StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The intricately and delicate beauty of a Crepe Myrtle tree bloom has a wonderful light lilac scent and are late summer into autumn bloomers.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders A sure sign that autumn is on its way is when you start to find evergreen sprouting pine cones on their branches.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders As a photographer, you expect to see the unexpected every day you are on the job, but finding this guy was totally unexpected. Emu’s are native to Australia, so he(she) is half a world away from home. No, this is not Lemu the Emu, but maybe a close cousin. He (she)can be found in a pasture on Shell Creek Road just outside of Roan Mountain.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders A small patch of Sunflowers grows in a garden on Hubert Shell Road just outside of the town of Roan Mountain.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders This beautiful creek meanders down the mountainside, on private property, just off Bear Branch Road near the border of North Carolina.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Summer is almost over and fall is quickly approaching, but in about 115 days you are going to need a Christmas tree. Perhaps it’ll be one of these that are growing and being marked for size at a Christmas tree farm on Buck Mountain Road near the North Carolina border.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders A single Blue Heron stands in the marshy grass reeds in the middle of the Watauga near Siam Road.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders A small flock of geese make their way around Horseshoe bend on Wilbur Lake.

StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders As summer wanes and despite the CoVid-19 pandemic youth league baseball is being played on Lions Field’s in Elizabethton. It’s nice to see sports being played with the appropriate precautions being taken to protect everyone involved.