Visiting the Schiele Museum of Natural History on Duke Energy’s free Tuesday gave Coleman and I an opportunity to visit The Farm. It was extremely hot and humid so we didn’t stay too long outside before roaming around inside the museum. Below are a few doors we noticed while walking around the Farm.
Doors in the Historic CabinDoor in the Cow Section (Look closely & you might see them) Coleman checks out the “Cow” DoorDoors in the Historic CabinDoors in the Historic CabinDoors in the Sheep areaDoors in the Historic CabinDoor? It lifts up like a door. Doors in the Sheep areaDoors in the Sheep areaDan’s Thursday Doors
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with w. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a lovely weekend filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” KJV
Terri’s The #Flower Hour Cee’s Flower of the Day
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:” I Peter 1:24 KJV
God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant; Lenoir, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
The border of are front yard is landscaped with these plants which to me are filler borders used by landscapers to dress up a yard. I never knew they actually flowered until Coleman discovered the tiny macro flowers started to bloom on a few of the plants.
Coleman is holding the leaves back to ensure that I could accurately photograph them. He always points out new blooms to me asking me to take a picture. If he hadn’t shown it to me I probably never would’ve noticed them.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia. North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Take time to admire the little things in life. Admire the beautiful flowers and how they bloom. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Brian from Bushboys Worldhosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating.
Here are The rules: 1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken. 2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate. 3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do 4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments 5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard
They may look inviting to nibble on, but highly not recommended as the berries and leaves are poisonous to both humans and pets.
Wild Privet is a hardy fast-growing shrub with dense foliage, fragrant white flowers, and black berries. It grows along an embankment along the side of the road (this one in Cramerton). It is considered invasive escaping cultivation and forming dense thickets, outcompeting native plants.
The flowers of the Wild Privet are a nectar source for bees and pollinators. The berries (it’s fruit) are eaten y birds. The shrub provides cover for small animals.
Location: S.Main St.; Old Town; Riverside Community; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Enjoy nature’s beauty. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.
Back in 2024 the City of Gastonia ran buses to help people get around the city. Unfortunately, (at least for us) Gastonia discontinued the bus service. Now it is much harder to get around the city unless we are able to borrow my daughter’s car which isn’t too often.
Coleman and I used to travel on the city buses several times a week to go hiking at various locations around the city. Today, I decided on our free week (your choice) to share one of our adventures traveling by city transit and on foot.
View from the front bus window Pulling into the YMCAWaiting on the bus to go home A paved trail in Lineberger Park Downtown GastoniaView from the YMCA Bus stop Downtown Gastonia as seen from the busThe Road where we waited for the busColeman waiting for the busGazing at the YMCA building CWWC Cee’s Which Way Challenge #Your Choice Week 2
** Next week I’ll share where we went via the transit system and what we saw along the trails.
Click on each image to enlarge.
Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.
For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.
Sarah from Travel with Meis the host for this week’s themed Monochrome Madness challenge. She has chosen a theme of Numbers (not quantity, but actual numbers) we see all around us in the places we wander around and through in our daily lives.
God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Before get into our adventures let me tell you that one of the reasons we went on our adventure was to give Coleman a special outing before his birthday (today’s his birthday). Coleman turned Seven (7). The first gallery of images show Coleman Pulling Up a Seat while waiting for the Wagon Ride.
Happy 7th Birthday Coleman!
This next gallery depicts Coleman feeding some of the Exotic Animals that came alongside the Wagon we were riding on during our Safari adventure around the Lazy 5 Ranch.
Coleman Feeds Exotic Animals at Lazy 5 Ranch
The last gallery illustrates Coleman feeding Giraffes during the Safari Wagon Ride plus showing a bit more of the Wagon.
Coleman Feeding the Giraffes on a stop during the Wagon Ride at Lazy 5 Ranch
This week is a free week for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness; instead of following her lead on Profusion I am combining my Monochrome Madness post with the Lens-Artist Photo Challenge’s theme of Adventures. I’m sharing a few Black and White images of our Adventures at the Lazy 5 Ranch.
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Location: Lazy 5 Ranch; Mooresville, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s I’m allowing y’all to choose your own Which Ways for this week and next with the theme of CWWC: Any Which Way (Your Choice). The Which Way can be any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.
For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.
When I began preparing this post after last week’s went live I had thought of sharing a hiking adventure Coleman and I had two years ago in 2024. However, best laid plans do change occasionally as did mine for this week.
We had an incident with Coleman this week (I won’t go into details, but prays are appreciated). This is a special week for Coleman so his mom chose to take us on a special adventure up in Mooresville, North Carolina to the Lazy 5 Ranch.
I am sharing a few images of our adventures here with y’all.
