What Dreams May Come

Fall Foliage Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Does anyone remember the movie 'What Dreams May Come'? During the film Robin Williams character searches the afterlife for his wife through some very surreal, color saturated gardens. I'm beginning to think it may have been filmed here. That, or we've stumbled upon one of Claude Monet's colorful canvases, only bigger, a whole lot bigger! This extraordinarily beautiful and unique place was rightfully selected as a World Heritage Site. 

From the unique and iconic Table Mountain to the truly dramatic coastlines, beautiful mountain passes and valleys further East, to the semi-arid regions to the North, each area is home to a diverse group of rare plants. You may find you'll pinch yourself while here because this place is truly a dream come true.

Good to KNOW

There are nearly a thousand nationally and international recognized World Heritage Sites across the globe. Ideally, protected to preserve and conserve their natural beauty or cultural and historical significance. Eight of these sites are in South Africa and were declared World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
They are:

• The Cape Floral Region
• Robben Island
• The Greater St Lucia Wetland
• uKhahlamba - Drakensberg
• The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
• The "Cradle of Humankind" (Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs)
• Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landschape
• Vredefort Dome

The Cape Floral Region, the fynbos vegetation region (indigenous flowering scrubland), of Western and Eastern Cape Province, South Africa is one of the richest and most diverse floral areas in the world. Recognized for its natural beauty and scientific importance, 70% of its floral species occur nowhere else on the planet. Table Mountain National Park, which is part of this remarkable wilderness area, has more plant species in its 22,000 hectares than Britain or New Zealand. In total, the site covers 553,000 hectares of land that are particularly rich in plant species, representing nearly 20% of Africa's flora. The unique flora of the region is of particular value to science as there is a huge diversity and density of Fynbos species within a relatively small area. The species density in the Cape Floral Region is also amongst the highest in the world and it has been identified as one of the world's 18 biodiversity hot spots.

more, good to KNOW Kirstenbosch botanical garden

If you have limited time or just can't bare all that hiking you can see nearly every indigenous plant in South Africa at  Kirstenbosch. Against the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain sits this amazing botanical garden. Established in 1913, it was the first botanic garden in the world to be devoted to a country’s indigenous flora. Set aside to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily rich and diverse flora of southern Africa. It is time well spent.

Conebush Proteas Kogelberg Reserve SA

Succulents are among South Africa's botanical wonders

The Wonder Of It All

Travel can be about anything. It can be an hour away or a thousands miles away. Always carve out some time for yourself for a little exploration. You'll never know what you might discover unless you take the time. Include what you love. Then just stand there breathing it all in and, perhaps, capture it.  Photographs allow us to breath it in again and again and again.

Aligning the Planets: Part 1-Georgia

I'm sensing a pattern here -

good friends, good food and wine

(and grape juice for some)

Just when you think I've dropped off the edge of the world I re-emerge. This blogging stuff is hard when you're trying to juggle a business and a preteen. O.k., I admit managing the preteen is hardest. Especially one that's proclaimed her preteen status since the age of nine. Yes, I hear the tiny violins. At least my friends who know her understand that she may rule the world one day and pick my retirement home.

Spring Break Road Trip

Looking back I realize it was crazy to think we could pull off this trip. Spring Break is nearly impossible to navigate with friends and family. If you're a parent, you know that each year it's on different dates and no two counties, let alone states, are likely to share the same time frame. Attempting to include others in your plans is like waiting for the planets to align. We were determined though, and our determination paid off. The trip turned out spectacular! It spanned Georgia and Tennessee and included numerous stops to see old friends and old familiar places.

Part 1 - Georgia
My Great Great Aunt and Uncle lived in Georgia for most of their life together and so my cousin, Holly (my Great Great Aunt's grandchild), and I set the beginning path of our journey down memory lane in Georgia.

Beauty beyond measure.

My Aunt, Mama Mary as she was known, lived to see 101 and for many of her days she lived in the heart of Georgia on her pecan farm. She and my grandmother were the matriarchs of our family and although a generation apart they were best friends. Our large family was close so family gatherings were a regular occurrence of our childhood. Of all the things I admired about Mama Mary it was her wit and true grit I admired most. I have no doubt that life on the farm was hard but you would never have heard that from her at least not in a way that seemed like complaining. Our ancestors, the ones I hold so dear, had the ability to tell about their lives in a way that made their stories seem like music to a young child. To this day, even though they suffered hardships unimaginable to me, I rarely think of their stories as sad but vividly remember them as marvelous tales filled with melodious, infectious laughter. So it was with love and reverence that I visited this place.

Although travelers don't often hear about the heart of Georgia I wanted to give you a glimpse of it's subtle beauty. I think you'll agree even Monet would have loved this place. Mary sure did.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

North Carolina

Cades Cove

As part of the Appalachians the Smokies are among the oldest mountains in North America. The range is mostly located in the United States but extends into southeastern Canada. Divided into a series of ranges, the highest mountain of the group is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 feet, which is the highest point in the United States east of the Mississippi River. Mount Mitchell is accessible via the scenic drive known as the Blue Ridge Parkway. From the big animals like bears, deer, and elk, down to microscopic organisms, The Great Smoky Mountains have the most biological diversity of any area in the world's temperate zone and the Blue Ridge Parkway winds 469 miles and provides critical habitat for over 50 threatened and endangered plant species. It's an amazing place to visit in any season with lots to see and do. Although we did see some wildlife, deer and wild turkeys, our trip was about reminiscing, time well spent together, spectacular winter scenery and snow covered mountains. I have been in love with this part of the country since my parents first took our family there one summer vacation when I was 8 or 9. Most likely, just like my brother Bart who as a kid picked out his favorite football team because of the quarterback's name (Bart Star), I may have at first, fallen in love with these mountains because of Mountain Laurel and Laurel Falls but since those first days I can tell you through further exploration that there's no place on earth like the Great Smoky Mountains.

