This past weekend Mr. B, Miss Maggie and I made a two and a half hour trek to Greenville, S.C. to see “The Great Monga” for Mother’s Day. My nephew coined this name when he was a wee one, and I think that I’m the only one who still calls my mother-in-law “Monga”. To me it’s so symbolic of childhood and how names are bestowed upon the ones we love because our young minds hear one thing and our mouths speak another. One of the foster children that we frequently watch had asked me last week what my favorite vegetable was and I said ”potatoes”, she also calls me Mama, but now I am known as Ma-tato, and quite frankly the nickname is so endearing that I hope it never changes.
So when I was in South Carolina, I went for a long nature walk around the Lake at Furman University whose gardens continue to expand into the most spectacular botanical lushness, from the Rose Garden, Cottage Garden to the Japanese garden. Miss Maggie (our beagle extraordinaire) explored, while I snapped some pics, sat on a bench and just enjoyed the glorious moment of watching dusk fall over the lake. So here is just a sampling of the pics I took of the amazing gardens at Furman University.
The Lake at Furman…
The famous clock tower off in the distance just before the sun was about to set…
A pathway located in the Rose Garden leading to a gazebo ..a perfect setting for an evening wedding or vow renewals, perhaps (hint, hint)?
The focal point of the Rose Garden…which looks like it belongs on a centuries old estate in England..
Strolling through the cottage garden…for a moment I could have sworn I stumbled into a secret English garden .
I hate to even admit how I took this photo which overlooks the reflecting pool in the Cottage Garden, but it involved climbing over a fence, scaling a wall, and a few other stunts that might put me in the same league as James Bond…but it was so worth it.
A bronze statue of a young girl on whose outstretched hand rested a butterfly…a reminder that there is beauty in all things.
A close-up of of what could be the largest Magnolia blossom I have ever seen… it was the only blossom on a large old tree located in the Cottage Garden.
Is this Giverny? No, it’s actually the Japanese Garden at Furman. So peaceful…and the perfect place for some meditation…
I hope that some of these photos inspire you to get outside and plant an amazing garden, or at least visit one. Since I just finished my photography class I have had so much fun just experimenting with my new camera (although I’ve had more misses than hits). But, like everything else practice makes perfect (at least that’s what I’m hoping).
When I was in Sweden with my Mom a few years ago we had an opportunity to visit the childhood home and gardens of Hans Christian Andersen, I didn’t bring back many momentos of that trip other than lots of pictures, and some really great memories. But, I did buy a small fridge magnet that sums up life perfectly…
“Just living is not enough, one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.”-H.C. Andersen
All photos are the property of Vicki Bolick and reproduction is prohibited without express permission.