Best of 2018!

It's that time of year when I share the best of 2018 captures. We visited several botanical gardens, a national wildlife refuge, an artist's village, a state park, and I even spent an afternoon capturing images of Elk and Bison at the prairie at Land Between the Lakes. And least of all, I threw in a few images from around Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee. While I didn't travel far out of state, I still managed to capture some unique images. I hope wherever 2018 took you in your travels you were able to stop and smell the roses and take a few pics to tell your story. Have a wonderful 2019 and here's to lots of new adventures and journeys with your camera in tow. ENJOY!

The Meaning of a Purple Rose

As I walked around the Atlanta Botanical Gardens recently, I almost walked right past this bush of purple Roses. But I stopped short of passing them by, looked closely and thought how gorgeous they were. If only I had taken more images. There were so many people milling about that I didn't want to disrupt anyone so I snapped a few quick images and moved on.

The purple Rose signifies enchantment. Should you receive a purple Rose from another it supposedly means they have fallen in love with you at first sight. I knew the different colors of Roses had different meanings, but this was one I didn't know until now. How charming is that. Fall is going to pass us by here shortly and the weather is going to move right into Winter, but not quite yet. We do, however, have a hard warning tonight. I hope wherever you are you are enjoying the beautiful Fall colors. ENJOY!

Imaginery Worlds, Atlanta Botanical Gardens

When opportunity knocks, don't let it slip between your fingers. I had traveled to Georgia to visit Gibbs Gardens. However, I realized the day prior that there was a wonderful exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and it's last day was the day I was to visit Gibbs. So I took a chance and these images are witness to my unexpected stop at the gardens. Gorgeous plant sculptures were created for the gardens by a mosaic company out of Montreal. And these creatures, some 20 feet tall, were magnificent.

The Pegasus

The Peacock in the Conservatory

The Peacock in the Conservatory

The Phoenix in the Japanese Gardens

The Phoenix in the Japanese Gardens

The Dragon in the Great Lawn

The Dragon in the Great Lawn

The Mermaid in the Great Lawn

The Camels in the Rock Garden

The Camels in the Rock Garden

The Sleeping Princess in the Cascades Garden

The Wholly Mammoth in the Kendeda Canopy Walk

My favorite images are probably those taken later in the day when the harsh early afternoon light had faded into the blue hour. My favorite of all of the sculptures would be the Dragon and the Pegasus. The Phoenix is the one image that I captured in early afternoon and late afternoon light, and no doubt, you can see the difference.

I loved walking around the botanical gardens for the first time, but would pick a less busy day. The day I visited was the last day of the Imaginary Worlds exhibit and tons of visitors came to see it before it embarked on a journey elsewhere. Fall is upon us here in full swing in Middle Tennessee. Wherever you are I hope you are enjoying this weekend. ENJOY!

Happy Halloween!

One cannot visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Atlanta, Georgia, during Fall and not bag some pics from their Scarecrow Display. There were several exhibits I wanted to check out at the botanical gardens before they closed for Fall. All throughout the gardens there were all types of creepy and scary Scarecrows. The Serpent Lady was oh so busy keeping a handle on her slithering friends.

Let's face it, this guy is definitely a different kind of Scarecrow, but seriously, it's Halloween so doesn't that rule apply, anythings goes.

What a Hag! I admit her dress and tights are a serious hoot, but you still better watch out as she's keeping an eye on you with her binoculars.

It wouldn't be a Scarecrow Display without a Skeleton or two. This bony guy is really a cool looking dude. Perhaps its the wide brimmed hat that does it. I don't know, but he is. Someone should offer up a free meal and perhaps a facial and manicure would help. Everyone far and wide, in the States and wherever you celebrate this Hallowed Day have fun and stay safe. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

A Beautiful Reflection

Captured in the Waterlily Gardens at Gibbs Gardens, located in Ball Ground, Georgia, two years ago in Summer. It was a hot August day, but I persevered to capture just a tidbit of the beautiful reflections from the pond. I hope you are having a fantastic weekend and Labor Day holiday. ENJOY!

Back In The Day

Do you remember back in the day when color was king? When you drove down the highway, with your Dad at the wheel, and you passed cars and trucks in all shapes and colors. There were pink Cadillacs and red Dodge Chargers and blue Ford Fairlanes. Remember the Sixties when turquoise was en vogue.

