This July “Seasons” will be the theme for the entire month with a different season featured each week. This week the challenge is “Spring”. For me, spring is best represented by the vibrant colors of flowers.
Here in coastal Georgia I know it is spring when the azaleas, dogwoods and fruit trees are blooming.
Spring AzaleasSpring Dogwood BloomPeach Blossoms in Georgia
Spring is a beautiful time for a road trip. In Texas, fields are filled with the bluebonnets and other brightly colored wildflowers.
Bluebonnets near Stonewall, TexasBoots and Bluebonnets in TexasBluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush along Park Road 4
The spring blossoms in the Blue Ridge Mountains add bright colors to the landscape.
Flame Azaleas on the Blue Ridge ParkwayWild Rhododendron along the Blue Ridge ParkwayEastern Redbud at rest area in Western North Carolina
The calendar said February but the flowers said spring!
As we wandered along the trails of Silver Springs State Park and O’Leno State park in north Florida this February, wildflowers added a pop of color to the lush green forest around us.
Wild Azaleas at O’Leno State Park, FL
Carolina Jasmine along the swamp trail in Silver Springs State Park
Pickerel Weed in the Silver River
Wild Dogwood blooms in O’Leno State Park
Can you identify this Florida Wildflower seen near the Ichetucknee River?
The Wild Dogwoods were in full bloom at O’Leno State Park
It’s been two years since our last visit to Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs. During that stay we did a lot of exploring around the park, the town of White Springs, and nearby Big Shoals State Park. I posted about those adventures at Way Down upon the Suwannee River.
We returned to the park this February. The carillon tower is a focal point in the park and one of my favorite things about being there is hearing the the bells from the carillon chime on the quarter hour and hearing Stephen Foster’s music throughout the day. Unfortunately, the carillon wasn’t working this year.
The carillon at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
We didn’t visit the museum on this trip but there are interesting exhibits about Stephen Foster and his many songs.
Stephen Foster Museum
Even though it was only February there were some beautiful spring blooms. Gotta love Florida!
Dogwoods blooming at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
Spring came early
February Azaleas blooming in White Springs
A splash of color blooming in February
One day we took a drive to Suwanee River State Park near Live Oak to check it out. High on the banks above the Suwanee River, we enjoyed a walk on an easy trail to the confluence of the Suwanee and Withlacoochee Rivers. Beside the trail were relics from riverboats that once traveled up and down the river.
Relic from old steamboat
Relic from old steamboat
Relic from old steamboat
We enjoyed wonderful views from an overlook at the confluence of the two rivers.
Confluence of Suwanee and Withlacoochee Rivers
Bridges over the Suwanee River
Withlacoochee River
After our walk we sat on a wooden swing overlooking the Suwanee River enjoying a picnic lunch. Doesn’t get much better than that.
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state in my series is
North Carolina
North Carolina became the 12th state on November 21, 1789. The capital is Raleigh.
From the Great Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks, there is a lot to explore in North Carolina. Waterfalls and beaches, hikes and scenic drives, mountains and racetracks, wildlife and wildflowers – these are just a few of the things that make North Carolina memorable.
Back before our RVing days we wandered around the Outer Banks seeing the lighthouses and beaches, visiting the Wright Brothers Monument where they took their first flight, and taking the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. Another ferry took us from Ocracoke back to the mainland where we visited Bath where the pirate Blackbeard once lived.
Hatterras Light
Ocracoke Lighthouse, NC
Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC
Wright Brothers Memorial
Ocracoke Island Ferry
Hatterras Beach
If you love waterfalls, you won’t be disappointed in North Carolina.
Waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Dry Falls
Tom Branch Falls
Juney Whank Falls
It doesn’t get any better than a campsite with a beautiful view. Our campsite at Campfire Lodgings in Asheville was perfect for hanging out after hiking or touring the fabulous Biltmore Estate.
Blondie taking a break at our campsite at Campfire Lodgings in Asheville
Andy and Opie on the water tower in Mount Airy, NC
Downtown Mount Airy, NC
We ended our tour of the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the winner’s circle.
In the Winner’s Circle at Charlotte Motor Speedway
One of the hikes we made was on Whiteside Mountain in the Nantahala National Forest.
Whiteside Mountain in Nantahala National Forest
Whether it’s the leaves showing their fall colors or the flowers showing their brilliant blooms, the vibrant colors of the North Carolina mountains change with the seasons.
Fall Colors on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Tiger Lilys at Mabry Mill
Rhododendrons along the Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina Wildflower
Swallowtail and Wildflowers
Jewel Weed
Rhododendrons
We explored Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mingus Mill in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park near Cherokee.
Mabry Mill, the most photographed spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Mingus Mill in Great Smokey Mountains National Park
And if it’s wildlife you’re looking for, try visiting in the fall where you might see the bugling elk in Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
Bull Elk Bugling in Cataloochee Valley
Bull Elk in Cataloochee Valley
Two young male elk lock antlers in Cataloochee Valley
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
Nebraska
Nebraska became the 37th state on March 1, 1867. The capital is Lincoln.
When I was a child, my family lived in Lincoln, Nebraska for a few years. We moved after I finished the first grade and all I remember is that I walked to school at the end of our street and that it snowed a lot in the winter.
Nebraska is one of the states many people drive through on their way somewhere else and we are among those who did just that. As we drove across the interstate in Nebraska we learned why it is one of the Great Plains states. There were fields of of corn and other crops as far as the eye could see. Road weary after almost two months on the road on our very first cross country RV trip, we stopped for a quick overnight stop at a campground next to the interstate.
As we drove along, fields of sunflowers added color to the green of the crops.
To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: 