then finally, share the fun around.
I am sharing my Wallpaper from both my Laptop and my Smartphone. I enjoy looking at different images each month. Most of which revolve around Coleman (my grandson) and nature.
Here are my Desktop Wallpaper and Screensaver for my Laptop:
From My HP Laptop:
Desktop Background Wallpaper
Desktop Screensaver
From My Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:
Focus
Personal Focus
Reading Focus
Hiking Focus
Click on each image for enlarged viewing.
Share Your Desktop – June 2025
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL Filter attachment; 2-6) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Locations: 1-2 & 4-5) The Trailhead Store, Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont, North Carolina; 3 & 6) Rocky Branch Trail, Cramerton/Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Having a Wonderful Week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Click on image for enhanced viewing.
Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2025 Week 23
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Location: The Farmhouse Garden Center; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stop and admire the Flowers. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week’s host Elke from pictures imperfect blog is asking us to select images that are naturally monochrome. I searched my photos and think I came up with a few that might work for this week’s challenge.
Elke’s Monochrome Madness-Naturally Monochrome
Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #36 – Naturally monochrome
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Cameras: 1) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 2-5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments.
Locations: 1-2 & 5) The Farmhouse Garden Center, Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont, North Carolina, USA; 3-4) Riverside Park and Greenway, Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a fantastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: 1-6) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments; 7-8) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Cramerton/Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Coleman and I went to the Daniel Stowe Conservancy to investigate all their new upgrades and additions to what was once known as the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens (DSBG). Along with the name change, many improvements, upgrades, and additions were added to DSBG.
The Farmhouse Garden Center and The Trailhead Store are just two of the many new developments on the grounds of the Daniel Stowe Conservancy. [I’ll discuss more on these facilities on another later post.] There is also an addition of a Dog Park, additional trails and connecting trails encompassing approximately eight plus (8+) miles of hiking trails on Stowe Property.
Coleman and I began our hiking adventure from The Trailhead Store. We hiked past an extra small waterfall pond, by the Dog Park and around the Big Pond Loop and then crossed the road to continue hiking on the Carolina Thread Trail.
While walking/hiking on the Conservancy property you’ll encounter some concrete paths, crushed concrete trails, natural trails filled with rocks, roots, rises, falls, switchbacks and changes in elevation which inhabits the feeling of adventure.
It was while hiking along the Carolina Thread Trail portion that we noticed a wooden Shed standing amongst the Trees. I’m not sure what the Shed was once used for, but found it interesting to be almost in the middle of nowhere.
No, we didn’t attempt to go inside the Shed. We only glimpsed a look at it from the trail … no off trail wandering for a closer look. No need when I could zoom in for a better view.
Dan’s Thursday Doors-12 June 2025
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: Carolina Thread Trail; Daniel Stowe Conservancy (DSBG); Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take a Hike/Walk. Have an adventurous day. Nature is beautiful, admire it. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Spring Wildflowers
on
Rocky Branch Trail
I’m a few days behind, but it’s still Springtime. While Coleman and I were on our long (just shy of 5 miles) hike on Saturday we noticed a few sections of the trail lined with beautiful Wildflowers.
Here are my Wildflower contributions …
Click on each image for enlarged viewing.
Spring Festival 2025 #12 – 11 June
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens with Altura UV & CPL filter attachments
Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Belmont/Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge-08 June 2025
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 23
Photo Credit:©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Rocky Branch Park; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy a hike/walk. Commune with Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV & CPL filter attachments
Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Rocky Branch Park; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
John’s Cell Pic Sunday-07 June 2025
Photo Credit: ©️2025 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion Camera
Location: Rocky Branch Trail; Rocky Branch Park; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Chairs are Everywhere
The host this week for Monochrome Madness is Brian from bushboy.blog. Brian has chosen a theme of Chair or Chairs for this week’s challenge. Let’s play along and discover what Chairs we can find.
Everywhere Coleman and I go there’s always someplace Coleman can find to Pull Up a Seat …
We might find a Chair to Pull Up a Seat at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden …
Or we might find a Chair to relax in The Center …
We could locate a table and Chairs to Pull Up a Seat and enjoy a refreshing drink and snack before continuing on a hike …
Then there’s a chance we could spot a couple of Chairs on display in an office setting at a museum …
Coleman and I enjoy Pulling Up a Seat in a camping Chair at a State Park after a long hike around the lake …
But a fond memory of a place of comfort was the opportunity to Pull Up a Seat on my paternal grandparents front porch.
Now over to y’all to show us some Chairs by clicking here.
Brian’s Monochrome Madness #29-Chair/Chairs
XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2025-Week 9
Photo Credit: 1-5)©️2020-2025 Deb L. Waters … 6) ©️1978 From my Dad’s Slides
Cameras: 1-4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; 5) Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max; 6) Minolta XG-7 35mm (my dad’s).
God Bless. Pull Up a Seat for a spell. Enjoy the peace and comfort of a day’s journeys ending. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Rose ‘Livin La Vida’ PP
(Rosa hybrid)
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. There’s a Time for Rain, a Time for Sunshine, and a Time to Stop and Smell the Roses. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Antirrhinum majus
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Breathe. Stop and Smell the Flowers. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
@Daniel Stowe
Botanical Gardens
PPAC (Photographing Public Art Challenge)
Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens.
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Camellia japonica
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take Care. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On a Parade Float
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024-Week 49
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera:Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Catawba Street; Parade Route; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Tis the Season for Parades and all things Christmasy. Enjoy your upcoming holiday. Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Season Greetings y’all! For this week’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC) I have chosen Any Which Way with People.
Please make sure your which way is the main object of your photo. Thanks.
The Which Way Challenge (CWWC) is all about capturing the means we travel from place to place such as roads, walkways, trails, and rails. The roads could be paved or unpaved, gravel, or dirt. Walkways could cover sidewalks, hallways, or pathways. Trails are paths we travel through Greenways, Local, State, or National Parks. Also permissible are any kinds of signs and any bridge angle. Remember to ensure your “Way” is visible and the main focus of your photo.
My entry for this week:
Link to the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) here.
Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Location: Parade Route; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Calopogon tuberosus
Simpson’s grass pink and it is in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) grasspink (Calopogon tuberosus var. simpsonii).
The genus name “Calopogon” is Greek and means “beautiful beard.” It refers to the hairlike structures on the upper petal. It has a bulb-like corm that resembles a tuber, hence the name “tuberosus.” The slender grass-like leaves give rise to the name “grass pink.” It is a stunning wildflower.
Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take time to renew your body, mind, and spirit. Like the Garden we also need to renew ourselves to further our growth. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Miltoniopsis (Pansy Orchids)
Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.
Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 