Do you remember rolling down the car window and hanging your arm out to adjust the driver's side mirror. Do you remember steering wheels, when you needed a muscle relaxer after a long drive, long before power steering and cruise control were en vogue. Do you remember when air conditioning meant rolling down the car windows with your hair blowing in the breeze.

Do you remember the Buick with its huge round headlights and big 'ol bumpers and the Ford Fairlane with its fins on the trunk. Do you remember when there was no such thing as anti-lock brakes or cruise control or electronic door locks or emission control or fog lights or tinted windows.

If you remember these things, then you know, wisdom comes with age. I believe we have lived in the best of times. Every day we are reminded of so many uncertainties like nuclear war and terrorism, mass murders and school shootings. But remember, we are the lucky ones because we remember a simpler time, a better time. I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend here in the States and a great weekend across the ponds. We, here in the South, are in for a whole lot of rain from a tropical depression which I believe they are calling Alberto. Heavens.

I captured these images two years ago in late Summer on a very hot, humid August day at Old Car City in Cartersville, Georgia. If memory serves me well, I don't believe I've ever featured these images in a prior post, but if I have forgive me. ENJOY!

Japanese Gardens, Gibbs Gardens, Kentucky Woman Series

Beautiful Gibbs Gardens, located just to the northeast of Atlanta, has to be one of the most architecturally beautiful botanical gardens I have ever seen. The Japanese Gardens, called Tsukiyama, is the largest Japanese garden in the nation encompassing some 40 acres. The ponds in this particular garden are all spring fed. But I think what really makes this garden are the reflections you find at every twist and turn along the garden path. Come take a walk with me . . .

As I meandered around both sides of the ponds that make up the Japanese Gardens, I couldn't help noticing just how meticulous every morsel of plant and stone and tree was planned and designed to create this breathtaking landscape. Mr. Gibbs my hat goes off to you. Yet, on the afternoon I visited with ample sunlight in tow, I couldn't help but realize one of the reasons for all the planning.

Can you see it, the reflections on the water are simply gorgeous. As I approached one setting after another, it wasn't enough to capture a portrait view, I had to capture a landscape too. Who knew what I would like more when I found myself miles away back home carefully sifting through the images.

Without a doubt, I recall spending an hour or more capturing photographs of the various settings as I walked the many paths and crossed over the ponds and walked around each one. It was an explosion to my senses.

As if the reflections on the water were not enough, I happened upon this scene with a Weeping Willow tree situated next to the largest pond. The foliage around the tree and the huge boulders sitting next to the water's edge was just gorgeous. Oh, how I love Weeping Willows.

Right when you think you can't take in another thing, you happen upon a Japanese lantern sitting idly on top of a large boulder with gorgeous twisted tree branches in the background.

Did you notice how the foreground is a treat to your eyes, but the background is so beautiful of the foliage across the pond on the other side. Tell me someone didn't spend hours planning this. What a genius!

Just to be absolutely certain I didn't miss a thing, I captured a landscape view of this setting.

I wanted to end this post right back where we began. Look at this gorgeous plant with those beautiful sculptures of Swans sitting atop it right in the middle of the largest pond in the Japanese Gardens. The Weeping Willows, the pagodas, the lanterns, the sculpture, oh my goodness, have you ever.

Now I ask you, have you ever seen such a gorgeous garden in your life. This was my first visit to a Japanese Garden, and it won't be my last. I can't even imagine what Gibbs must look like in early Spring and Fall. If you ever find yourself in Atlanta, take a quick drive up to Gibbs. It's virtually in the middle of nowhere in a tiny town called Ball Ground, just south of the north Georgia mountains. You could stay in one of the 'boros northeast of Atlanta and its a quick drive up. I hope you have enjoyed this installment of my Kentucky Woman Series. I simply had the most fun creating it for you. It was as though I had stepped back into the garden for a walk. 
Have a fabulous weekend. ENJOY MY FRIENDS!

Linking to Saturday's Critters and The Scoop

Waterlily Garden at Gibbs, Kentucky Woman Series

As promised here is the next installment in my Kentucky Woman Series. Wondering just what the Kentucky Woman Series means.

Having lived in Tennessee for three years, I decided to pay homage to my home state of Kentucky.

So I am bringing you a series of posts featuring a particular subject in various images from this Kentucky woman.

Today's post hails from beautiful Gibbs Gardens which is situated about an hour northeast of Atlanta in northern Georgia. 

I have to say, this botanical garden is one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever visited.

