After sitting in a classroom-like setting nearly all day on Saturday, for the NC Wildlife Federation Leadership Summit, we were dying to get out and about. Speaking of dying, the heat was unbearable! Nonetheless, I still managed to persuade Cody into making a trip to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens before retreating back to our beloved mountains.
Botanical gardens, for me, are all about unearthing new and fascinating plant life. Normally, during our usual treks through the woods, we are on the lookout for interesting and unusual flora, but being in an area where everything is in one place is like a FREE FOR ALL!
Armed with a map, we began our leisurely 'stop and stroll' through the lush landscape. Unlike most ventures when Cody is stuck waiting for me while I capture images, he actually joined in on the flower-photo-frenzy. Flowers are the most amazing subjects to study with their varying colors, smells, and designs. We spent hours appreciating them. In my eyes, they are works of art.
One thing that was especially unpleasant, though, was how stiflingly hot it was in Charlotte! I really don’t know how I survived in Florida for all those years. The mild mountain climates have spoiled me rotten!
Lucky for us, it wasn’t hard finding flowing water throughout the gardens with various fountains spewing liquid gold. Occasionally, I would dip my hand in and splash myself for a few moments of much needed relief.
Imagine my delight when we crept up to this inviting canopy of geyser-like proportions shooting through the air from both directions. It was basically daring you to walk though the tunnel without getting wet. Nearly impossible. I don’t know about you, but my main objective was to time it just right for maximum soakage! Ahhh….sweet relief!
Another saving grace was the very friendly golf cart shuttle driver who was more than happy to give us a ride back to the front of the grounds. He even told us to come back and he’d take us on another breezy cruise!
Join me on Monday for Part 2:
Next stop: The Orchid Conservancy!
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29 Comments:
Shame that we left NC long before they had these gardens. I'm ready to see more of your great pictures.
beautiful pictures, as always. love those daisy looking flowers! so pretty! :)
Aren't Botanical Gardens wonderful? We have a lovely one near Richmond, VA.
Come out and shoot at our lovely Desert Botanical Garden. It's stunning, and that's something for me to say considering how much I dislike living in the desert. You'd get some great shots. These are incredible.
Lisa
Your pictures are wonderful, as usual...I've never been to these gardens...beautiful. I love the gardens here at the St. Louis Botanical Gardens.
What a wonderful place to indulge in photography!~
Awesome pics. I'm loving the depth of field you chose for them. :)
So beautiful. I think you should be getting a commission from the NC tourism board, you sure make me want to visit. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
I love the way you make your pictures so unique, I learn a lot from you.
So glad you shared these!
Beautiful shots!
I love the glimpses of your wandering! What beautiful surroundings! I just took a "walkabout" and photographed some of our weeds! Not nearly as beautiful of results. :)
Jessie at Blog Schmog (a fellow PW reader)
i love strolling through botanical gardens! the colours, the scents, the serenity...
Ahhh... walking in the garden surrounded by the smells of beautiful flowers. Tell me about it :-)
Such beautiful flowers - I agree about hunting for treasures while hiking!
I love that daisy/anthemis like flower - the yellow and white one - just perfect
beautiful....
that second photo is my favorite :)
Simply stunning! I could spend hours here too...
The pictures and scenery is just beautiful.
so wonderful! i love botanical gardens too. so peaceful. your pictures are great!
Beautiful photographs, love them!
Beautiful photos! I love flowers, and all of those are lovely!
I so love botanical gardens and very much miss the one in Birmingham. Your shots are just gorgeous and I can't wait to see more.
I just had a lovely stroll, thanks for taking me along :)
Here’s my photo story. happy Friday!
What a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. I LOVE photographing flowers and bugs and scenery. Great pictures!
How lovely! Great pictures!
oh, that second photo .. just magical :)
my favorite shot is the one with the vine leaves in foreground and the walkway receding back into the out of focus area. Great composition!
you tell a great tale ...with windows of delight
What beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.
i went to see the hard won butterfly photo you posted last year. loved that bokeh! thanks for sending me back in time :) these photos from the botanical garden are, as always wonderfully composed and captured by you. i love the implied invitation to walk farther along the paths.
are you still planning your NW trip? i haven't been hereto truly visit you in too long!
I really love the peaceful atmosphere of these shots! Lovely.
I have not been to your lovely blog in a bit, but now I'm back and remember why I will never leave again.
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