Arriving at Lazy 5 Ranch …
Arriving at Lazy 5 Ranch Cee’s Which Way Challenge
The Lazy 5 Ranchis approximately an hour’s drive north of us in the City of Mooresville, North Carolina. It is privately owned and operated by Henry Hampton. It receives no federal or state funding. Henry Hampton has been raising exotic animals for over 50 years. He started out with the exotic animals at his own home and allowed school groups to visit viewing the animals from the opposite side of the fence.
Exotic animals follow the Wagon Wagon HorseColeman feeding an ElandScotch Highland Cattle A Variety of Exotic animals Gazing up the hillLlamaGiraffesCee’s Which Way Challenge Exotic Animals at Lazy 5 Ranch
In May of 1993, Mr. Hampton’s dream became a reality and The Lazy 5 Ranch officially opened. It opened with just five (5) staff people and only two (2) operating wagons. We chose to have a Wagon Ride with the driver commenting on the animals we were seeing instructing everyone to remain seated as long as the Wagon was moving. We could move around or stand to take pictures when the wagon was stopped.
EmusOur Wagon Driver & Horses Axis Deer & Vietnamese Pot-bellied PigsWagon Horse Our Wagon Horses Wagons Only signNilgaiThe Exotic Animals roam the pathways Coleman after we left the wagon Our Wagon Ride Plus Exotic Animals We Saw Cee’s Which Way Challenge
The Lazy 5 Ranch has grown tremendously since its beginning with over 600 animals from six (6) continents. The animals can be viewed everyday all year long by horse drawn wagon or from your own personal vehicle while traveling along a 3 1/2 mile safari ride. As you can see, I have only shared a fraction of what we saw on our adventure visiting the Ranch.
Click on each image to enlarge.
Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.
For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.
Interesting Fact: Seven Eastern States in America call the Cardinal their state bird. They are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
I managed to locate a few Purple images and are shown below …
Purple Camping Chair at Andrew Jackson State Park Coleman with my Purple hiking stick Coleman with my Purple hiking stickPurple board in a maze at The Schiele Museum of Natural History’s Nature Trail Ripley’s Aquarium Myrtle Beach, SCRipley’s Aquarium Myrtle Beach, SCPurple Butterfly Bush Flower Daniel Stowe Conservancy Stokesia laevis Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Purple Butterfly Bush Flower Daniel Stowe ConservancyCatawba Crape Myrtle: Pure Purple Elegance DSBGDendrobium Orchid Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart)Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge Dan’s CFFC The Crayola Box of 8 – Purple
God Bless. Have a lovely week. Enjoy a walk/hike if possible. Keep Cool. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome! This week I’m continuing with sharing various benches and chairs at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. It is still extremely hot and humid here in our region of North Carolina. Here are a few more benches and chairs that are scattered here and there around the Gardens.
Here are my entries for this week …
#PullUpaSeat #DanielStoweConservancy Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Last week I shared the entrance Doors to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; this week I sharing Doors within the Gardens.
Door leading to the Gardens Don’t recall offhand what this was used called William H. Williamson, III Orchid Conservatory William H. Williamson, III Orchid ConservatoryColeman approaching the William H. Williamson, III Orchid ConservatoryDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden Dan’s Thursday Doors
Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with w. I appreciate y’all very much.
Debbie with Travel with Intent has selected the word Bicoloured for this week’s One Word Sunday theme. When I first saw the term Bicoloured, I thought of duotoned images not two distinct colours or shades. Hence the last images has both Bicoloured and Duotoned.
Floral Examples …
One …
Yellow and Orange Day-lilies
Two …
Pink and White Phalaenopsis Aka Moth Orchids
Duotoned vs. Bicoloured …
One Word Sunday (OWS) Light blue and brown duotone colorization of the Prairie Castle Playground’s Net Tunnel.
Natural light brown and Black are the colours of the Net Tunnel which is made from thick sturdy rope as part of the Prairie Castle Playground inside Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; 3-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Admire the Flowers. Be observant of the amazingly beautiful colours found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This young fellow here was in a clear enclosed container held by one of the volunteers inside the Butterfly Bungalow at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (Daniel Stowe Conservancy). She said he was playing dead, but very much alive.
Who’s Harebrained idea was it to come here? It is blazing hot in this extreme heat. Why would anyone think a Harebrained idea like this was alright to leave an air conditioned building to walk around sweating would be fun?
Yesterday’s temperature was 90°F with a heat index of 98°F. Not the recommended temps for walking or hiking outdoors. I asked earlier who had the Harebrained idea to go spend time outside in this heatwave. Where did we go?
Coleman and I were sick and tired or being cooped up indoors. We had been avoiding going out into the extreme hot weather we’ve been experiencing. A person go only take so much of being trapped indoors before anxiety attacks. My daughter (having a day off) suggested Coleman and I go out and visit the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. So that’s who suggested the Harebrained idea of leaving air conditioning and visiting the Stowe Gardens.