I traveled to Gibbs Gardens on a hot Summer's day in mid August. The temperatures hovered in the middle 80's, however, the humidity was low on this particular day. Did I mention I watched and waited for a sunny, but less humid span of a couple of days to make the drive to Georgia to view the gardens.

It was as good a day as I was going to get for mid August in northern Georgia, but it turned out to be a nice day. I captured several of these images in midday when I visited the Waterlily Garden the first time. .

Then after visiting other areas of Gibbs, I walked back over to the Waterlily Garden a second time, before I left for the day. So without further fanfare, here are some of the purple Waterlily images I captured on that visit

I would like to say I could identify the exact names for all of these beautiful flowering Waterlilies, but sadly I come up short in that department. I hope you will forgive me.

At one point during my photo session, a Dragonfly decided to fly in for a brief sit down so I captured a few images of him taking a breather. I absolutely love Dragonflies.

These images feature the blue and purple hues in bloom on this bright sunny day at Gibbs. These particular hues are my favorite ones I love to photograph when I'm capturing images of Waterlilies.

For good measure, I thought I would throw in a close up of this purple Waterlily bloom. Gads, what gorgeous flowers. It's hard to imagine all of these images are different Waterlilies, but they are.

There are many gardens at Gibbs to say the least. However, the Waterlily Garden, where I captured these images, turned out to be my favorite. My second favorite was the Japanese Garden. I wished I could describe how gorgeous the Japanese Garden was. Perhaps, another Kentucky Woman Series post is in order to show you some of the beautiful greenery from my visit to that garden. The Weeping Willows with their hanging branches, coupled with the Japanese sculpture featured throughout that garden, was stunning.

I have fallen in love with botanical gardens. Soon, I hope to visit Cheekwood. I would have made the drive over to Nashville by now, but bronchitis had other plans. But, I am back in fighting form again so I hope to pay a visit there soon. I hope you enjoy these images. I loved capturing them. ENJOY!

Waxing Nostalgic

Just what does waxing nostalgic mean . . .

To wax in this instance is to grow (as the moon does when it isn't waning). 

The word is related to the German "wachsen" meaning much the same. 

Nostalgic originally meant homesick, but now generally refers to a longing for bygone days.

In other words "having an increasing longing for times past".

. . . an old 1950's Chevrolet Bel Air with a hood ornament or as we used to say "Chevy"

. . . a faded red 1960's Plymouth Belevdere

. . . an old Dodge truck

. . . an old 1960's Ford Galaxie 500

. . . old style logos and graphics from by gone days

. . . and least it slips our minds, the 1930's Ford Police Utility Wagon or as it reads, "Paddy Wagon"

I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane as I was waxing nostalgic this evening and couldn't resist the urge to throw up some images from my trek to Old Car City in Cartersville, Georgia, from last August's trip. What a unique and remarkable place. I would love to go back some time. Hope you are all well. It's a tad warm here in middle Tennessee with temps in the upper 90's. ENJOY!

Vintage Wheels

As I perused my archives in search of images from Vintage America, I noticed a transition from the days of wagon wheels and buggies to the days of old jalopies and finally to modern day automobiles.

In by gone days, both of these first two buggies were surely a Rolls Royce version as buggies go. I captured the carriage at Spring Mill Park in Indiana, on a visit years ago and and the wagon with the small scale buggy I discovered sitting in a barn on a visit to Blackacre Nature Preserve in Louisville a couple of years ago. Both surely must have been quite fashionable in their day with their slick black leather seats.

This old Dodge truck I have posted before, but I couldn't leave it out of the line up, as it surely is one of my favorite rustic auto images. If it doesn't conjure up memories of the early 1900's, nothing will. It has come to its final resting place at the end of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Smoky Mountains, on a small farm there.

After the buggies of the late 1800's and the jalopies of the early 1900's, we find ourselves in the era of the modern automobile with spiffy logos and chrome grills. I photographed this Buick, which looks like a '60's model, at Old Car City USA, in Georgia last Summer. I'm surprised someone didn't restore it as the body looks in quite good condition.

Last, here we are with over sized bumpers and large grills like shark's teeth. Oversized bumpers are one of the things I will always remember about the cars of my childhood years, especially the Buick. I wonder does anyone else feel the cars we drive today are just a tad boring compared to the first automobiles. Perhaps that's why vintage cars are such popular attractions at car shows and in museums. I hope you enjoyed this journey back in time. I promise to be back soon. ENJOY!