My friend and watercolor mentor, Fred Rawlinson, named a painting that I did several years ago, Twigs and Berries.  Since then, I have done four others and will probably add more.  This one  is a bush surrounded by rhododendrons in our side yard.  The berries are so vibrant this time of year...they are getting ready to call our mountain birds to dinner!

This is Linville Falls.  Whenever I go on hikes with my friend Barry Cook, I know I am going to see incredible paintings...here, the Linville River pours over boulders and rocks and winds it way down the mountain.  The boulders are really incredible.  The one in the foreground is green and black with moss that cover the yellow, brown, rust and deep blue minerals from centuries ago.  You know what they say about the color of moss?  If you are a wader...fly fisher or not...green means go...black, not so!

I have painted this Banner 
Elk landmark several times...this time during fall.  Birches turn yellow, maples and burning bushes turn fiery red and mixed in the middle are orange variations and green-blue hemlocks, spruce,  rhododendron and other evergreens.  It is a glorious time of year in the mountains.  The leaves will fall...and it won't be long before this old barn will too.  I am glad I have lots of photos from front to back...spring to fall.  Now, I'm ready for snow.

There are some beautiful farms in the mountains of western North Carolina.  One of the most prolific agri-businesses is Christmas tree farming...that's right, Christmas trees.  They are everywhere!  Beautiful mountains slopes are lined, row after row, with Christmas trees.  Makes you smile every time you look up.  While it may not be their primary farming interest, the Taylor Family Farm shown above, is a cattle farm, it is certainly a strong part of our economy.  Last year, my daughter in Birmingham, bought a Christmas tree from Newland, NC.