God's Thumbprint

I first visited Burke's Garden several years ago with my family and was immediately fascinated with its unique beauty. It is sometimes called "God's Thumbprint" because of the way it looks from the air. Some people say it looks like a volcanic crater. According to scientists it was once an ancient "sea" and formed when limestone caverns collapsed to form its bowl like appearance. It is the highest mountain valley in Virginia at 3000 feet and has some of the most fertile farmland in the state because of the ring of mountains which drain into it. I'd love to spend more time there someday and paint some of the views from the Appalachian Trail.