Last year I met LaRue in Scottsboro, just off the mountain along the river. She has run her husband John's nursery since his passing in 2000. John had a vision, he made it real and he lives on through is wife's loving care of this spectacular property. She is amazing, and sweeter than southern tea! Her gardens are filled with color, welcoming, and inspiring.
Take a little walk with me and enjoy the view.
I really enjoyed following Gary across the US this past summer/fall.
He's coue up with a fun idea that I am going to try. Here it is.
If you haven't already, check out Gary
here.
Maybe you would like to join in with this.....
A Bloggers Centerline Day, or ABCD, will take place on Sunday 1st May 2011.
The plan is to inspire as many bloggers as possible to go outside and take a photograph of themselves on this day, wherever they are in the world. The photo can be creative, arty, contain more than one person, be in any type of location and can contain anything else you like. It must however contain the centerline of a road and at least part of you, the blogger.
There are 5 rules....
Rule 1 - the picture must be taken on 1st May 2011.
Rule 2 - the picture must be of yourself, and you must be a person that publishes a blog. You can include whatever else you like in the picture, including other people if you wish.
Rule 3 - the picture must include the centerline of a road.
Rule 4 – you should publish the picture on your blog on 1st May 2011, along with a few words about the picture and why you chose that location or pose.
Rule 5 - when you have posted the picture on your own blog, put a comment on http://garysusatour.blogspot.com/2011/04/abcd-will-you-take-part.html and include in that comment the address of your own blog post containing your own picture.
Gary France will then pick his favourite photos and publish these as being the winners. There will be a prize of $100 awarded to the overall single winner, as chosen by Gary.
In order to get this event known as widely as possible, please copy and paste this posting onto your own blog, including the title. Please do that today!
As a reminder to yourself to take the photo and post it, put an entry into your diary for 1st May 2011.
Let’s see if we can get as any people to join in as possible.
Thank you for creating a tapestry of color
that takes my breath away each spring!
I'm working on a Smiley Face!!
It may take some time.
Tuesday afternoon Morgan and I headed to Patricia's for a little walk in the woods. This is the time in northern Alabama to get into the woods if you're worried about little things like big snakes, that will soon enjoy the wamth of a woodland slither.
As you can see, sometimes the road has it's challenges.
And you never know who has decided to take up residence along the way.
Pat showed us very old, very large trees that had carvings made by relatives from long ago. We wished we could go back in time and see all the past events of her woods!
The outcroppings of boulders grew out of the woods like mini cities and were turned up and twisted in awe inspiring ways. They had trees growing out of them and these beautiful Resurrection Ferns.
Morgan is really enjoying the beauty of God's handiwork as she explores nature at it's finest.
The first year that I moved to northern Alabama was a year of discovery. Mostly just around my own neck of the woods.
After I found the main roads to my shopping destinations, I expanded my search to some of the back roads for a more relaxed drive. Well, it can be a little difficult to relax when you find a road with some of the most spectacular gardens on the mountain. The road I'm speaking of is the same road that I wrote about in October 2009 titled Living in a Dream. click
here to see post.
Now there was this particular property on this road that turned my head and had me laying my foot on the break every time we drove by. Morgan had to here me say "next time I see someone in that garden, we're stopping" over and over again. Then finally, one June day when we were heading home from her swimming lessons, there she was! A lady in that garden! I hit the brake and we pulled in the driveway. Sure it was the wrong driveway but that was fine, when I asked if I could see her garden she welcomed me with open arms!
It was Patricia and we stood and spoke about gardens and gardening for over an hour. We felt like we'd been friends forever. It was meant to be.
These are photos from last summer.
Morgan in front of the massive cactus.
Look at these beautiful rows!
The birds are very welcomed on this property. What friend of mine wouldn't welcome the birdies!
Oh and a dog in the garden with a smile like that! See it was meant to be! Meet Maddie.
Patricia and her husband live on the edge of the mountain, and they garden right to the bluff!
Last year I somehow ran into a blog by a fellow, well I would say bloke but I'm not sure if that is proper for me to say, so I'll say fellow, from the London, England area, Gary, who was planning a trip on his beautiful Harley Davidson Road King, "The Leading Ladies". Not just any road trip, but one that traversed the United States from the most northern tip of Maine, to the most southern tip of California! I mean, how COOL is that!! I found his blog before he started so was able to follow the journey and I even suggested he swing my old stomping grounds in the Thousand Islands area of NY which he did.
I was so touched when he took the time to stop at the end of my old road in Chaumont, NY and take pictures just for me!
Thanks Gary, that was just really nice of you. Here are the photos he sent.
