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.

EASTER WEEK = GARDENING!

Everything is in bloom early! So much just on the driveway. Wisteria . . . 
 

Bridal Wreath Spirea . . . 

Baby's Breath . . . 

The Scotch Broom has gotten so overgrown, only a few flowers bloom, so I have set out to cut it WAY back, taking out bushes to the back fence and up close to the driveway. It's a hard, dirty job, but someone has to do it and it isn't going to be Bob!  LOL

This is some of the progress I have made, and the more I clear, the more I like it! I will be transplanting perennial sunflowers this weekend and rudbeckia that have taken over my box beds. Also removing the honeysuckle and ivy and mimosa that have been growing there.

One of the problems with all the growth is I am finding mice nests and rabbit nests and they come into my box beds and eat my seedlings. I have been fighting that for years, but no more!

I started at this end closest to the farmhouse last year. I transplanted perennials and so many iris. It's looking so good!!

New beds are going in at the farmhouse with all these midnight flare azaleas and double Japanese kerrias. First I have to get all the grass dug up, waiting for rain and I hope we get some soon. We are in a horrible drought.

Right now my car is my greenhouse waiting for April 15, last frost date, so they can be planted in the ground.

Still have work to do on the box beds, but getting there. I think I have too many garden spots to care for lol!!

Other plants that have come in or in bloom up at the main house. Hostas . . . 

Trillium . . . 

Native Azaleas . . . 

And I don't even know what this bush is, but it is beautiful!

All the azaleas are in full bloom, but I post those every year, so not going to this year.

A small flock of goldfinches passed through and I was excited to see if they would like my new huge thistle feeder, but not a single one was on it. I had to buy a new one because a bear stole one I really liked years ago :(

After three years of wondering where the bear took my feeder, I found it deep in a wooded area where I was hauling debris from all the cutting I'm doing on the driveway. Hoping I can get this thing back together.  

No bears yet this year, I'm hoping the young chows keep them at bay. Good Friday hike in the plans and Easter brunch at the farmhouse! Busy weekend.

HUCKY BORDEAUX

Baby Huckleberry, the name he came with.
 

Then when we adopted him we saw his burgundy highlights.

That's when we decided to call him Hucky Bordeaux.

All grown up!