Most of the flower beds around our house are planted with drought tolerant plants that can survive the summer heat here in coastal Georgia. On the summers we take off on an RV trip I don’t have to worry too much about these established plants back home.
When we are home for the summer, I like to plant a butterfly garden. This year I added new milkweed, a butterfly bush, zinnias, black eyed susans, purple coneflower, and Mexican Sunflower to attract the hummingbirds and butterflies. With all these blooms I enjoy having cut flowers from the garden.
Black Eyed SusansCut Flowers from the garden
In addition to my flowers I had a small crop of basil, jalapeño peppers and cherry tomatoes. The peppers are still producing but the tomatoes and basil are gone.
Bounty from my little garden
Earlier in the summer we weren’t getting very many butterflies but lately the Gulf Fritillarys and Swallowtails have been visiting the garden regularly.
During the five years I’ve been blogging I’ve posted hundreds of photos. Here are just a few of my all-time favorites .
A pair of Orcas on Columbia Glacier tour from Valdez, AlaskaBlack Bear beside the road in British ColumbiaBull Elk Bugling in Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NCBald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AKWhooping Crane near Goose Island State Park, TexasTrio of Roseate Spoonbills, TexasGreat Egret with chicks, GeorgiaVibrant Monarch Butterfly, GeorgiaDenali, formerly known as Mt. McKinley, as seen from the air, AlaskaWatching for whales in Haines, AlaskaPolychrome Overlook, Denali National Park, AlaskaIce calving on Aialik Glacier on the Kenai Fjords trip from Seward, AlaskaBlue Ridge Parkway, VirginiaDry Falls in the Nantahala National Forest near Highlands, NCTybee Island Light Station 4th of July, GeorgiaSunset at Gulf Islands National Seashore, FloridaDouble Rainbow after a summer storm, my back yard, Georgia
I’ve been digging in the dirt a lot lately trying to get my butterfly garden in shape after flooding from Hurricane Irma killed most of the plants last fall.
A few of the new plants are starting to bloom. The zinnias I planted from seed this winter are bursting with color.
Zinnia
Zinnias
The new milkweed plants attracted their first Monarch of the season this week.
First Monarch sighting of 2018
The hummingbirds and Painted Buntings have been stopping by the feeders.
Painted Bunting
This lizard was trying to drink the hummingbird nectar.
Lizard looking for a snack on one of my hummingbird feeders
Our latest wandering took us on a short trip that was full of excitement. Our first stop was F. D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia’s largest state park, in Pine Mountain. It was the perfect place for us to use as home base for exploring both Callaway Gardens and F.D.R.’s Little White House in Warm Springs.
After driving in the rain on the winding road through the park we arrived at the Visitor’s Center to check in just after a tornado warning had been lifted. Everything was fine in the campground and we set up camp just before another rain shower began.
“Connecting man and nature in a way that benefits both.” – Callaway Gardens Mission
With the sun shining the next morning we drove about 15 minutes from our campsite to Callaway Gardens. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Callaway Gardens opened in 1952. Today, there are many different gardens to explore, a lodge, golf course, swimming beach, and even a zip-line adventure.
Our tour of the gardens began with a stop at the Pioneer Log Cabin. From there we strolled along the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Trail with many Georgia native plants. The Flowering Dogwoods and many other wildflowers displayed their brilliant spring colors.
Pioneer Log Cabin at Callaway Gardens
Flowering Dogwood on Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail at Callaway Gardens
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail at Callaway Gardens
Azalea at Callaway Gardens
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail at Callaway Gardens
Next we walked on the trails to the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center for a look at some tropical butterflies. Butterflies of all sizes, shapes and colors fed on the colorful blossoms and sailed by our heads as they flew from flower to flower.
Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens
Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens
Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens
We learned about some of Georgia’s birds of prey at the Discovery Center. As our guide gave a very informative presentation, two different species of owl and a red tailed hawk flew over our heads during the program.
Juniper the Great Horned Owl at Birds of Prey program
Willow the Barred Owl Birds of Prey demonstration at Callaway Gardens
Red Tailed Hawk Callaway Gardens Birds of Prey Show
We must have just missed the Azaleas at their peak because most of the Azaleas on the Overlook Azalea trail had finished blooming. The Flowering Dogwoods and other trees added color to the landscape.
Callaway Gardens Azalea Trail
Flowering Dogwoods were in bloom at Callaway Gardens
Eastern Redbud at Callaway Gardens
Callaway Gardens Overlook Azalea Trail
Our visit to Callaway Gardens included only a few of the many gardens there. It is a wonderful family destination and bicycles are a popular way to get around the park. There are several restaurants to choose from or you can have a picnic in one of the picnic areas.
Wandering Dawgs 