"Seeing red" is an expression which means anger. On Arabia Mountain, it means you are looking at beauty. The diamorpha smallii (elf orpine) is amazing. Just when you think it can't be any prettier, it then blooms with tiny white blossoms. Diamorpha Smallii only grows in the sandy soil of the solution pools on granite monadnocks. This year, it has been very disappointing to see all the footprints and the paw prints of dogs pressed into the sandy soil. Does there seem to be as much red as last year? Is it due to the amount of rain or cold? Or could it be because of the negative impact of the feet pounding upon it?
Okay, maybe I am "seeing red" in the way that you usually think of! It angers me that even though there are signs clearly posted asking you to avoid walking through the sandy soil, they are oftentimes ignored. Please understand that this area really is mostly ROCK and that is where one should walk, NOT over anything that looks like plant life.
In April, the diamorpha smallii should look like this....
And this....
Okay, now I am just seeing red in a good way and everyone will read this post and know to only walk on the gray rock, NOT the rock that has the green lichen and moss. You have to be careful of anything that is living! Honestly, there is a lot of rock to walk on, it really is mostly gray in color, you know the color of gray, don't you? I hear that there are at least 50 shades!
Beautiful! Have never seen this plant before.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! With the sun upon it, it is breathtaking!
DeleteLike Debra, this plant is new to me too. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe header is stunning.
Thanks, Terry. That header photo is one of the many sunsets we have enjoyed over Arabia Mountain.
DeleteKay-That is absolutely beautiful. I have never even heard of this plant. It is amazing- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diana. You would love it!
DeleteBeautiful photography Kay. This is such an interesting plant. Since I love red I think this is a winner!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeanette! My husband takes most of the photos on my blog and I think he is a wonderful photographer!
DeleteI love red too! :-)
It's wonderful and I remember it well from your blog from last year. People are so careless, they probably never meant any harm but can't be bothered to stick to what the signs say - which are there for a reason.
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a few signs at the beginning of the trail and then, just to make sure you know, they made it a point to have one at the base of the mountain, showing you not to walk in the sandy pits.
DeleteYou could blame ignorance so they need to read this post, right? ;-)
(Don't even get me started on the pulling down of tree limbs for the fires they build on top of the mountain, ALSO forbidden but they do it anyway. THEN, the broken glass liquor bottles are not nice on the rock either...also forbidden. This place is too special for weinie roasts and beer-fests.)
Wow! This is really amazing! I will certainly follow the rules if I'm ever in your area. People need to be careful and keep their pets curbed.
ReplyDeleteKay,
DeleteIf you are ever here, I would be your personal guide!
You would know to follow what the signs say though, I am sure most people do, it is just the few that makes it so bad, isn't it?
By the way, I love your header photo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay! The sunsets at Arabia are spectacular!
DeleteI want to visit there!
ReplyDeleteWell, come on over! I would LIVE there if they would let me! :-)
DeleteIt is frustrating when people don't follow the common sense rules. Perhaps the weather played a part too though. I know the bluebells here were poor last year because of the weather.
ReplyDeleteOur weather has been strange, cold and wet, then very warm, and then back again. I think that the weather could be a factor but then again, I have seen big footprints and so, I wonder.
DeleteOh, and those bluebells in 2010, see my photo in the upper right corner of my blog? "At Their Best", that is what it said when we saw them. I love those flowers!
It looks gorgeous, like a beautiful carpet. It might be called common sense, but common it isn't.
ReplyDeleteAnd the signs not only TELL you not to walk there, they have have a DRAWING showing someone walking through it with a dog beside them, saying to please not to walk through the sand as they support very special plantlife!
DeleteCommon sense, is NOT very common, you are so right!
:-)
Oh, are those little flowers? They are so pretty, like a magic carpet in the middle of a desert! I feel like they are all talking to each other :D
ReplyDeleteThe little white flowers are tiny and so beautiful on this red succulent plant. From a distance, they then look pink!
