This is also my backyard

Guntersville State Park

This week I had the privilege of visiting two state parks in North Alabama.  It is rather embarrassing to admit that I had never been to Guntersville State Park before this week.  I didn't get to spend too much time outdoors there since I was attending the fall Master Gardeners Conference but I enjoyed a driving tour around the park.  I will definitely be going back to explore.

After the conference, my friend, Karen took me to another spot in our Alabama backyard that I had never even heard of before--Bucks Pocket State Park.  This tiny park tucked away on Sand Mountain made me feel as if I just beamed myself up to the high Smokey Mountains.  We drove down into the "pocket," driving through the deep gorge along a rock-filled creek, then up to the top of a ridge overlooking it. 

Bucks Pocket State Park

I love the plants and trees that manage to anchor themselves in these impossibly rocky conditions, apparently thriving by driving their roots deep into the fissures of the rock. 

As a citizen of Alabama, I'm proud of our state parks and love exploring our shared backyards.

Karen at Bucks Pocket State Park