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"Possibility and promise greet me each day as I walk out into my garden. My vigor is renewed when I breathe in the earthiness and feel the dirt between my fingers. My garden is a peaceful spot to refresh my soul." Meems






Welcome to my Central Florida Garden Blog where we garden combining Florida natives, Florida-Friendly plants, and tropicals.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Blue Ridge Mountain Images




At the very end of a windy mountain road in Blue Ridge, Georgia, with no neighbors in view, sits the cabin, with the name Tranquility, that was to be our retreat for a few days. And retreat is was. Four girls. Three generations. All family. Some from Tennessee. Some from Florida. We talked, we laughed, we cried, we prayed, we walked, we ate ... together ... and so much of it happened next to that wonderful outdoor fireplace on the expansive wrap around porch.


The initial post on this get-away trip is documented here.


So without too many words, I'll say goodbye for now, to densely treed woodlands, drier cooler air, afternoon hikes, candlelit fireside talks into the late night hours, sunrises and sunsets over the distant mountains, species of wildlife and wildflowers I'll not see until I return and the family I only see occasionally.

Great Spangled Fritillary on Butterfly Bush



Not sure of this pretty blue-tipped butterfly's name...


Tiny blue Summer Azure...


Profuse blooms of hydrangea with the just-as-pretty spent bloomheads of coneflower in the background ...

... pink sedum ... I'm wondering if this is Autumn Joy I've seen on so many blogs ... none in central Florida of course.



And a slide show of fungi specimens you might be as intrigued about as I found myself ... taking closeups of so many different varieties found along our walking trail.

20 comments:

  1. Great pics...Glad you made it back safely!

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  2. I really enjoy your wonderful photos. Cameron

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  3. This place looks awesome! I am so ready for the cool evenings that you enjoyed, not to mention the rockers. I hope that I have some waiting for me.
    p

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  4. Oh, Meems! That sounds perfectly delightful - a little bit of heaven on earth...and your photos are gorgeous, as always.

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  5. I just visited Marmee's blog for the first time and read about your retreat--what a wonderful way to unwind and to reconnect as a family! The woodland flowers are beautiful.

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  6. What better place than this for family-time...stunning photos!

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  7. I'm sure you had a wonderful time with your family! You sure took some great pictures!
    /Katarina

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  8. Hi Meems, it looks like such a beautiful place. What a wonderful way to spend some quality time with the ones you love!

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  9. Beautiful photos. I think everyone viewing them has a yearning to get away to someplace beautiful and peaceful like that.

    The butterflies are wonderful.
    Marnie

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  10. Meems, such wonderful pictures of such a beautiful place. Those woalks and fireside evenings sound great. That 'grand spangled fritillary' is spectacular! And I think the other one is a 'red spotted purple'. So glad you had a great time with your loved ones.

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  11. Oh Meems, I bet it was difficult to pull yourself away from this magical area.

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  12. isn't it great we get to keep reliving our moments together thru images! what beautiful photos to remember by. you have truly captured our retreat in a wonderful way. i am looking forward to the next time we can all get together and refresh ourselves.

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  13. Heaven, just Heaven. Breath taking. What can I say---PERFECT.

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  14. Thank you everyone for coming along on a virtual journey of this wonderful quality time with my family and me. As Lisa said it was hard to pull away from there.

    It has been a very busy couple of days back at home. Had lots of gardening to catch up on. I'm walking out the door to do some more gardening while it's cool... well 79 degrees is cool compared to what it will be in a few hours.

    Beckie, Thanks a million for the red spotted purple ID... I don't think I've ever seen one in Florida although this is part of their range... I'll be more aware of it from now on... what a great name it has.

    Blessings to you all, Meems

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  15. I know you had a wonderful blessed time. I stumbled across a Water Wednesday..come by and check it out.

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  16. Meems, You have so beautifully photographed and described my feelings and experience every time I visit the mountains...thank you again for the sweet reminder. Wonderful photographs! gail

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  17. any chance of giving us the site where your cabin was for a sister/mom weekend? Thanks!

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  18. gail: the mountains are definitely one of my favorite places to get away from life as usual. they are so refreshing ... especially coming from the humidity down here ... to get to drier air is always a treat.

    Cydney: I'd be happy to share the link with you ... just e-mail me at garden4life@hotmail.com

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  19. And I get to live at the feet of the Blue Ridge Mountains all the time--lucky me;) I enjoyed your pic tour. 3 generations is a blessing! Glad you had a good time.

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  20. Hi Meems, the spot was magnificent but the best part had to be being with family to share the beauty.
    Frances
    newurl
    http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


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