The path less taken

Early this week I was driving home from Texas after having slept through Tropical Storm Edouard running its blender over Beaumont. I didn't realize that the back side of the storm was probably the most intense. Deciding that discretion is the better part of valor I pulled over to ride it out at the Louisiana Welcome Center just across the state line.

In between squalls, I decided to see what the the nature board walk there is all about. It wanders through the Black Cypress-Tupelo Gum swamp to a look out over Lake Bienvenue. It's a short, well-maintained board-walk trail packed with lots of eye candy. I was shocked when a small alligator splashed into the water below me. A Great Egret was playing hide and seek with me. There were cypress knees by the hundreds. All kinds of flying things were scooting about.

One of the things that focused by attention was a group of Swamp Lilies. This was the best of the group. You can see the water drops still sitting on the petals from the last squall that past through.

I packed things up as soon as the drizzle stoppped and headed home to New Orleans.

--steve buser