Spring Gardens

Judy. It's spring in Georgia, and absolutely gorgeous.  Daffodils, azaleas, redbud trees, cherry trees, dogwood, iris--all are blooming like mad and lifting our hearts after the lockdown of winter.  

View from our front porch

One of our go-to's this year has been the Georgia State Botanical Gardens. Boy, what a hidden gem! Fifteen minutes from the house, free, and vast, with miles of wooded and riverside hiking trails, numerous gardens and orchards celebrating plants from different areas of the world, it has become a great escape. There's even a children's play area (closed now due to Covid) with climbing toys fashioned from natural elements.

On Monday, we decided to take a last walk to explore, since we leave for Costa Rica in a few days. Tired from packing, we needed to breathe fresh air and see the spring explosion. Daffodil season is waning, and the rains from the weekend had left its mark on the tulips, but it did its job anyway.

Wetlamds

Forest walk

Kitchen gardens

View of the orchards

In winter, the conservatory is a great refuge, with orchids of all varieties, and all sorts of tropical plants. It's closed on Mondays, but the gardens are always open. There's something for every season.

Of course, there's always a downside to spring in Georgia--lots of folks are allergic to the pollen. We are not. Pine pollen, however, is a whole different ball game. After a two-hour walk, this car in the parking lot showed the effects. Still, nature is just to dressed up for us  to stay inside!