DeleteIt is like a magic carpet in a desert, and I love the thought of them all talking to each other. You have the soul of a poet!
That's a very attractive little plant Kay. I'm sad to say that I'm never likely to walk on your mountain. My insurance company will never allow me to visit the USA.
ReplyDeleteOh well, you are welcome to walk with us on this blog at anytime, GB!
DeleteI love the wild beauty of this area. So much to see if you only look.
It makes me see red, too, when people ignore clear instructions. Often they just think they know better, but they don't!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely shots.
Thanks, Mimi!
DeleteYou and I are very much alike, I should think!
Of course, I think Richard took every one of these photos, including the header photo of the sunset!!
Having no mountains around here, I've never seen that flower. It is beautiful. I'm looking forward to the blooms of Spring here.
ReplyDeleteI love to look up and see mountains on the horizon.
DeleteWe really have the mountains in North Georgia but these monadnocks are pretty special too.
I will do a post all about monadnocks very soon!!
Come on Spring!!
That is gorgeous -- is it on Stone Mountain too? I might not make it to Arabia Mountain. Where is that? I haven't been to stone mountain in years. I think I need to go visit. I had no idea that you had to just step on the gray rock. Now I do. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSandie
All these photos were from Arabia Mountain, except for the one that has the bright blue sky in the background, that was at Stone Mountain.
DeleteArabia Mountain is east of Atlanta, in Lithonia.
I would say, let's meet up on Stone Mountain, call all your blogging friends from Georgia, that would be fun!!
You would know to walk on the rock, because you would obey the signs!
Glad to meet you! xx
Such a beautiful plant, love the drama of the colour. Great photos also!
ReplyDeleteIvan
Thanks, Ivan!
DeleteThat is the kind of drama I can live with!
Wow, it's so gorgeous!!! I really hope to see it in person one day! It is sad when people don't understand the consequences of simple things like letting their dogs walk in the sandy bits. I have to say though.....you're a good watchdog!!!
ReplyDeleteHA! I thought of you when I wrote this! You would be just like me, "Can't these people read?"
DeleteDogs are supposed to be on a leash, but we hardly ever see that, they are mostly allowed to run free.
Not bad dogs, just bad dog owners!
It is sort of a sacrament of the holiness of little things.
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks so much for your comment! It reminds me of St. Therese, the one they called the Little Flower.
Delete"It is the little things that keep God's kingdom going".
http://www.icatholiczone.com/SaintTheresa/Church/flower.htm
There, I am sure you know of her, but I have a link if anyone else cares to learn of this saint!
This is very beautiful and it could reminds of Norwegian landscape.
ReplyDeleteWish you a blessed week:-)
Thanks, and that is a wonderful compliment to be compared to Norway! I thank you on behalf of Arabia Mountsin!
DeleteHope your week is blessed also. xx
Some people think the rules aren't meant for them. I love your pictures. And this is the first time I have ever seen red in that light.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Connie! That red can take your breath away!
DeleteHa! Nice play on 50 shades of gray! I hope the people follow the rules and let that beautiful scenery alone! It's really pretty..I love red! Your pics are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHAHA! I wondered if anyone would get through my schoolmarmish lecture to see my reference to 50 shades!!
DeleteFunny thing, depending on the light, the rock really DOES have varying shades of grey, you can see that in the photos!
Thanks, you know Richard took the photos, of course!!
:-)
Clever - 50 shades. Had me laughing, Kay. I suppose some of the footprints are as a result of ignorance and some because people couldn't care less. Rather symbolic for the whole international environmental issue.
ReplyDeleteOh good, I made you laugh, that makes my day!!
DeleteI should say it is very symbolic for the environment just now. My son was in Boy Scouts and they had the "Leave No Trace" code which everyone should know and follow.
(For a woman, I made a FANTASTIC Boy Scout!!) :-)