Big Sky

The lake at Victor Ashe Park reflects a very big sky.

Pointilism

If Georges Seurat was alive and painting in Knoxville, do you think he would've put brush to canvas for the spraying fountain in the middle of the lake at Victor Ashe Park? We'll never know, so here's my photographic interpretation, with apologies to the Neo-Impressionists.

Jeweltones

Autumn is coming on strong. Leaves are just beginning to turn red or yellow, chlorophyll says goodbye for now. The last of the jewelweed blooms by the creek on the greenway.

Yardwork

You really don't need that big old gas guzzling air polluting riding mower to keep your backyard in shape. Just get a couple of llamas and your yard maintenance problems will be solved. I spied this clever green solution during my walk along a greenway.

Young Anachronists

There's been some discussion around the CDP community about needing to explore other areas of our towns so as not to fall into a rut. I took that advice to heart, and decided to investigate Victor Ashe Park in Northwest Knoxville, one of the city's newest parks. I was not disappointed.

The city purchased 115 acres in the heart of the Northwest neighborhood to create this beautiful community space, and named it after Victor Ashe, former mayor of Knoxville, who is currently serving as US ambassador to Poland. Love him or hate him (and there are folks in both camps there), Ashe left the city a strong legacy of parks and a network of greenways that are still growing. 

I decided to show you the very first thing I saw as I pulled into the parking lot. These young people came to the park to joust. Their swords and staffs are covered with foam rubber, so no one gets hurt. Here, like the Fellowship of the Ring, they are on the road to adventure.

Song of the Open Road

This looks like a little country road in the middle of nowhere, doesn't it? But don't be fooled by appearances - it's part of the City of Knoxville. What I find interesting about Knoxville is this mix of built environments like downtown, and rural environments like this Northwest neighborhood on Pleasant Ridge Road. When I look at this scene, I also know it's the beginning of the summer season.  How? By the line of construction barrels, the unofficial state flower of the State of Tennessee, signaling the summer road construction season. How's road construction progressing (or not) in your area?