After just one day in the Smokies I started referring to a violin as a fiddle and started singing songs like Rocky Top. Not that I would have recently admitted to ever having known the words, suddenly they were crystal clear in my mind, "Good ole rocky top, rocky top Tennessee, ..." Maybe it's the fresh air or maybe it's the altitude, I don't really care, it was infectious! On the way there we naturally took the roads less traveled, stopped to play in the first snow and, of course, take photographs. We crossed the snow line in Georgia. Typically it does not snow in December in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee except maybe on the highest altitudes, but we began seeing snow in the northern part of Georgia. I'm blaming and thanking my daughter, Morgan. She prayed hard for snow and her prayers appeared to have been answered. According to Knoxville news media it was the first measurable Christmas snow in 17 years.

Tree Tops Resort, Gatlinburg, TN

]The night we arrived in Gatlinburg, Tennessee we could not drive the car up from the office to our Tree Tops Resort lodging because of the steep climb and threat of black ice. We could have taken the easy way out and stayed in a condo down below, instead we left everything in the car and hiked the 1/8 mile to our cozy cabin. We woke the next day to 14 degrees, beautiful blue skies and lots of snow. After retrieving the car and holding my breath driving back up the mountain we dressed in everything we had headed out for adventure.
Now I've been to these here parts before, but let me tell you it was nothin' like I remembered! Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge were not the quaint little towns of my childhood memories. I wasn't really expecting them to be, but the tourist meccas I found weren't what I expected either. Let's just say Morgan laughed when I said upon seeing main street in Gatlinburg, "If anyone tells me to have a magical day I'll shoot them." Once I got over the shock it started to grow on me, NOT! Truth is I avoided main street like the plague until Morgan's pleadings for tourist shopping and attractions finally wore me down. Honestly, for some people this has great appeal (judging by the throngs of people there), but it wasn't our intent or rather mine to be in this theme park setting. I wanted quaint crafts shops, wood carving, weaving, pottery and taffy not Ripley's, miniature golf and go cart racing, but alas, there was something for everyone. I just don't want every place I go to start resembling the Orlando area. One is fine we just don't need knock offs. I still have no concept of why there are any, let alone nine, Ripley's, in Gatlinburg. I'm guessing once Dolly World opened there were the usual "attached attractions" that moved in. I did not enter even one of the numerous Ripley's. Nine! Really? Luckily, there are mountains that prevent the theme park sprawl and in Gatlinburg it was contained to about a 3 mile stretch. After stopping Morgan from obsessing over all things that glow in the dark I agreed to allow her some time on "main street". Despite my grumbling about tourist traps we enjoyed the Gatlinburg area even with a little main street thrown in for fun. Among the bright lights we managed to find a micro brewery and some great shops and restaurants. Morgan loved the Chocolate Monkey confections shop. I loved the Smokey Mountain Brewery and the Park Grill Steakhouse. In Pigeon Forge we both loved the Old Mill Square. The actual old mill in Old Mill Square has been in existence since the early 1800's. A water-powered gristmill on the banks of the Little Pigeon River produced the meals and flours for early settlers and even furnished electricity for the town until 1935. It is the old authentic mountain town I was hoping for even if it appeared to be dropped in the middle of a carnival bordered by a six lane highway. Like I said, something for everyone.

Laurel Falls

My favorite tourist attractions this trip were Cades Cove and Laurel Falls (both pictured) and some folks may find this surprising but there were only naturally occurring moving parts at these two attractions. OK, I jest! There were lots of kids (and adults) building snowmen and sledding everywhere we looked and every store in the area was sold out of sleds (Morgan had to borrow one).  While I may scoff at the "new" mountain towns I still recommend these mountains for an unforgettable adventure.





  

Road Trip - Day 4, Maclay Gardens

Today is supposed to be rainy, windy and cold but so far my luck has held and I'm in Tallahassee's Maclay Gardens determined to bring it to you come rain or come shine. This place is magical! When I was younger my grandmother brought me here in the spring to see the azaleas in bloom and to this day I remember the reflecting pool and all those rich colors. I said then that if I ever got married it would be here. Well, in my youthful wish I left out the fact that it was nine hours from my hometown. Bit of a drive for guests! Eventually, when I did marry it was in a beautiful garden (closer to home), Flamingo Gardens, but that's a story for another time. This garden was my inspiration for that setting.
Maclay Gardens sits in the northwest corner of Tallahasse about an hours drive from Carrabelle on the road to Thomasville (GA).  It is a 1076 upland acres state park and garden.  The gardens were first planted by the Maclays after purchasing the property for their winter home.  This garden is spectacular in the spring for which I was a bit early.  So I was a little concerned my timing was off for flower viewing but the camellia blooming in my parents front yard gave me hope.  Maclay Gardens did not disappoint.  There are no Azaleas blooming right now but the Camellias and the Dogwood among others were putting on a spectacular display.  It's a flower show - in February?  Just look for yourself.  I stayed for a couple hours even in a slight rain (cold rain) and it was well worth it. 
After exploring the gardens I checked out the rest of the state park.  There are campsites, bike trails, horse trails, hiking trails, and access to fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sculling and swimming, and pavilions and grills along the lake shore. Obviously, there is a lot to love about this park.  It's one of Florida's best kept secrets and it shouldn't be any longer.  So I'm telling you don't miss this treasure!