Natchez Trace

It started out as a drive to enjoy some of the sights and history of the Natchez Trace Parkway near Hohenwald, Tennessee. As always, it is a beautiful drive through the trees and fields along the Parkway, especially on a sunny day. This road was first built as a highway to link Nashville and Natchez in 1801 following the Indian trails that had been here for centuries.

We saw the Napier Mine, an open pit iron ore mine that began in the 1820's. Steele's Iron Works site was just down the road. And the final resting place of the dust of Meriwether Lewis, who died under mysterious circumstances at the nearby inn, the Grinder Stand. He is, among other things, the Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition fame.

The surprise of the day occurred while walking around the Steele Iron Works site. We had apparently timed it just right for the blooming of the wildflowers. They put on a wonderful display of color. (Virginia Bluebells, Gynmospermium, Trillium, Wood Anemone, Wild Blue Phlox, Tiny Bluet, Cardamine, Dogwood, Ranunculus, and Yellow Trout Lily) We also enjoyed the bright green mushrooms/lichens and the Sleepy Duskywing butterflies.

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