My Town {Dallas Arboretum}

Visions of the Dallas Arboretum first began in the early 1930s,

but it took nearly six decades before their gates opened.

 

Every year, for the last 10 years,

we have said that would be the year we would get around to going.

 It took us awhile, but last year was finally that year.

 

In October, when our nephew and his little family came for a visit,

we decided that it would be the perfect time to go to

the Dallas Arboretum, as the Chihuly exhibit was going on.

 

We arrived just at dusk, so as we walked about the grounds and the sun went down

the sculptures were lit up and glowed beautifully.

 

It was really cool.

Even the youngest of our party,

the seven month old,

enjoyed it.

 

The gardens themselves were gorgeous

and we will definitely be visiting several times a year from here on out.

 

I'm really looking forward to spring and Dallas Blooms,

as well as, going for a few concerts throughout

spring and summer.

 

Good times just waiting to be had.

 

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All photos Farmboy Photography

 



A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose {Part I}

I've lived in Texas all my life... well, with the exception of the first four years of my life.  But that time doesn't really count... I barely remember it.  I'm a Texan and proud to be.

 

Texas is a big state.

{That was a total Texan thing to say- we state the obvious.}

 

 

Speaking of size, have you seen the movie Bernie?  It's set in east Texas and is such a terrible story as far as what happens because it's a true story, but to be honest, it's hilarious because it's SO dead spot on.

One of our favorite characters described Texas as such....

 

"...Texas, which could be five different states, actually.  You got your west Texas out there with a bunch of flat ranches.  Up north ya got the Dallas snobs with their Mercedes.  And then you got Houston, the carcinogenic coast is what I like to call it, all the way up to Louisiana.  Then down south, San Antonio, uh that's where the Tex meets the Mex... like the food.  And then in central Texas ya got "the people's republic of Austin", with a bunch of hairy legged women and those liberal fruitcakes.  Of course I left out the panhandle... a lot of people do, but... Carthage, this is where the South begins.  This is life behind the "pine curtain" and truth be known, it's a good place.  Carthage is in east Texas and it's totally different than the rest of Texas."

 

Hahahahaha... Love it!

{here's a link if you want to watch that bit}

 

 

I kinda got off course there, but not really because it's east Texas I want to tell you about.

 

When the Farmboy and I met, both fairly new divorcees, I was living back in Dallas and he was living in the "ugly, little pink house", as I liked to call it, out in east Texas.

 

 

We dated for over a year and then were engaged for just over another year.

It was a long distance relationship, which included high phone bills and lots of driving the 7 hour round trip, for each of us.

 

 

Tyler, Texas is located about halfway in between from where each of us were living.

 

I've been out there a number of times and the Farmboy, well he had been living out in east Texas for about 20 years or so and had actually lived in Tyler for awhile.

 

 

Tyler is known as "America's Rose Capital" and has an annual rose festival.

It's something I've always wanted to go to, but haven't.  The Farmboy, even having lived in the town, has never been either.

And quite frankly, to my dismay, probably never will.

 

 

So it was with total glee that I, when my best pal Cheryl suggested a girl's weekend during Rose Festival, immediately jumped right on board with that idea.

 

 

We spent two days smelling roses, oohing and ahhing over the Rose Court gowns and giggling.

We had such a fun time, that I think we've decided to make it an annual girl's weekend trip.

 

 

These are just a very few of the photos I took of the Tyler Rose Garden.

At the gardens, on the second day, they held the Rose Queen's Tea.  Which was fantastic, because we got to see all of the Rose Court costumes up close and personal and take photos of the girls, which we weren't allowed to do during the Coronation of the Rose Queen the day before.

 

 

And those photos, I will share with you next time.

I have never seen so many sequins in one place at one time.

 

Till then, have a beautiful Monday.

 

Morning, After the Rain

We step outside, coffee in hand, to see what the storm has brought us.


The Ferns have unfurled their fronds, to drink it in.


The Ivy feels energized and ready for a day of spreading out its trailing fingers.


The Maple is grateful. It knows the rain will help it grow tall and strong.


Thankfully, the Crepe Myrtle has plenty of frilly petals…


because many have been strewn across the lawn, like faerie confetti.


This prettily blooming weed is thrilled that we have yet to pluck her from the ground and is happy for the rain. For now, she can spend the day making more lovely little blooms to ensure her a place among the garden flowers.


The Roses drink deeply of the rain sodden soil, ready to burst forth in glory once again.


The Lambs Ears take it all in stride. Regardless that they may look like a pack of wet puppies for the moment, they know how much we adore them.


And speaking of…


The Old Beast loves it when Mother Nature blows fresh, new scents in on the breeze, just for her to sniff.

8 Years = Bronze

But neither of us could think of anything made of bronze that we may have wanted to celebrate our anniversary with. So we went to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to gaze upon bronze statuary instead.

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Sorry for the long post, but just one last thing.
I have been thinking about Friday's Flowers and then had an inquiry about it, so I thought I would throw this out there.
If you are interested in joining me for Friday's Flowers and posting your own flower photo, then please leave a comment on this post with your blog link or email me with your link and I will add it to my Friday's Flowers post this week.

See you Friday!

Grandma's Roses

I think it was last weekend, (not quite sure, as I've been lost in the 18th century for the last two weeks) I took a little walk around my garden. And I was so excited to see sweet little buds on my grandma's rose bush.


When my parents decided to move to their paradise island, my dad dug up one of the rose bushes in his garden. This rose has been planted three times now. My dad planted it in my grandmother's garden in Illinois. Years later, my grandmother passed away. The rose remained in her garden for a few more years. When my grandfather passed away, my dad dug it up and brought it to Texas to bloom in his garden. So of course, it only seemed right that when they sold the house, the rose should come to me. It didn't bloom last year and I was worried that it wouldn't make another transition, but it has. And it truly makes my heart happy.... at the moment it is covered in beautiful blooms.


Here are a few other pretties I found, while walking the garden.



This rose bush has exploded!




Coral Honeysuckle and Indian Hawthorn.





The Columbine is about to bloom.






This was a shocker to see... strawberries. I planted these in a pot last year and didn't get to pick a single berry off of it, because of either the squirrels or rabbits. Of course, it could have been E... never could keep him out of the strawberry patch when he was little! Anyway, I really didn't think it had survived the winter.



So about that 18th century thing... I'm hoping to post about it in the next few days. So excited!