Back roads of Augusta: Wildflowers and mountain ranges

Brown-eyed Susans

Appalachian Mountain Range

Sheep graze in Western Augusta County.

The corn is as high as an elephant's eye....

Temps in the upper 80s pushed the cattle to cool down in a farm pond.

The streams were inviting in the mid-summer heat.

This mighty tree stood at the top of a hill, silhouetted against the afternoon sky.

A nearby farm....

Queen Anne's Lace is in full bloom along the back roads and fence lines.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
31 July 2011

Back roads of Augusta: Mountain vistas, sheep, streams, cattle, fields

Wildflowers flourish in summer ... Queen Anne's Lace and flowering thistle is thick along fence lines. As July prepares to turn into August, the beautiful Appalachian Mountain Range is shrouded in a summer haze.

The back roads meander through shaded forests and along country streams, providing cooler temperatures away from the sun.

Sheep graze in western Augusta County.

That's one way to cool down ... thanks for the photo, ladies!

Cool, meandering streams and rivers throughout the Valley provide a respite from the heat ... people were seen swimming, fishing, and canoeing.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
31 July 2011

Back roads of Augusta: Barns, mills, and hay sheds

Traveling the back roads of Augusta County on a mid-summer day....

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
31 July 2011

More back roads of Augusta ... 2-7-09

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
February 7, 2009

Pastures District in Augusta County....

Western Augusta County

I never tire of traveling the back roads and taking in the scenery of the mountains and valleys of Virginia. With spring in full progress, fields are a deep green while blooming flowers are brilliant reds, purples, yellows, and whites. Traveling in the western part of Augusta County through the Pastures District was soothing during these politically turbulent times.
The cold mountain streams are clear and running fairly full-bank with rains and thunderstorms that have moved through the area the past week. There is something soothing about the sound of a babbling creek.
National forest (left) makes up much of Pastures District.
Buffalo Gap with red buds blooming on the mountainside.

I love my District and was pleasantly surprised to be reelected as Pastures District Chairman at the recent mass meeting that occurred with the "other side" in charge. This district, which turned out the second most people for the meeting (behind Emmett Hanger's North River District), is made up of many friends, people I have come to know throughout my years of working political campaigns. I am thankful to them for voting for me.

Photos by SWAC Girl

Shenandoah winter woods....

Exploring Augusta back roads on a wintry January Monday that saw snow flurries throughout the day.
These mountain streams were dry in October with fire bans in effect for the national forests.

In the winter woods the evergreen hemlocks stand out....


It was overcast and cold all day ... a gray mid-winter day.


Valley view across pastures looking toward Buffalo Gap and the mountains we were going to explore....

Yesterday, on a wintry gray day, SWAC Husband and I took some time to drive the back roads of western Augusta County. While out we stopped by to talk with Yankee Phil where the cold, wind, and snow flurries made for brisk conditions on a mid-winter day.

Driving on back roads into the mountains the flurries picked up ... the solitude was comforting ... the mountain air was cold and refreshing ... the streams were noisy and boisterous rushing downhill ... the bare mountain woods exposed new views and sights. Daytime temps are expected to be in the 20s and 30s with possible snow in the forecast later in the week. Many are waiting for the first substantial snowfall....

Photos by SWAC Girl