ASP Photography

08/12/2026

Sunset from the airplane!

08/06/2026

Beautiful majestic buffalo at Yellowstone. NO I wasn't close to the animal, I did NOT disturb HIM. I was more than a safe distance from him. Just think of how humans almost killed off these animals.

06/27/2026

Glacier National Park

06/22/2026

Get free seeds to help out the butterflies!

Tennesseans looking to help monarch butterflies and other pollinators can again order free seeds through the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Project Mi

06/20/2026

Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer TN

The National Park Service started purchasing the land in 1935. The area had severe soil degradation and erosion due to farming and logging.

The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration were sent to the area. They planted trees to help with erosion issues, restore the forest, and to start construction of facilities.

The federal government transferred the land to the State of TN in 1944.

At the beginning of the park is what everyone called the Groves cabin and it was a school called Liberty Hill School. There was a mill called Bickford Mill it was by the nature center on the Cascades overlook.

Conservation & Environmental Efforts

There is a 16,000 plus acre portion of the park that is dedicated to preserving rare old growth forests. The groves contain some of the tallest known American beech and green ash trees in the Southeast.

In 2022, ongoing efforts to expand the park resulted in the purchase of a 838 acre expansion to serve as a buffer zone. The efforts help protect vulnerable habitats for endangered and threatened species. Some of the species is the Indiana bat and the Tricolor bat.

The lake that lies within the park is a Bill Dance Signature Lake. The lake features targeted habitat management, which includes artificial fish habitats and water stocking by TWRA.

At the Betty Dunn Nature Center they have naturalist led programs, hands on education for the environment. Programs teach about local ecology, geology, and the importance of preserving the Cumberland Plateau watershed.

The falls I in my photo is the highest free, falling waterfall east of the Mississippi River.

Do you visit Fall Creek Falls State Park? Would you like to? If you have any questions please comment and I will answer. 🙂

06/19/2026

Do you know what kind of mushroom this is?

This is a Shaggy Mane mushroom. The scientific name is Coprinus Comatus. Some other names are the shaggy ink cap or lawyer's wig.

Do you know what it is known for?

It is known for autodigestion, it turns into a black, ink-like liquid as it matures to release spores.

Do you know if you can eat this mushroom?

When the gills are white or pink, the mushroom is edible. This one in the picture I took is already black. If you do pick this mushroom to eat you must eat it very quickly after you have picked it.

Do you like to eat mushrooms? Do you know which mushrooms are edible and which ones are deadly? A lot of mushrooms look alike.

Let me know in the comments.

Hope everyone has a blessed day. 😊

06/18/2026

Great Smoky Mountains in TN

Air pollution in the Smokies has been a major concern over the years. Air pollution can cause haze, acid rain, and soil contamination which negatively affects the aquatic species like trout and plants that are sensitive.

The Smokies is home to numerous endangered species, like the Carolina northern flying squirrel and the red-cockaded woodpecker. Conservation for wildlife is focused on habitat restoration, monitoring wildlife, and any invasive species. The elk population has greatly increased because of the wildlife conservation efforts.

In the Great Smoky Mountains, environmental protections follows and combines community partnerships, sustainable practices, federal regulations and research to help with issues or challenges within the mountains. These initiatives have resulted in significant, measurable enhancements to both air and water quality, along with successful wildlife recovery.

If you would like to share any stories about visiting this part of TN please feel free to do so in the comments.

You can support these efforts within the Great Smoky Mountains by clicking on the link below or if visiting making sure you do not litter and leave no trace.

https://support.npca.org/page/98729/donate/1?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=fy26junematch&utm_term=acqnp&utm_content=paid&msclkid=2477cf03f5b3108d8acaa537fc780b27

06/17/2026

This photo was taken in Oregon. I loved seeing these cowboys working. Makes me want to be in the wild west, lol.

06/15/2026

Let me ask a question. Which of these plants do you think is invasive?

The invasive plant is the (purple "flower"). It spreads invasively, root toxins inhibit the roots of native plants.

Because spotted knapw**d lacks natural North American predators, land managers introduced host-specific insects to suppress large, established populations: Seedhead Weevils feed on developing flowers, significantly reducing seed output. Root-Boring Weevils larvae tunnel into and feed on the main taproot, weakening the plant's structural integrity and ability to overwinter. and Pulling: Using a spade or w**d wrench, dig out the entire taproot to prevent resprouting from the crown.
Place removed plants and seedheads into thick plastic bags for deep burial or hot-fire burning. Do not compost knapw**d, as it can still seed after being pulled. Cultural and Re-vegetation Controls Environmental efforts must address the empty soil left behind by knapw**d removal to prevent immediate. Bare soil is a magnet for wind-blown seeds. Disturbed areas should be aggressively re-seeded with competitive, fast-growing native grasses that outcompete knapw**d for resources. Grazing: Managed rotational grazing can encourage grass growth and suppress knapw**d rosettes.

Common yarrow (the "white flower") is highly valued in ecological restoration and gardening for its ability to prevent soil erosion, attract beneficial pollinators, and improve soil health. It is used in conservation as a low-flammability fire barrier and a deep-rooted pioneer species that adapts to changing local climates.

Yarrow features deep, fibrous roots that anchor topsoil, making it an excellent choice for stabilizing slopes and restoring disturbed or arid lands.

It acts as a dynamic accumulator, mining nutrients like calcium, silica, and phosphorus from the subsoil and returning them to the surface as foliage breaks down. The flat flower heads provide essential nectar for predatory wasps, ladybugs, and hoverflies that feed on garden pests. It also serves as a host plant for specific moths, while providing crucial overwintering shelter for insects, spiders, and bees. Once established, its high drought tolerance saves water, and the plant's low ignitability makes it an effective fire-retardant barrier in fire-prone regions. Leave yarrow stalks standing through the winter to provide habitat. When cleaning up, use the "chop-and-drop" method so the broken-down stems return nutrients directly to the soil. Use it alongside more fragile or pest-vulnerable vegetation. Yarrow's roots and pungent foliage naturally repel many insect pests. Yarrow is a resilient pioneer species that can spread aggressively. To prevent it from taking over diverse, sensitive native ecosystems, ensure it is planted as part of a balanced, mixed-plant community rather than introducing it into pristine, untouched habitats.

This photo was taken at the beginning of Glacier National Park!