You Rock ...

“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”

    ~ Theodore Roosevelt

       ~ 1858-1919

  ~Naturalist & Conservationist

 ~ 26^th President of the United States of America

       ~ 1901-1909

I found this painted rock with the phrase “You Rock” along the Saucon Rail Trail, Hellertown, Pennsylvania, on a beautiful summer afternoon in late August.

This painted rock is likely part of the The Kindness Rocks Project, which was founded by Megan Murphy of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, who wanted to spread encouraging messages to strangers by writing them on rocks she found on the beach. The practice spread and launched similar projects across the United States.

The grassroots project encourages people to leave rocks painted with inspiring messages along the path of life. People are encouraged to take one, share one or add to the pile. You can see just how much impact she’s made when looking up #TheKindnessRocksProject. Learn more about how to join the movement at http://thekindnessrocksproject.com.

“You Rock” is a slang phrase of praise or encouragement conveying “You're awesome (at something)” or “You can do it!”

Where The Honeysuckle Blooms ...

“What a pity flowers can utter no sound! A singing rose, a whispering violet, a murmuring honeysuckle – oh what a rare and exquisite miracle would these be!”

               ~ Henry Ward Beecher

                  ~ 1813-1877

 I love the heady perfume of Japanese Honeysuckle in bloom! I captured this shot in the late day sun of May at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

When the day draws to a close, the scent of honeysuckle joins with the natural chorus of spring peepers and the call of the whip-poor-will for spring perfection!

Japanese honeysuckle flowers are edible to humans and appreciated for their sweet-tasting nectar. The flowers can also be a significant source of food for deer, rabbits, hummingbirds, and other wildlife.

Yellow Butter ...

“This sky where we live is no place to lose your wings so love, love, love.”

                           ~ Hafiz

                            ~ 1315-1390 
A beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly alights in the soft sweetness of a June evening along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail) at Lehigh Gap.

In the shadow of the Kittatinny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain, the Lehigh Gap in Slatington, Pennsylvania, is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail). 

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.