~ where the moss droops down ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The end of July/beginning of August found our family camping

on the Chesapeake Bay, at First Landing State Park.

Formerly named Seashore State Park,

it was renamed to reflect it being the location where European explorers arrived first.

The set foot on the sand beaches, braced by wild, forested dunes.

(Parts of The New World movie with Colin Farrell were filmed here.

My underwhelmingly-impressed spouse declined the invitation to meet him.)

We swam in the beautiful, calm waters of the bay, 

as you can see in this post,

but we also visited the incredible freshwater cypress swamp.

 ~ bald cypress and spanish moss growing at their most northerly latitudes ~

 ~ freshwater swamps provided water for native peoples and european explorers alike ~

 ~ looking like tree stumps, worn by time or perhaps beavers, bald cypress 'knees' are part of the root system and provide stability for the tree, and important habitat for other plants and animals ~

 ~ bald cypress trail in the park has many boardwalks ~

 ~ spanish moss hangs abundantly and gracefully from the bald cypress trees ~

 ~ ephiphytic spanish moss is actually in the bromeliad family ~

 ~ from personal experience, i can tell you not to play with spanish moss, or risk chiggers ~

 ~ i loved the beautiful roots of this beech tree, reaching out from the side of the forested dune ~

 ~ delicate and beautiful cranefly orchid ~

 ~ one of many deleterious side trails in the park, we encouraged the children to *not* explore for fear of damaging this rare habitat ~

It was so special to be able to share this place with the girls.

I am always in awe of such a wild and primitive place,

just minutes away from the busy resort area of Virginia Beach.

I'm so grateful for the protection of state parks and nature preserves.

~carrie~