Dogwood and Azalea Time

It's still March, but our Southern Spring is in full bloom.  There is just nothing prettier than the combination of dogwood and azalea...especially when combined with graceful architecture such as in historic Wake Forest, North Carolina.  What a difference a day makes...beautiful sunshine and blue skies.

The campus of Southeastern Baptist Seminary is looking lovely.

It used to be Wake Forest College, back in the day when Arnold Palmer played golf for the Demon Deacons.

If you are not into pastel shades, azaleas also come in brilliant reds.

This lush green lawn with the dogwood trees and azaleas makes me think of the landscaping at The Masters golf tournament in North Augusta, South Carolina.  That is coming up on April 5.

My own personal back yard is looking inviting.  But, I've got things to do!

Spring Garden Tour

Today I decided to revisit the historic section of Wake Forest and "stop and smell the roses." 

It was not the best time of day for photography, so some of these are a little washed out.  I started this time at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, which is on the former campus of Wake Forest College. 

Like many college campuses, it features lots of brick, grass, and trees.  Magnolias are the most impressive of the stately trees, and they are in bloom now.

 The seminary is celebrating its sixtieth year.

Here is Binkley Chapel, an iconic symbol of Wake Forest.

I like the doors on the Wake Forest Baptist Church, which is on the campus.

From there, Kasey and I walked up Main Street in the historic district.

My eye was drawn to the lovely gardens, gates, and bowers.

How is this for Southern hospitality?

The scent of roses and honeysuckle is in the air.

The herb garden at the Wake Forest College Birthplace Museum is looking fine.

I think this shrub is an oak-leaf hydrangea, a plant I have always wanted to acquire.

I enjoyed all the spring flowers.

Here is a pretty mailbox covered with purple clematis on my very own street.

My lime-green hosta have popped up, and have not yet been attacked by slugs or snails.

And the honeysuckle at the edge of the woods is intoxicating with its sweet fragrance.

It is hard to stay inside and do anything!

Historic Wake Forest, North Carolina

After two days of cold rain, the sun finally came out this morning.  I was itching to get outside and see some beautiful spring flowers.  The bad part about an early spring is that sometimes the flowers bloom when it is too cold to be outside and enjoy the beauty.  Today I decided we would visit some of the loveliest yards in town.  I packed Kasey in the car for the short ride to North Main Street, the historic section of Wake Forest. 

Most southern towns have a few grand mansions, perhaps owned at one time by the local kings of industry.  Wake Forest has a virtual parade of stately mansions, once owned mostly by professors at Wake Forest College.  Actually, the college was lured by Reynolds money to move to Winston-Salem, NC, back in the fifties.  The campus is now the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

We started at the Wake Forest College Birthplace Museum.  The house, known as the Calvin Jones house, has been moved from its original location on campus to a lovely location on North Main.

On the grounds are gardens, benches, and areas for outdoor concerts.  The old well has also been relocated here.

Here is a nice fountain in the herb garden.

This is a very nice herb garden..

Here is the Calvin Jones House from the side.

From there, we headed south toward the campus.  North Main Street has sidewalks and a central median that serves as a garden space.

Here is a peek at the magnificent houses on parade along the street.

The pink tree is a redbud.  Isn't it pretty against the blue sky?

I love this house with the "gingerbread" on the front porch and the white picket fence.

Local legend has it that on Sunday afternoons, the students would visit the professors at their homes and hold spirited debates on their front porches.

This veranda would certainly accommodate quite a few students!

This is one of the most familiar buildings near the college.  For years, it was an ice cream shop known as The Corner.  I heard that it went out of business a few years ago.

If you peek in the window, you will see settings for a tea party.

I enjoyed all the gardens, statuary, artwork, and whimsy along our way.

Candy tuft and dianthus

The iconic Southern camellia

This lovey-dovey young couple in the garden shed made me look twice.

Kasey truly enjoys going for walks in different locations.  I think she prefers the woods and creeks, but she was very well-behaved on the sidewalks.  With all the recent rain, she even had a romp through a lovely big puddle.

I hope you enjoyed taking a walk along Main Street with me!  We will definitely be going back and visiting some side streets in the historic district.