I was totally amazed by the adventures and stories that Gary photographed and wrote about, OH and the videos!!! Wow, it was as if you were right there on the bike and believe me when I say there were times my heart was pounding because well, I'm kind of afraid of heights and don't know if I could have made it on some of the beautiful, but scary, roads he managed to find. After, what was it, 5 months and 21,000 miles the journey was over and me and his dedicated followers wished him well, said we were sad it was over, but lucky for us, Gary has plans for more exciting treks in the future.
So here I am at my header...a challenge to me from Gary. I was to get my motorcycle on a header before the end of March. Whew, I really am cutting it close, don't you think!
I've ridden a few times so far this year, but never managed to get a picture. I even planned on having more than just one but as I stopped for a second shoot, a fellow, who just bought a HD Forty Eight had to stop and talk to me about the bikes for about a half hour! hahaha, ask Gary he knows all about stopping a
The days have been warm and sunny and wonderful things are beginning to happen.
They just had to jump off the mountain!
Now Rachie is just showing off!
It's always fun to find a hidey hole.
Our day in beautiful Huntsville.
One more day today and then off to the airport at 5pm.
Rachel is here for the week!
We're just going to have fun.
And be a little silly.
And hope every evening ends with a beautiful sky.
Morgan just enjoys having her sister by her side.
As I was walking through my yard Wednesday I could hear water running through the woods, so pack up my little Canon and took a stroll. I found many trees on the ground, some have been there for a long time as this one below, and some were downed durning the storm that swept through.
Once I get in the woods it's hard for me to tell which trees have just fallen, but there are telltale signs.
I do remember seeing these down like this so nothing new here.
However this one is fresh. An old dead tree that just couldn't stand the winds.
At the base I found all this beautiful color and a Resurrection Fern.
My house is on a high spot on the mountain so all this water runs by and down across the road toward the neighbors. There is a beautiful running stream that winds it's way around a bluff in the woods and off toward the river below.
Yesterday the rains came and the daffodils bowed their head in thanks.
The Lilac is just bursting to get out.
They are all just waiting for the sun to come back out to raise their heads to the sky.
The Redbuds can barley stand waiting.
Even the Clematis are making their move.
And color is on the verge of busting out!
10 Comments on Rain on the Mountain, last added: 3/12/2011
I'm looking forward to it being even more beautiful than it already is!
Note to all my blog friends:
I've been looking at all your beautiful posts but haven't been very good at commenting lately. Seems I am taking advantage of the beautiful weather to get yard work done. The leaf clean-up has been taking the most time.
I've done everything from raking, to blowing, to scooping with the tractor bucket!!
Who knew living in the woods would be so much work!
NOT ME!
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May your raindrops keep falling and Happy Labor Day! I hope to be out laboring in my garden later in the week when the rain is gone. So far we have had the perfect, soaking in sort of rain. No chance of flooding here, either, as I also am on a little bit of a mountain, though nothing to compare to yours - maybe I should call it a hill! Lou and had planned to travel up to Cheaha or the Guntersville area, to celebrate our anniversary today, # 36! But the rain has made us postpone. (No rain in a month, and it rains on our anniversary -fitting, as it also rained the day we were married.)
Yea for the rain!! When I first met my husband (native Texan) he used to talk about how he loved to watch it rain. My being from Wisconsin, I didn't understand what the big deal is. I mean, rain is rain, right? Well, now that I have lived in Texas for 25 years, I get it! It's the most wonderful sight and sound and smell when you've been without it for so long. Enjoy it. I know your have got to be plants are singing!!!
I am pleased to hear that you got much needed rain.
It seems to have done nothing but rain the last few weeks.
I live 60 feet above sea level, so I have had enough for the time being :)
We're enjoying this gentle rainfall down in the valley, too, Eve! However, not being on the tippy top of a mountain but at the bottom of one we're expecting a little flooding. However, so far the ground is just soakin' it all up! Love your pics! MISS YA!!
By the looks of the water content in your birdbath I would say you got quite a downpour. I would be out doing a happy dance! Hope it continues. Hugs, Julie.
I know just what you mean. What is that stuff? It's about like the usual rare snowfalls we get in the winter. I'm so glad for the rain. At least, so far it hasn't been causing any bad results with flooding or winds where we are.
Love your rainy photos.
Oh, how I'm waiting for rain. It is so dry here and we need rain so badly... to wash away the ashes of the fire.
Your post gives me hope that Fall is near and summer is almost over.
I cannot wait...
Hope you get enough, but not too much Evie.
I miss your posts! Like the photos. Hopefully your area won't be badly affected by Lee
We've had record high temps and drought this summer also... Glad you got some much needed rain :) (Love your header!)
Holy Cow!What is that stuff!! Actually, we could use a little of that right now. :)
Dare I say it...very pretty and refreshing.