Southern Exposure: Autumn at its Finest

You want to talk crazy week? The traumatic congressional hearings, trip anxiety (what am I forgetting?!) and house-cleaning anxiety, too, so Jan at least has a place to hang or place clothes, put food in the fridge and not have Tupperware fall on her head when she opens the cupboard. So what could put me in a mood of lovely Zen?

Southern Exposure!

I will be going three times this fall but the other trips aren't until mid-and-late November. So even though it was raining, I had to visit the gardens, so walk along with me!

I think gardens tend to look more lovely in September than almost any other month. There is still loads of color and pretty much everything is in bloom.

This post will focus on the gardens. The next post will look at what we did -- and it wasn't a project!

When I come here, it's like I truly walked into another land. All the tension and stress seems to fall away, I breathe deeply and smell blooms as I pass and the warm rain-smell of this particular day. I am at total peace.

While Kate and Jan warmed themselves on this cool, rainy evening inside, I had to visit the greenhouse -- one of my favorite spots.

They always do something fun with their vintage typewriter and I couldn't resist this!

The gazebo has been the site of many a Southern Exposure wedding. Imagine walking down this path and either standing in front as you take your vows...

Or being within and looking out.

Of course, their lighting is always just perfect. I loved walking under that lighted arch as we moved from one station to another for our evening's activities -- but that's the next post!

Their use of statuary is abundant...

...and always makes me smile.

The hydrangeas? Enormous!

Birdhouses dot the landscape...

...and should you feel like a bit of a contemplative rest (let's stop here for a journal entry or a sketch! Well, maybe not today...), you'll find benches or even cozy chairs.

Autumn is coming to my special place.

But I'll be back. Just in time for holiday projects! Now, I'd better get back to cleaning out the dresser drawers for Jan! My dresser below? I wish!

Next post, we'll check out the inside!