A Visit To The State Botanical Gardens...

Earlier in the week Brady and I took a trip to the State Botanical Gardens here in Athens.  I've been itching to go because I am obsessed with Botanical Gardens! It all began on our honeymoon trip last year...when we went to about 10 of them.  I detest zoos (I'm fine with nature reserves but most zoos are just too sad...the San Diego Zoo rocks hard though...awesome!) so Botanical Gardens are the way to go. The Huntington Gardens were my favorite of the entire trip but I really loved them all...what?...I did!  And the Athens' collection is very pretty too.  Everything is very orderly and clean, and the entire place bustles with activity...and while I tend to prefer a bit more relaxed and rambling presentation of plants, it in no way detracted from the experience.  There were so many plants that I had never seen before...and a lot of them live - and are struggling to survive - right here in GA!  I love discovering new things...

 These flowers were so bright!  I made no adjustments to these photos btw...

Echinacea....

 

There are very few Smooth Coneflowers left in GA but there are measures being made for preservation...

He kept popping wheelies in his chair!

I want a bat house so freaking bad!

Of course I barely began photographing what was out there...and there are over 5 miles of just hiking trails too!  I can't wait to go back!  Oh, and did I mention it was FREE!  Score!

Today I'm thankful for being able to stop and breathe, and enjoy all of what's around me.

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

PS - Don't forget about the great le animale giveaway! It ends today!
-----------------------

New Sponsorship And Happy Thoughts...

 I spent most of my day on my computer...waiting for the repair person to show up and make our washing machine work again.  10am appointment?  *laughs*  Make that 3pm...but don't tell me you're late...just show up when I'm finally giving up and going to run errands.  *sigh*  La, what's one to do?  Keep smiling and reflect.

And it worked out for the best because I spent a good portion of that time mulling over my blog and the like.  I downloaded the user manual for photoshop (FINALLY!), picked out some pictures to play with, made a brief outline/schedule of blog ideas (for example: I'll be offering free sponsorship soon!) and then decided to increase my blog sponsorship from 2 to 3 and hopefully 4!

My newest sponsorship will be with The Nearsighted Owl.

This is Rachele!  She's awesome and I'm very happy to be a supporter of her funny, honest and eclectic blog.  Please stop by and visit her...

 The pic is from her site.

My goal is to support at least 2-5 bloggers a month...help keep the creativity flowing.

Y'all, I'm just so excited about blogging right now!  It is making me smile every day.  Yes, I'll probably sing a different tune every once and a while but right now, this moment, here, I'm beyond happy.

And to celebrate I walked to Jittery Joe's and got myself a skim mocha extra shot no whipped cream.

Good times!

PS - Don't forget to enter the le red fox necklace giveaway!

North Oconee River Greenway...

First, let me state that I missed having an Internet connection in my home!  Thankfully it was repaired and up-and-running this morning...one more day without it and I might've started going a wee bit crazy.

Speaking of crazy, the weather in Athens in uh-may-ZING!  It hasn't climbed above high 80's during the day and at night it often hovers around the 59/60 degree area...in JUNE!  Unheard of!  Blissful!  Happy times!  And we are making the best of it by taking a walk everyday, and sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, on the North Oconee River Greenway Trail.

Here's some (A LOT OF) snapshots (both Nikon and iPhone) that I took over the last few days...

 

This sneaky little spider kept photobombing my pics!  It would stick a leg out toward the camera...funny.

Old train trestles are everywhere in Athens.  It is a very distinct part of the city's culture...but lately I've heard rumors that they might start tearing them down!  What what?!

Micah will shine in the sun...

Brady climbed to the top of the hill.  He said the view was spectacular!  I couldn't climb due to having my old moccasins on...they don't hold up in the slick GA clay...

Just an incredibly beautiful green space...

We found Dog Fennel and Wild Carrot (also known as Queen Anne's Lace or Bird Nest) on our walk and brought some back to the house for snacks.  The flowers of Wild Carrot aren't edible but I just love the way they look.

BTW...I'm thinking of including regular posts with wild foraging recipes and the like.  I've become very interested in all the things growing around me that most folks think are just silly weeds but that are edible...and even downright delicious!  Would you be interested in something like that?

I ended the last excursion yesterday with a mystery bite on my arm.  Today it is still super swollen but it looks a bit better.  Still have no clue what nommed on me since I didn't even feel it bite/sting me.  Hmmm...

My plan is to walk the trail every day that I can...tilt my head up to the sky, breathe deep and enjoy these days in a new-to-me town.  Sounds good.  I can't wait til tomorrow!