"I made it to Providence!"

I know that sounds like a strange title for a post, but read on and you will discover how it relates to my story.

This is a continuation of my journey from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Lake Village, Arkansas, traveling through the heart of the Louisiana Delta, on US Highway 65 North. If you would like to read the story and see the sights from the beginning of my trip, you can click on this link — Journey Through the Louisiana Delta.

The first part of my journey ended just outside of Lake Providence, Louisiana, which is about 50 miles northeast of Vicksburg.

Lake Providence is a small town located on a large "oxbow lake" called, appropriately enough, Lake Providence.

An "oxbow lake" is a crescent-shaped lake lying alongside a winding river (the Mississippi River, in this case). The oxbow lake is created over time as erosion and deposits of soil change the river's course.

While doing a little research on the history of Lake Providence, I came across a story about how it got its name. In the late 18th century, goods like animal pelts, indigo, and cotton were transported up and down the Mississippi River by people commonly known as "longboat men," named after the type of craft that carried the goods. These were eventually replaced by steamboats.

Thieves and pirates would raid the boats, kill the longboat men, and then sell the goods. There is a bend in the river called Bunch's Bend where a pirate named Bunch would raid the boats. If the longboat men made it past Bunch's Bend without being robbed, they would say they, "made it to Providence." This is where the trading town of Providence was located. It later became Lake Providence when the town was moved to its current location surrounding the natural oxbow lake.

As you can see in the above photo, the lake is gorgeous. But as you drive up Highway 65, which runs alongside the lake for miles, the view is truly spectacular, especially this time of year.

The banks of the lake are lined with huge cypress trees, and it was difficult to pay attention to my driving with all that beautiful scenery calling out to me to stop.

I finally found a place to pull off the road which just happened to be the Byerley House, a museum and visitor's center. Just across the street, huge old cypress trees shade picnic areas, and a pier extends out over the water. The pier is what attracted me, of course, and I grabbed my cameras and walked out to the end of it. I wasn't disappointed.

I shot these pictures with my zoom lens, and wished that the pier was longer — especially when I saw this white heron on the other side of the lake. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you'll also see another reason I wanted to be closer. Look at the base of the big tree on the right.

Can you see the turtles clinging to the trunk of the tree? I didn't see them until I loaded my pictures onto my computer.

You can click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you would like to get a closer look at the heron, too.

And speaking of closeup views — here are a few pictures I captured of a cypress tree that was close to the pier ...

Of course, where there are Cypress trees, there are cypress knees, and they were everywhere — all sizes and shapes. I felt like I was in "Cypress Knee Heaven," as I happily wandered around capturing them with my camera.

I showed these pictures to our five-year-old granddaughter Avery Grace, and she said, "They look like little castles," and they really do, don't they!

I grew up around cypress trees and cypress swamps, and never really thought about what cypress knees are, or what they do.

For the purpose of this post, I did a little research and found that cypress knees are distinctive structures found in the roots of cypress trees. Their function is unknown, but some biologists think they may help in providing oxygen to the tree, and assist in anchoring the tree in the soft, muddy soil.

I love the little clump of "baby knees" in the foreground of this next picture:

My lagniappe for the day was meeting this nice couple from British Columbia, Canada.

I failed to get their names, but enjoyed visiting with them for a few minutes. They were headed to Vicksburg, and planned to spend a day exploring the Vicksburg National Military Park while there. They are going to be traveling until April, before returning home, and I wish them a safe journey.

I'll conclude mine in my next post.

Natchez Trace Cypress Swamp

Yesterday, my husband and I visited a place called Cypress Swamp, which is one of the "Top 20 Natural Wonders" found along the Natchez Trace. Located on the Parkway at Milepost 122.0, just north of Jackson, Mississippi, you enter the swamp on a wooden footbridge which leads you, literally, into another world.

The trail leads you through an abandoned river channel which is home to thousands of Baldcypress and Water Tupelo trees.

Baldcypress is a long-lived, deciduous wetland species that grows along rivers, streams, and creeks, as well as in swamps with slow moving water. It can live up to 600 years old. It is a legendary tree of the Deep South known for its "knees," moss-draped crown, and buttressed trunk. It occurs in the coastal plains along the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean and north up through the Mississippi River Valley.

This is the sign that welcomes you to the Swamp:

It reads: You are entering a realm of trees, water, and reflections. Its subtle beauty and peaceful setting can soothe a tired soul. The trail is easily walked in twenty minutes, but a relaxed pace improves the likelihood of seeing wildlife. Along the way, you may experience the wonderment of discovery. Allow enough time for the magic to work.

Even though I was disappointed to see that the water level was down, it was, indeed, a magical place.

One of the first things we saw as we walked down the bridge was this little fellow sunning on a log:

I'm sure his mama and daddy were around somewhere, but we didn't see them, darn it!

As far as wildlife is concerned, here are a couple of more little guys we saw during our walk through the swamp:

I'm sure we were seen by more wildlife that was hidden in and amongst the seed on the water and the carpet of leaves on the ground.

I loved the "twisted" trunks of some of the trees ...

I think one of the most interesting "natural wonders" in the swamp are the Cypress Knees. They remind me of little robed "monk-like" creatures standing silently in the shadows of the towering trees, and the expression, "other-worldly" comes to mind. Some of them even appear to have "faces" (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you'd like to see them up close).

This is my favorite picture of the ones I captured yesterday. I love the way the sunlight highlights the Cypress knees ...

And look at this "Circle of Knees," which appear to be standing at attention around the Cypress tree. If our granddaughter Avery had been with us, she probably would have said they looked like they were playing Ring Around the Rosie.

Oh, what a magical place it was!

All along the path, there were signs, and a line from one of them read, "Curiosity is your passport to discovery." I love that, I guess, because it appeals to my sense of always wanting to get "a closer look" at things. Here are a few things I captured up close yesterday:

I could have spent hours in that beautiful swamp exploring and discovering, and, perhaps, uncovering some of its mystical beauty. I plan to go back in two or three weeks to capture its Fall foliage, and who knows ... maybe I'll see that baby alligator's mama next time!

I call trees like this one "fairy trees."

God's glory never, ever ceases to awe, inspire, and humble me.

Louisiana Lagniappe

I spent a couple of days this week with my parents at their home in West Monroe, Louisiana, and, of course, had my cameras with me. While I was there, I captured these pictures of the lake behind their house.

The lake has a lot of cypress trees surrounding it and the lichen-covered cypress "knees" remind me of little statues wading out into the water (you can click on the photos to enlarge them, if you'd like).

I think the trunks of the cypress trees are interesting, too -- they have so much character.

And speaking of "lichen," I'm not sure what kind this is, but isn't it pretty!

Leaves were falling all around me as I took pictures, and I thought these in the water were especially pretty.

And these, resting at the base of a cypress tree ...

Back in April, Mama and Daddy planted a little grapefruit tree, and proudly showed me its three little grapefruits.

They're still green, but should be ready to eat soon.

My sweet Aunt Jane came by to see me while I was there, and brought me this beautiful lemon from her lemon tree she bought in Florida years ago.

She said her tree had 16 lemons on it last year. I wish I could have gotten a picture of that!