Cypress Grove Park

First, let me make something clear that I didn't in my last blog.  The bird pictures were from our trip down the Natchez Trace Parkway.  When we  were returning home we stayed in Jackson, TN and the bird pictures were taken in Cypress Grove Park on the outskirts of Jackson.  The pictures below were also taken in Cypress Grove Park.  It was getting late in the day so it was getting kind of dark when these pictures were taken.  However, I still like the shadows and reflections that you could see walking along the boardwalk.

Birds

These were taken at a place where they rehabilitate birds. As you can see all the birds are in cages except the last shot (not a good one) which was an owl flying around in the wild. Right after I took this shot s/he swooped to the ground and caught something. Before I could get another shot s/he was gone.

Vicksburg National Military Park

All of these pictures are of a boat in Vicksburg National Military Park. As you can read below this is the first armed boat ever sunk by a torpedo (known as a mine today).

Some of the wood work on boats amazes me.  How did they make this?  I looked at it closely and it looked like a bunch of bent 2x4s put together.

Vicksburg

All these pictures were taken in Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, MS.  We only had time to spend about a half of day there and you really need a lot more time to really see the whole thing.

Looking at part of Vicksburg from a lookout in the Military Park.

Natchez Trace Parkway -- IX

All these pictures are at the Ruins of Windsor near Port Gibson, MS.  It was an old plantation house and was used both by Union and Confederate troops.  It survived the war but was later destroyed by fire.  These columns have appeared in several motion pictures.

Natchez Trace Parkway -- VIII

 This was the normal scene driving down the parkway.  Hardly any traffic and it was green and beautiful.  It was such a relaxing drive.

 A lake along the parkway.  I was along the parkway for something like 8 miles.

 A trail with beautiful flowers.

 Close up of flowers.

 Church along the way.  I thought it was beautiful.

Finally a video of some small kids singing.  I thought this was worth sharing.

Natchez Trace Parkway -- VII

 Another field of flowers.

 All the reflection pictures of the cypress trees were taken in the same area.

 A baby alligator in the same area.  We also saw a couple big ones but they were too far away to get any good pictures.

These are called knees of cypress trees.

Natchez Trace Parkway -- VI

Not anything really great about these but I thought the reflections were interesting and kind of pretty.

Natchez Trace Parkway -- V

Old buildings at a stop right along the parkway. This was not a scheduled stop.  We just happen to see old buildings and thought it would be an interesting place to stop since all of us like old buildings.  I enjoyed this place a lot.  Just as we were getting ready to leave I happen to notice the moon up there so I took a quick shot of it.

Natchez Trace Parkway -- IV

 Lost Confederate graves.  There are no names and they're back in the woods.  We had to use a GPS to find the graves.

 A field of white flowers with a few daffodils mixed it.

 Another shot...same field.

 Daffodil up close with the white flowers around it.

Two more Indian burial mounds.