This are the entrance doors to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden …
Entrance Doors to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Belmont, NC
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with w. I appreciate y’all very much.
It was another extremely hot and humid day in the Carolinas. Despite the heat, Coleman and I ventured out to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden to check out the new additions (more on that later), the flowers in bloom, and the Butterfly Bungalow (in a future post).
This is the pathway where we began our adventure towards the Gardens and the Butterfly Bungalow.
Coleman in the Shadows at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.
God Bless. Have a lovely week. Enjoy a walk/hike if possible. Keep Cool. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden; Columbia, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Walmart Supercenter Parking Lot; Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Hope you’re having a great weekend. Have a wonderful week ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Haigler Loop; Lake Haigler; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina. USA
God Bless. Stay Cool. Have safe and Happy 4th! Happy Birthday America! Have a fantastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Wishing it wasn’t extremely hot this year with temperatures in the mid to high 90’s (99°F today) and a heat advisory index ranging up to 109°F. The Weather Service states poor weather weather conditions for hiking, running, cycling, and basically for all outdoor activities.
Lake Haigler by the Canoe Access
Reflecting back to Four years ago (7/03) when Coleman and I were enjoying a long relaxing hiking adventure along Haigler Loop, North Steele Creek and Muscadine Trails at Anne Springs Close Greenway. The Reflections in Lake Haigler are strikingly stunning with their beautiful colours.
Location: Lake Haigler; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Happy 4th of July! Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s theme for the Which Way Challenge is (CWWC): Any Which Way Along a Dirt Trail, Dirt Pathway, or Dirt Road (aka with Brown). The Which Way can be Any Which Way you choose in your along any Dirt Trail, Dirt Pathway, Dirt Road (aka with Brown) as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.
Location: Dogwood Trail; Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Next Week’s theme: Which way Challenge (CWWC): Any Which Way with the colours of Brown and/orBlack[07.10.2026]
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; Apple iPhone 13 Pro; Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Admire them and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I’m a few days behind, lots of stuff going on right now. I started this on time, but needed time to ponder over my thoughts and reflect on Debbie’s One Word Sunday choice of Inspiredfor this week. I may be taking a different approach than some of you in that my train of thought is based on what inspires me.
“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.”
— Aristotle
Quote by Anne Springs Close
As some of you may realize, Coleman and I enjoy (if not thrive) in nature. Nature inspires me to relax, reevaluate, and reflect on my life. It inspires me to strive for peace and calmness in my everyday life. Nature’s Beauty and Stunning Views inspire me to capture it to preserve the memories which I love sharing with others.
“I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”
— Anne Frank
The Jane Spratt McColl Wildflower Meadow A Dedicated Native Habitat Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, South Carolina
The core inspiration for the Jane Spratt McColl Wildflower Meadow is based on a lifelong friendship, native roots, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
The Wildflower Meadow was designed with the follow key elements:
The lifelong friendship between York County native Jane Spratt McColl and the preserve’s namesake, Anne Springs Close.
The garden was designed to mimic the historical, untamed Piedmont prairies that once covered parts of the Carolinas.
A primary ecological catalyst was creating a controlled habitat specifically optimized to save the Schweinitz’s sunflower, an endangered species endemic exclusively to the Piedmont region of the Carolinas.
The physical layout includes the Path of Honor. It was inspired by a desire to let community members permanently weave their own stories into the landscape. Visitors can dedicate plantings to loved ones, transforming the conservation project into a living memorial.
“To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Coleman in the Walkway of the Wildflower Meadow
“May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day.”
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Greenway Gateway; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Commune with Nature. Be inspired by its beauty, serenity. and peacefulness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Sun’s Rays Shining on the Water Gulf of Mexico Eclipse Sun’s Bright Rays Myrtle Beach, SCFireworks Brightly Bursting the Night Skies Cramerton, NCColeman Sweating in the Hot Sun Cramerton, NCSun’s Glistening Light at Murrells Inlet, SCSky or Water? Using a Star Filter Gastonia, NCSparkling Fireworks at Myrtle Beach, SC
Cameras: Apple 14 Pro Max; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Canon EOS Rebel T3i, and Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.
Locations: As stated above.
God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.
God Bless. Spread love ❤️ around for all to see. Have a great weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Brian from Bushboys Worldhosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating.
Here are The rules: 1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken. 2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate. 3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do 4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments 5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard
Here are my contributions …
From my Canon EOS T7 (2000D):
Gastonia burgei, skeleton of an herbivorous ankylosaurian dinosaur at The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, NC
The Cave Bear is an extinct species which lived in Europe and Asia approximately 27,000 years ago. It is an early relative to many bears living in North America. Cave Bears are a type of ursine bear.
