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| Butterfly emerging from chrysalis at Callaway Gardens |
In Chrysoprase Apartments hung
This afternoon put on--
How condescending to descend
And be of Buttercups the friend
In a [Georgia] Town--
(Emily Dickinson, c. 1873)
Although the weather forecast this past Sunday and Monday was looking rather dreary for much of the southeastern United States, SAM and I decided to travel north to the Atlanta area anyway. We managed to dodge rain drops long enough to see much of the extensive Callaway Gardens located in Pine Mountain, Georgia. It was a much better day than I had expected. We spent Sunday night at a local inn and started our garden walkabout early Monday morning.
It was a good thing we started early because it took us a while to find specific places in the Gardens that we wanted to see, like this Butterfly Pavilion. I had left the reading glasses in the car, the writing on the map was tiny and difficult to see, and the signs along the winding roads were confusing at times. At least they were to us, which isn't at all surprising, considering that we are both "directionally challenged." Wouldn't it be nice to metamorphose into someone with a better skill set? Maybe an artist with the talent to transform a dead tree into something beautiful?
For now, I'll have to dream about those other places while I putter around in my Florida garden. Do you wish you could visit other gardens around the world, and if so, which ones?
There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry--
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll--
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human soul.
(Emily Dickinson, c. 1873)
I was just there a few months ago-right where you were in the butterfly house. Loved it! How nice you and SAM were able to get away and visit another garden. I love visiting gardens!
ReplyDeleteHi, Tina. It's too bad they don't have a guest book to sign at the butterfly house. I would have seen your name and felt right at home. Of course, they have so many visitors, the book would be enormous! You know, I have a feeling that your new garden will soon be a showplace worthy of charging admission.
ReplyDeleteI envy you that trip. I havent been able to to much this season, and now that the heat is hitting I cant force myself to do anything. of course,
ReplyDeleteHa, my daughter once accused me of spending all her inheritance on plants for my garden:) My excuse is always that gardening is my hobby, and it's cheaper than playing golf!
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to get away to this beautiful place; yes, I would love to travel and see some of the famous gardens around the world. Monet's is at the top of my list.
The last poem by Dickinson is one of my favorites--the only traveling I've done lately is through books:)
Dear Walk2write,
ReplyDeletethank you for that lovely post. Butterfly-pavillions are so interesting (in Germany there is one on the Insel Mainau by Graf Lennart Bernadotte).
At the moment I do just that what you ask: I visit gardens and gardens in England! At the week-end 9 gardens (only these 2 days open in London) - they offered 251...
To say which one I liked best: I couldn't - so many different gardens!
Visit other gardens around the world? Nah, I'd much prefer droppin in on you and your's!
ReplyDeleteLove Ms. Emily's poetry, I'd mimic hers if I could keep it original.
And I too have been neglectful of my visits here. I promise to do better, and possibly even stretch time like a spandex to make it happen more often!
I miss the simpler times
when butterflies pollinated
too many wildflowers
And I walked from there
with a bouquet for you
i've never been to Calloway ....my parents went one year and were enamored!! i hope to get there one of these days! glad you got to make the trip!
ReplyDeleteClaude, I'm getting to a point in life where travel is becoming more of a pain than enjoyable. Maybe it's because I'm getting set in my ways, kind of like a cat, not so eager to change. And like you said, the heat coming on doesn't help much.
ReplyDeleteRose, if you live near these gardens, golf is part of the package. I told SAM this place would be the ideal retirement situation. It's got a great fishing lake, golf (even though neither one of us is into that particular sport), hiking, and plenty of gardening opportunities to please any enthusiast (nut). Yeah, I fall into that last category. Monet's garden is right up there on my list too.
Britta, I'm glad you liked the post. You are so fortunate to live where public gardens are such a common aspect of life. Here they seem to be as rare as hen's teeth.
TC, you keep saying you're going to visit one of these days. Better do it before it's too late! I'm sure Miss Emily has a poem or two that touches on the subject of departing this world. We're getting closer all the time to that possibility--not trying to be morbid or anything:) Thanks for the poem. It's sweet!
Julie, it's really not that far from this part of Florida, though I'm not sure how far from where you are. We thought about combining the visit with one to some Atlanta attractions but thought we would return when we had more time. I definitely would not mind seeing the gardens again!
Well lets see. The Calloway has been on my wish list for many years. I like to visit the National Arboreteum in D.C. A return visit to the famous garden on VanCouver Is. BC. An oversees the Kew Garden in London, and the Koekenhoff in Holland and... actually the list goes on and on...;)
ReplyDeleteSo much to still explore around here. I will get to see some new ones while we vacate PA this summer. Now I need to post some photos I took at Longwood Gardens early in the springtime. Check later
ReplyDeleteI love butterfly gardens too! I don't have a list of gardens I want to visit but it's something I enjoy seeing during vacation. We have been enjoying the public gardens and Boston Commons today.
ReplyDeleteTB, I figured you would have a long wish list of gardens. You would love Callaway because much of it is wooded, and native plants abound. There is even a great fishing lake that SAM was quite enamored with. While I was checking out yet another garden spot, he was investigating the cost of chartering a fishing boat and guide!
ReplyDeleteWayne, I think we miss some of the best places that are right under our noses. I hope you find some good ones this summer. I will stop by soon to see what you've posted.
Sarah, I'm glad you're getting some rest from working on your novel. A little garden therapy never hurts!
It's good you had a nice trip.
ReplyDeleteYou captured a fresh transformed butterfly, so beautiful and graceful! There are varieties of them?
"Garden" seems to be used in a broad sense of the word including lots of water or mountain activities, not limited to "garden".
I've never been to worldwide famous gardens yet but those are on my wish-to-go list when I have a chance.
Visiting gardens always gives us some new idea that we implement in our garden.
ReplyDelete