Gibbs Gardens it Is!

If you will, please let me know what you think of the new layout and if it works okay on all of your devices . I'm thinking it was time for a new modern look to go with our new old-fashioned life!

Last Tuesday was when I went to the gardens, which is where most of the focus of today's blog post will be directed, but before we head there, closer to home, just outside downtown Andrews I saw this beautiful sight.

If that does not say cozy and wonderful, I don't know what will! We were on our way home from visiting with D'Anna and David at their beautiful home when I spotted this and asked Bruce to please turn around, a request that he is very familiar with, having done so countless times over the years. Sometimes it is easy to laugh at that notion, but most of the time, a nature photograph can never be repeated, so get it while you can!! And that's a fact.

Closer to home, a walk along the river in beautiful weather amongst the fallen leaves.

Do you see what I see? 

And really close to home, as in across the street, I have been both happy and sad to see the gorgeous red maple leaves fill up Sandy's front yard. Because you have seen the tree yourself, in this very space, here's how it is looking over there in the here and now.

I have so many other things I want to show you, including a Halloween party at the Victorian house across the street, but as promised Gibbs Gardens will occupy center stage today.

Randy and David have become good friends and so when asked to accompany them to the gardens, where they are members, I jumped at the chance. Bruce declined because he had an appointment to get a new crown which actually did not happen because now they think he needs a root canal which is a real bummer.

And so it was that three of us took off after they picked me up, riding in comfort in David's truck, stopping for Bojangles egg/biscuit sandwiches which were very tasty indeed. It is their tradition and now I can appreciate why. 

For the last year or so I have been getting posts about the gardens in all seasons with beautiful photographs of the tulips and daffodils. I was very much excited to see what I could see of the autumn landscape. 

Prepare yourself for a feast of beauty! Before we head in, perhaps your interest has been piqued and you want to know more about this beautiful place in Ball Ground, GA? Click here my inquisitive friends! Now the photos on their website are outstanding, so mine do not measure up, but I did what I could in the bright sunshine of noon time. While there was color galore, I do think we missed the peak by about a week. 

With those silly disclaimers out of the way, let's take a walk.

Beautiful stone work, beautiful ponds, streams and bridges it is a feast for the senses with layers, colors, textures, reflections and the list goes on. 

Who knew that hydrangea leaves could be so beautiful?

The color of this type of Japanese Maple was so unexpected.

It was an amazing bright shade of yellowish, chartreusish (maybe not a word but you get my drift), that just popped out in the landscape. 

Not every color of the rainbow, but a bunch of them.

There is a manor house (their description, not mine), where the Gibbs actually live. 

Beautiful from the front and from the side. Fantastic benches with intricate ironwork as well.

Seriously, I loved all of the trees and plants, but this house is somehow getting three looks in this little travelogue. 

Apparently Mr. Gibbs is a celebrated landscape architect with a large practice in Atlanta. That's the condensed version for sure! 

Look at these vibrant colors.

More...

and more!

At times Randy and David were getting a kick out of how excited I was, but seriously, how could you not get excited? The view from the patio in front of the manor house.

Did I leave out sculptures earlier in this post? If so, there were a bunch, including this beautiful one.

It is so hard to imagine that aside from the hardscape, all of this will look decidedly different in a matter of months.

Because Randy and David have three Labrador Retrievers who were waiting at home, we did not see everything, but by now I was almost overwhelmed, even with the simplest of things like this striking pile of leaves, not a one of them the same as the other which is mind blowing in itself.

As we made our way towards the gift shop and exit, we passed by this display:

that included this pretty little tableau.

Fortunately, David spotted a sign posted on the glass door leading into the gift shop reading, Randy A. go to the register. Turns out he had dropped his Visa card, probably while getting his camera out of his pocket, and a kind soul returned it. Whew! 

Leaving the gardens, our next stop was Mercier in Blue Ridge, a large operation selling apples and products made with apples, and more apples, and vegetables, and baked goods. Whew!

Again, because our time was limited, we did not go into the orchards contenting ourselves with a little shopping, and seeing a very little bit of the operation.

Wasn't that just so fun? With terrific weather and excellent companions, it was a day to remember. There have been so many things happening of late I am woefully not keeping up, but when the days are short and filled with gray skies, I might just bring out some cheerful photos from this, our first full Autumn in North Carolina. 

Before I go and work on my quilt, and block out all election news while I am at it, look who I saw coming out of our chimney. Wonder what is happening up there?

May there be peace in our land on the morrow.

your friend,

Gail