Sunday Drive

 It was an overcast day with a chance of rain, but with the mild temps and a finished yard project behind us, we decided to take a little Sunday drive round the mountain. We took a few roads that well, really lead nowhere, because if you keep going in a straight line, you'll drive off a cliff! So round and round we went until we found these beauties!

 Such lovely girls...

 ...and their very stern looking fellow.

 We loved the house across the road from their pasture and can only imagine the view from the back! 

 The road finally led us down off our mountain, a road we've traveled before...just not this direction.

 At the bottom turn, heading back up, were these three country bumpkins giving us the eye.

 We took a little round about way home. One I've ridden the motorcycle on a few times. See that ridge? The road that leads us home is up there!

 We go down...

 ...and round...

 ...and up and round.

 And down and round again.

 And down and round and up....

 ...and up and up and up!

 If you take a look back...

...you're sure to get a little dizzy!!!

Gardening at its Finest

 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.
My new friend Deborah form Helena, Alabama joined us for a tour. Please visit her Journal to see her beautiful post on her visit to John's Native Gardens.

Take a little walk with us and enjoy the view.

LaRue specializes in native Azaleas, Rhododendrons, conifers, ferns and many other beautiful southern plants and shrubs. If you are in northern Alabama you should be sure to make a trip to Scottsboro. You will be so glad you did!

I've started a blog for LaRue and you can find more information at John's Native Azaleas

Happy Easter all!

Part II: Patricia's Gardens: A walk in the woods

  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.

 I have to report that my camera battery had died in the woods and I didn't get all the sweet wildflowers that were growing. Luckily I did have a battery in the car so when we got back to the gardens I was ready to go.

The Iris are just beginning to open.

Whimsy is just the thing in every garden!

I still can't get over the vibrant color of Azaleas.

And then came Maddie! She is a pro at playing soccer with a basketball!

She and Morgan had a blast...

 ...and they wore each other out!

What a great time we all had!

Thanks Pat, we're looking forward to spending more time getting to know you and sharing our love of the garden!

Patricia's Gardens: Some things are just meant to be. Part I

 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!

There are some big boulders in the woods behind their house but wait until you see the ones across the road!

We have many plants that are the same, but we also have some that we plan to share.

I brought Patricia one of my Blackberry Lilies and she told me that when a friend gives you a plant you are not supposed to thank them, if you do, it won't grow.

That is really going to be difficult for both of us, but I think we figured out a way to get around it. When she told me this story she gave me a wink and we both understand what that means.

I think we just started a tradition!

;-)

Tomorrow Part II: Our walk in her woods.