Glory Along The Natchez Trace Parkway

On a recent trip to the Nashville area to visit our son, we traveled up the Natchez Trace from Clinton, Mississippi, to the Terminus near Franklin, Tennessee.  The Trace is such a beautiful and peaceful way to travel, and I highly recommend it if you are not in a hurry. The speed limit is 50 miles an hour and is strictly enforced by Park Rangers, but there are so many interesting and scenic places to stop along the way, that you probably won't mind driving a little slower.  We passed several deer and turkeys along the roadsides and stopped at several of the mile marker posts which feature historic sites, beautiful pastoral scenes, and serene creeks and waterfalls.

One of our favorite stops on this trip was at Milepost Marker 404.7, a place called Jackson Falls, named after, who else, but Andrew Jackson.  [You can click on the map to enlarge it]

Although viewing the waterfalls requires a 900-foot walk down a paved, stepped down path, I think it was well worth the effort (even the return trip UP the path) ... as you can see in the pictures below.  At the bottom a bench welcomes you, as does a cooler atmosphere, and many flat rocks to jump across to get a close up view of the falls.  

We were the only ones there at the time, and I spent a pleasant 40 or so minutes enjoying the serenity and mesmerizing sound of the water cascading over the falls and gurgling over the rocky creek bed.  I did my best to capture a little of the beauty of the moment with my camera, but it is something you have to experience for yourself to really appreciate it.  

I hope you enjoy my pictures and, if you are ever traveling close by, I encourage you to take the time to visit Jackson Falls.  I think you will agree that it is well worth the detour ... and the climb back up the path.

  

A "cave" and small waterfall "terrarium" along the pathway ...

God's glory never fails to inspire me.

 

This old gnarled cedar tree stands next to the path, its twisted limbs worn smooth by weather and time, a sculpture created by God Himself ... greeting visitors to the falls.
  

 

 

I invite you to join me next time to read about another one of my favorite stops ... a picturesque place called Grassy Cove, Tennessee.

Wisteria Along The Natchez Trace

The Natchez Trace Parkway begins at Natchez, Mississippi, and runs 444 miles northward to where it ends about 15 miles southwest of downtown Nashville, Tennessee.  

I drive the Trace often, from Clinton, Mississippi to Ridgeland, to avoid the stressful hustle and bustle of the interstates surrounding Jackson, and I love its peaceful "off the beaten path" tranquility.

Not only is the Trace peaceful, but it is also beautiful any time of the year ... and it is especially lovely in the Spring.

  A few days ago, I enjoyed capturing a little of that loveliness with my camera.   

The line from the song, "The Sound of Music," about the "hills being alive with the sound of music," came to mind ... except in this case, "The woods were alive with the color of wildflowers."

These gorgeous yellow flowers were scattered up and down the roadside and, in places, wound their way through the woods as far as the eye could see ...

I was also delighted to see that the wisteria was at its peak that day, and I couldn't resist stopping to capture it in all its glory.

Wisteria knows no bounds, and several of the trees were covered with a profusion of lavender and purple blossoms ... 

The cascading flowers reminded me of Japanese lanterns hanging from the tree branches ... 

I love the way the vines trailed gracefully along the tree line ... and the vine in the next two pictures made me think of a clothesline, with blossoms hanging from it instead of clothes. 

I was wading (carefully) through some tall grass while taking these pictures and, as I got closer to the tree line, it didn't take me long to realize that if I was going to get any closeup shots, I would need my zoom lens.  Here is what discouraged me from getting any closer ...

             

The flowers were literally covered with bumblebees, and they were buzzing all around me, just a little too close for comfort!

    

Thank goodness for zoom lenses -- they do come in handy sometimes!

Admiring the beauty of the wisteria vines from inside my car was nice .. but seeing God's glory in the individual petals of the blossoms and their newly sprouted tender green leaves ... up close through the lens of my camera ... was truly awesome.  I'm so glad I was able to capture them at their peak before they faded.  [If you would like to get a closer look, you can click on the pictures to enlarge them.]

It won't be long before those beautiful blossoms will fade, their delicate lavender petals falling like confetti in the wind, their vines disappearing amongst the foliage of the trees which they entwine ... bidding farewell to April, and heralding the arrival of May and its wild roses ...

Honeysuckle ...

Queen Anne's Lace, and Red Clover ...

To every thing there is a season ...

and I love them all.