White Oak Sinks Phlox Extravaganza
This is what we came for. FLOWERS! This is White Oak Sinks, a hollow requiring a modest 2-mile hike from the main road. It is a small basic surrounded by steep hills. One side of this area has an incredible waterfall that literally disappears into the ground (see this LINK from a previous visit), and on the other end is a bat cave. But the true treasure of this basin is the carpeting of flowers in the April/May time frame. Our timing was perfect this year, and we ran across several yearly visitors who said this year was better than most recent years. Carl and I loved this area so much that we hiked in two days in a row.
The small purple flowers here are Phlox. Yellow Trillium also sprinkle through the basin, as well as other more obscure varieties like Columbine.
I’m including two of my favorite perspectives below, but I’m on the fence as to which I prefer. Which do you like best and why?
I’ve included pics of Emily, Evan, and Carl …. each in their “element”!
Phlox, White Oak Sinks @ GSMNP
5D MkII, 24-70L f/2.8, 24mm, 1/2 sec. @ f/9, ISO100
Phlox 2 – White Oak Sinks @ GSMNP
5D MkII, 24-70L f/2.8, 24mm, 1/2 sec. @ f/9, ISO100
Emily @ White Oak Sinks
Evan @ White Oak Sinks
Carl @ White Oak Sinks
I definitely don’t like the last one!!
Seriously, they all look good. Of the two landscape shots, I prefer the second one, for some unknown reason. Maybe it’s because it contains the densest number of foreground flowers.
Either way, each is a wall hanger for sure!!
i remember that path! I had to leave 30 minutes before y’all just to make sure I could get back to the car at the same time – lol.
Nice informal portraits! Even the last one! Everyone obviously the surroundings.
As to the landscapes, my pick of two beautiful shots is the first one. I like the leading line of the moss-covered log with the path. And the size of the path in the image is smaller and seems to blend into the whole image better, to my eye. As a large, light-colored element in the second, it holds my eye longer than I think I like, although the S-curve is attractive.