Here is another reason to love Meeks Park.  There is shade, there is water.  It is such a peaceful place.  That's why we go there so much.  It is always a pleasant outing.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

We absolutely love this bank of hydrangeas in the Methodist Church parking lot.  They curve around the corner, and block the view into the next parking lot.  Great use of landscaping:  hiding something unsightly from view.

 

These hydrangeas start out bright white, and fade to dusty pink in the fall.  We see them every week, so I will show you again when they change color.  They are fabulous!!!

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

Yesterday we drove to Chattanooga to the sewing machine repair place.  Yes, darn it, my sewing machine is having an electrical problem.  Anyway, on the way home, this was the info screen in the truck!!!  Yikes!!!

 

Thank goodness for air conditioning.  

I hope you are staying cool wherever you are.  Be smart, be safe:  stay inside.

 

 

MEANWHILE, HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

It is Vitex, botanically it is Vitex agnus-castus.  That's the only name I know for it.  Oh wait, it is commonly known as chaste tree.  I love this tree/shrub.  I love seeing it in the summer with its beautiful purple, spiky flowers.  

 

I read that it can grow from 3-16 feet.  I've never seen one that big, but the ones we usually see are around 8-10 feet tall.  

 

There is only one that I know of in our neighborhood, but they grow easily here in the mountains.  Look around;  you may see some in your travels.  I hope so.  They are so pretty right now.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

As I started out on my walk, I looked up and noticed the Persimmons are getting big.  They are almost full size, about the size of a ping pong ball.  When they reach their full size they will start to turn orange.  But that's not until October.  We still have a couple months to grow.

 

I am certainly not rushing through summer to get to fall;  but I do love a good persimmon.  No big hurry, though.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

Check this out!!!  This is Violet's Hibiscus in bloom.  It is in a massive ceramic pot, and blooming its head off.  I think she told me that is called "Holy Grail."  And each blossom is as big as a dinner plate.  

 

It is awesome!!!

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

The Devil's Walking Sticks in our neighborhood are blooming.  I've also seen a couple on 19/129 on our way to Blairsville.

 

They are about 10-12 feet high, and blooming with bright white flowers.  Beautiful!!!

 

I hope you get to see some in your travels.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

One HOT day while walking in the park, we came across this bed of ferns, and instantly, I felt cooler.  Not sure why...was it the color?  the texture?  or just the feel of the thing?  Whatever, it felt good on a hot day.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

And on the way home from the Ocoee, as we were entering North Carolina from Tennessee, I snapped a great picture of the Manteo 563 sign.  Just a reminder:  in Manteo, there is also a sign, and it says:  Murphy NC 563,  telling us that our state is 563 miles from east to west.  

 

How lucky are we to have seen both signs in the last two months.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

 

 

 

We made it to the Ocoee on Saturday:  no rain in sight, and a gorgeous day for a Jeep ride.  We parked on the side of the road, and watched the rafters for a while.  It was a hot day, so there were lots of folks out on the river.  Some were in little kayaks, and hundreds on those 8-passenger rafts.  They all looked like they were having fun.  

 

We had fun just watching.  That's a little more water than I can handle, but I love to watch as they hit the rapids, squeal, and move on down the river.  

 

Go there:  it's fun!!!

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!