Longwood Gardens

 Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA

A couple of months ago I was blessed to have lived on this Earth for 50 years.

I should have fretted and done something outlandish but I was content to spend the day with my parents who gave me that opportunity to be here for 50 years!  My parents and my daughter and I ventured out to spend the day checking out the thousands of varieties of flowers at Longwood Gardens.  Maybe when I'm 60 I'll plan that 'big' trip or do something insane!   

Pictured here near the entrance is the green with envy hallway.

The doors?

They are bathrooms!  

It felt like you were in Alice in Wonderland and each door was going to bring a new adventure.

Oh well just have clean, flushable bathrooms sufficed for the day!

 Everything in the greenhouses radiated.

It felt like someone already came through and saturated the flowers with some high contrast.

I found these adorable little bells hanging around waiting to be rung.

The title?

Of course it's --- "Birds of a feather - flock together"

These flowers seemed to be literally flying above keeping watch over us. 

Can it be this real?

Can it be this vivid?

You bet!

I'm glad I snapped away with my camera because while looking at them later we are able to see things we missed while trying to take all the scenery in at once.

The enormous hanging baskets in the top center are dwarfed with every other flower hovering around.

Enjoy!

University of Memphis School of Law

University of Memphis

Cecil C. Humphrey's School of Law

On a brief walk around Memphis I came across this impressive door.  For whatever reasons I like doors that catch one's attention.  I don't think I'm alone in this curiousness.  This door opens into the University of Memphis' School of Law to help prepare for yet another lawyer.  We need a few good lawyers so I pray that someone opens these doors into a bright future to want to change the world and make it a better place for all.

Beale Street, Memphis, TN

I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

Home of the Blues...

Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll

***

It's been a musical kind of year in my travels.

To get to Memphis we had to pass through Nashville home of County Music.

Then to Memphis to see the ghost of Elvis and W.C. Handley with B.B. King on the side.

Ending in New Orleans Jazz Fest for some music mania.

Beale St. in the day light.

 Beale St. at night

Of course with any city you visit on a vacation leaves you feeling like you missed something. It was the same with Memphis.  The highlights were seeing Graceland, Beale St, good BBQ, baseball and the ole Mississippi.  BUT.   There's so much I feel I missed.  The victorian homes, a boat ride on the Mississippi, a blues band, the pyramid, a trolley ride etc...  Missing the opportunity to see or do things just gives you the excuse to return again.  

So See ya real soon Memphis and until then keep the blues and rock 'n' roll and keep the Mississippi flowing!

Memphis, TN Cobblestone Landing

Cobblestone Landing along the Mississippi River in Memphis, TN.

Up and down the Mississippi lies history at every bend.

This is one of the last cobblestone landings in the United States.

  It's also home to the Mississippi Queen River boat.  

We all have those so called bucket lists and in my bucket lies a dream to take a cruise

on the Mississippi in a paddle boat or steam boat.  I need to finalize or think deeper of weather to take an upper or lower Mississippi cruise or go all out and start in St. Louis and end in New Orleans.  

Kress Building, Memphis TN

The Kress Building in Memphis, TN is a colorful addition to the whole block.

It once was one one several Five and Dime stores. 

It has been refurbished and is now part of the Marriott Spring Hill Suites Hotel.

We were lucky enough to get a room in this part of the building.  The inside was just another hotel but the outside held its own against an otherwise concrete jungle.

The Kress Building

(http://www.memphisheritage.org/mhihost/News-NewLifeOldBldgs.html)
Closed since 1994, this building is easily recognizable by its colorful and decorative terra-cotta facade.  Kress opened the first in what was to become a nationwide chain of five-and-dime stores in Memphis in 1896 and moved to the Main Street location in 1927.   Conscious of the historical significance of the building, the new owners plan to restore the structure in accordance within historical guidelines as they adapt it for reuse as a suite hotel, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott.  

A close up of some of the ornament features of the building.

Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley Plantation

Built around 1837 (pre air conditioning and electricity!) the colonnades and aligned windows kept the whole house air conditioned in a true 'green' fashion.  Elegance abounds from the grounds to the inside decor.  Of course a mint julep has to be enjoyed in the cool shade.  Overlooking the Mississippi River with only five foot levies I'm sure at some point made the owners nervous when the River decides to overflow.  Today the levy is 40 feet and you are not able to view it but you still know it's there.  We were fortunate enough to see a huge ship pass by that the top of the ship was over the levy.   Of course the real characters of the plantation are the Oak Trees.  

Lots of oak trees!

The trees were HUGE!

They date back to before the house was built.  Nobody really knows the story of why or who planted the trees but they left behind a beautiful breathtaking view.

Samantha was sizing up the trees....

The branches sometimes began new trees.

The Oaks line both sides leading from the house to the river.  

They are spaced out over a span of 800 feet long.

Majestic!

Imagine an evening walk to the river.....

Daisy Days

Daisy and Samantha

Where oh Where have I been?

The past few months have been a whirlwind.  All of us get loaded down in our daily lives but recently it's been on overload.  Excuses?  I've got 'em!  Kids, Husband, new puppy, house, dinner, running, yoga, trip to Memphis to watch baseball and see Graceland and walk on Beale St, trip to New Orleans for last college baseball and graduation and Jazz Fest and to see Oak Alley and say goodbye to Bourban St., did I mention puppy?, working, working, working, a little shopping, tweeting, You Tubing, Pinterest,  Church (this should be  higher on the list),  family time, tackling my Mac, Evernote,  that puppy again, getting Sam ready for a mission trip, Prom, prom shopping, talking about the prom, hearing about the prom, worrying about Samantha flying by herself, learning to live with my college graduate again.

Busy?

I suppose;  but hopefully I can get back to blogging.  Heaven knows I've taken enough pictures to last a couple years.  So hello again and I'll make no promises but say I'll try to be more active on here.  I do miss it but there's so very much out there in this big ole world and I want to see and do it all!