Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Rhododendron garden, memorials and tribute

- The Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens in Hiawassee, Georgia. Planted along a mile-long pine bark trail on the shore of Lake Chatuge, more than 3,000 plants are in bloom from early April to late May.

- It sounds easy enough to get to, but the garden is relatively hidden at the top of a multi-tiered parking lot of a music and event park. I discovered it a few years ago and use those paths as a good place to get my walks in when I am staying at my sister's vacation home nearby.

- The garden is home to numerous memorial benches like this one - so touching to think of this couple walking together in the afterlife.

- The Bonnie Day Quiet Area leads to the little covered pavilion pictured below.

- A quiet place to reflect and think about what this Monday day off represents. As I was leaving town today, I noticed that all of the neighbors in the little mountain village - all of them - had an American flag displayed at their homes.

- The American Legion in Hayesville, North Carolina has this lovely tribute every Memorial Day to its fallen soldiers - so many for such a tiny village.

12 comments:

LL Cool Joe said...

What a great set of photos. I love the bench shot. It's a comforting thought to me knowing that in the after life we will be reunited with our loved ones.

Fireblossom said...

Beautiful pictures, Lynn. I want to sit in the quiet area and read!

happygirl said...

Rhododendron are so beautiful and here for such a short while. I'm glad you got to enjoy. :)

G. B. Miller said...

Love those outdoor ones. Very peaceful and nourishing to the soul.

Louvregirl said...

Looks like you had a terrific and a relaxing weekend ,Lynn!

Lynn said...

Joe -

I take some comfort in that, too. I kept passing this particular bench over and over on my walks and went to get my camera out of the car on Sunday when I was done.

FB -

I liked how they called that a "quiet area" - it's all quiet there. Yes - a great place to read.

Happygirl -

The rhododendron that I photographed was the last of them apparently.

G -

Thanks G!

lg -

I did and of course, there will be more photos from that trip this week.

TALON said...

Love the photos, Lynn, and I especially love the bench one.

That does look like a perfect place to simply sit and be...

Sara said...

Lynn,

The photos were great and it nice that you got to spend your day in such a pretty place:~)

Cloudia said...

Thanks for the healing companionship!


Aloha from Honolulu

Comfort Spiral

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Riot Kitty said...

That is a sweet message on the bench. So those plants, in other words, are like rabbits?

Lynn said...

Talon -

There were others like that one - one had three names. The whole place is like a memorial really.

Sara -

I just spent about an hour on Saturday and another on Sunday - just having a walk. I wish I could walk there all the time.

Cloudia -

Thank you for coming by! Aloha -

Riot Kitty -

lol! Yes - they multiply. :)

Snaggle Tooth said...

Looks like a lovely way to spend some Memorial Day time. Wish I had the holiday off- I didn't have time or ambition to do anything due to extra work n not feeling good.
Great pics!