Coming Up Roses

The city is finally coming to life again.  The smell of jasmine lingers in the air, and roses are bursting into bloom on every corner.  These particular beauties are across the street from where I work.  I've spent spent many a quiet moment in the store daydreaming about the day when I can grow beautiful roses like these in my own yard. 

As the newest buds are about to burst into life, the old blooms crumble at the touch.  I tried to take one home last night, but it was a lesson in fleeting beauty.  You just have to appreciate the moment. 

We mustn't forget that these are the ones that make all this beauty possible. We need to do everything in our power to protect them.  I'll start by planting more flowers and eating more organic food.  What will you do?

The Botanical Gardens at City Park

Last week at the botanical gardens:

 

«Processed using VSCO for the iPhone»

 

«In the Japanese Garden»

  

«Stunning cacti and succulents»

«Fern wall (above and below) processed using VSCO for the iPhone»

«Orchids and bromeliads»

All photos taken with my iPhone. 

Swamplandia

Tuesday came with beautiful sunny skies and nearly perfect temperature - still a tad on the cool side (for those of us with Southern blood), but warm once you were moving around.  It was the perfect day to get out of the city.  Off we headed into the wild swamp lands of Jean Lafitte National Historic Park.  

We clearly weren't the only ones who noticed the sun; the reptiles were out in full force.  We must have seen at least ten snakes on our short hike, and a more than a few gators.  One of them was at least ten feet long, with a head almost the size of my torso!  Had he been sunning on our side of the bank like the others, I don't think I would have been able to walk past him.  Those creatures are so primitive and terrifying!

Spiderwort 

« Tradescantia ohiensis »

Butterweed against palmetto.

« Senecio glabellus against Sabal minor. »

Indian Fall

Today is unseasonably cool here.  Only 83º, with a lovely breeze, and almost no humidity.  In fact, it's so lovely that believe it or not, I am sitting on my balcony right now typing this.  In the shade of course, but the point is that I am voluntarily spending extended amounts of time outside and I am not sweaty.  It feels like fall, and I'm remembering why I love this city so much.  On a day like today, there's nothing better than a little aimless wandering to the sno-ball stand. 

Chocolate cream and frozen mint: an unfailing combination.

Moving

I have officially moved back to the city of my dreams, the place that captured my heart just five years ago, the place I've been craving like an addict for the past two years: my darling New Orleans.  While I did a little dance in the car and couldn't stop grinning when I saw the first sign on the interstate ("New Orleans 111"), leaving Charleston was far more bittersweet than expected.  I had finally accepted my place there, finally grown to feel like I wanted to be there, not that I was just stuck there.  I keep telling myself that this is a good thing because it means that I will go back there once I'm tired of the big city, but today it just means that I miss home.  

I miss watching the sailboats in the harbor in the evening.  I miss waking up to Miss Scout waiting outside my room for her morning belly rub.  I miss my Tuesday night date at the Surf Bar.  I miss my sweaty, smiley, musical friends.  And I hate that I'll never quite be able to go back to the last six months.  They were fantastic.  

My Last Month in Pictures

|| What better way to celebrate freedom than tequila soaked pineapple? ||

|| A Sunset Happy Hour Expedition. ||

|| Cypress Gardens ||

|| Music. ||

The Birds