Due in part to the abundance of wildlife on the property and in part to our general interest in photography, we have tried to orient the grounds of My Blue Heaven to be photographer friendly. The flower gardens are planted with attractants, bird feeders are placed near the house, dead trees are left standing as woodpecker habitat, our water garden is populated with local amphibians, photography blinds are set up throughout the property and hunting has been prohibited on the property for over twenty-five years.
Deer are a daily sighting from the Great Room, and our blinds can be placed so that you can get up close for that full frame shot. Rarer animals like bobcat, badger and river otter have been spotted on the property. Proximity to the water, following a mowed trail to the river, allows sightings of Great Blue Herons, Little Green Herons and Belted Kingfishers. Due to the health of the surrounding ecosystem, newts, salamanders and frogs can be found hiding under many a rock. In the forests that surround My Blue Heaven, you will hear the knocking of several species of woodpeckers: Downey woodpeckers with their tiny size and black and white patterns, Red-bellied woodpeckers with their brilliant red cap and the giant Pileated woodpecker whose distinctive calls echo through the woods.
Strategically placed bird feeders allow for bird photography from inside the house. Eastern bluebirds, Chickadees, Titmouses, Meadowlarks, Indigo Buntings, Goldfinches and various other species can be seen regularly. Attractants planted around the property further attract birds, butterflies and insects.
We have affiliated ourselves with Glenn Wheeler of Glenn Wheeler Photography, who served as a photography consultant, advising us on placement of blinds and feeders. Glenn is also available to provide private workshops, see his site for more details. Future plans will include a Glenn Wheeler Photography workshop based out of My Blue Heaven.
Larry Ditto, a widely published south Texas photographer, has stayed with us, photographing the beautiful fall colors in Newton County this November and further advising us on our setup.
The cabin is also decorated with locally shot photos, most of which were taken on the property by our son Wes of weswatkinsphotography.
At My Blue Heaven we try to offer something unique for people who enjoy wildlife and people who enjoy photography. If you are interested in either, we invite you join us for a week or a weekend to experience something special.
