Day Trippin'

Ever since Bob retired in March we have been taking little day trips, seems all involved flowers or plants. He's a good sport.

 Laurens, South Carolina - the yearly trip to Roses Unlimited to get my special rose food and pick up a rose or two and to see the chow on the premises. This year we had lunch at a small cafe Crepes and More. Was really nice to have some crepes that I didn't have to make.

I had spinach with goat cheese and fig jam on top. Bob had a breakfast crepe. They were huge and delicious.

A stop at Vernons II, a huge nursery where you can find any plant you can think of. I asked about crossvine and they had one, but it wasn't looking too good.

The local courthouse that they have been renovating for the past couple of years. We still can't get inside. I would have loved to work in this courthouse!

Pretty historic buildings and statues.

Roses Unlimited. I bought the Mills Rose food and a climbing rose, Joseph's Coat. I'm running out of places with enough sun to buy anymore roses, unless some trees come down.

This red Eden would be next on the list, another climber. I have the pink Eden on front of the farmhouse. I love this rose!

 

Another week we went to Spartanburg to check out a new coffee shop, The Pharmacy in a historic Masonic building. Great coffee, had a sandwich since it was lunchtime. We first went to a local native plant sale in Tryon.

Walked the gardens of this historic church next to the coffee shop.

Native plant sale in Tryon. Bought a big Ostrich Fern.

Churches in Tryon across from the plant sale.

Lots of lavender.

One day we finally got to Inman, SC to the Peony Fields. It's nice to be able to go any day of the week with no schedule.  I love retirement!

Acres upon acres of huge peonies to admire.

There is a pretty little gift shop, all peony items and you can also buy a bouquet here.

Brought my bouquet home and placed it in an antique pitcher on the mantle. 

Went to see Hail Mary, something for Bob (but I'll see anything with Ryan Gosling in it) and he will be going to Atlanta to stay with a friend and see a Braves game. They have been trying to see a game with our friend's son Dylan Cease in it, but he just went to the Toronto Bluejays. Maybe one day he'll be a Brave! He will get to spend a few days down there and go to the game and all the bookstores he used to frequent. The falls will be opening this summer after two years of cleanup from Helene. One day we'll go out to Lake Lure, see how the Flowering Bridge is coming along and the marina. Time for some mountain day trips!

Good Friday - Poinsette Bridge

 Good Friday hike, Heritage Preserve - Poinsette Bridge. Oldest bridge in South Carolina from 1820. 

The bridge has been under construction needing repair and was to be open April 1, but when we got there it was not. Kind of a disappointment, we were looking forward to getting under it and walking the river.

So we walked the road with the river below looking at wildflowers in bloom and huge boulders moved by Hurricane Helene.

Haven't seen Sweet Shrub in a long time. I actually had some at the house when we first moved here, but they disappeared.

Passed this Boy Scout Camp on the way. Could have been a scene from Moonrise Kingdom, one of my favorite Wes Anderson movies.

And then I saw this!! Pull the car over!!!

My heart was pounding. Rock archways and walls with a secret garden and abandonded stone house! My mind immediately went to pulling down vines and renovating this place!

Even the trees across the road stood out.

This really isn't as bad as it looks. Could be cleaned up very quickly. Lots of shiplap.

Someone had put in new windows at one time, but didn't go much further.

This place could be amazing. The feeling I got from it was stepping back in time and seeing woodland gardens all around. I actually found the family who owns it. The person that lived here passed away almost 10 years ago. It is listed on the county records as land only!!

At this time in my life, I don't think I could live this remote and so far away from everything, but if I was younger!!!

The property had so many Japanese Maple seedlings. I plucked a few and potted them when I got home. They are slow growers, but I couldn't resist. I will be going back to see it in the winter.