The Ursine group includes the brown, grizzly, Kodiak, polar, and black bears. All these bears originally lived in Europe and Asia before traveling across a land bridge during the Pliocene time period.
Ursus spelaeus The Cave Bear
A Cave Bear’s weight possibly ranged from 880 to 2,200 pounds. The largest of these would be comparable in size to today’s polar bears.
The Cave Bear skeleton in The Schiele Museum of Natural History comes quite a distance from the Ural Mountains in Russia. If you ever get the opportunity to visit The Schiele Museum come and say hello to The Cave Bear … don’t worry he won’t bite you.
Location: South Fork Park; McAdenville, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. May you have clear skies, warm hearts, and an abundance of happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Sophia Ruthann is growing, learning, increasing in her abilities to move about via crawling, climbing, and standing all at just six (6) months of age. She shows emotion and determination in going after what she wants.
When she’s on her mat on the floor she crawls over to her big brother (aka Coleman). When she’s hungry, if I’m in the kitchen, she crawls into the kitchen as if saying where’s my food.
Besides her bottle of formula mixed with rice cereal she also eats various teething biscuits (she has 2 teeth now), oatmeal, baby food jars of fruit and vegetables as well as vegetables I purée for her. She enjoys gripping food with her hands like her teething biscuits, Melba toast, strips of Vienna sausage, as well as holding spoons while I feed her.
Sophia Ruthann playing with Little Tikes Blocks in a Box
She plays with her toys like her teething ball, her Stuffed Stitch, a red toy that was once my eldest son’s toy, and her teething elephant. She climbs from the floor to a lounge chair and then onto the couch, especially if her brother is sitting on the couch.
I just bought her some Little Tikes SoftBlocks that look similar to Lego Duplo Blocks except these are made from food-grade, BPA-free materials, these pliable blocks double as safe teethers and are completely noise-free when knocked over. The other day I was trying to eat while sitting on the lounge chair and she kept standing by it and trying to grab my plate. She had been curious about the box the Blocks came in so I placed her in the box with her new soft blocks. She was thankfully entertained with the simplicity of being in a box and able to play with her soft blocks. I was grateful that, with her entertaining herself, I could enjoy my chicken and roasted vegetables.
Occasionally, when Coleman and I visit The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, we choose to watch one of Planetarium shows it offers for an extra fee. On this particular we decided to pay the extra fee to watch “Back from the Brink: Saved from Extinction”.
Coleman
On the day we visited Planetarium shows were being offered at 11:15 am, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm. The “Back from the Brink: Saved from Extinction” show we chose was scheduled to begin at the 2:30 pm show time. We walked around the natural trail for about 45 minutes then came back inside to wait for the show time.
Here Coleman has Pulled Up a Seat at one of the tables to wait to closer to the scheduled time to line up for the show.
As the months pass by it seems like there’s another plant deciding to bloom sharing its exquisitely alluring beauty for all to see and admire.
Hosta ‘Fragrant Bouquet’ (aka the Plantain Lily)
This variegated foliage plant, I had thought was just an ornamental landscaping element (to me) surprisingly blossomed recently. Coleman said to me, “Take a picture.” So I complied with his request and am sharing a couple with y’all.
Plantain Lilies
The Hosta ‘Fragrant Bouquet’ also referred to as Plantain Lily is a fast growing perennial with variegated foliage and is highly aromatic with its summer blooms. It forms a lush, open mound of heart-shaped, apple-green leaves highlighted by creamy-yellow margins.
It has large trumpet-shaped flowers that range in colour from near-white to pale lilac. The sweet fragrance is said to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, however, I have not seen evidence of that on this plant.
First stage of Blooming Plantain Lily
It is planted next to a hydrangea bush and almost covering it completely as if hidden from view until it began to increase in growth and its blossoms became evident in the summer breeze.
Location: Unity Community; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA
God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Admire them and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
This week’s Ragtag Daily Prompt of Trail fits perfectly into the activities which Coleman and I enjoy the most. This Trail is one we haven’t hiked in a while, but always enjoyed.
The Piedmont Medical Center Trail (a part of the Carolina Thread Trail system) runs adjacent to the Catawba River in Rock Hill/Fort Mill, South Carolina. The header image is of the Catawba River as seen from the Trail on the Rock Hill side.
The Trail on the Rock Hill side of the Catawba River is predominantly a smooth paved surface trail. The Trail on the Fort Mill side of the Catawba River is a natural surface trail. Coleman and I have hiked the Trails on both sides of the Catawba River. Coleman loves to be near the river, as well as in the river, whenever and wherever possible.
Location: Piedmont Medical Center Trail; Carolina Thread Trail; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Hike/Walk along a Trail. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
God Bless. Take time to Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Smell the amazing fragrance of flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Dan from No Facilitieshosts the Fun Foto Challenge at and this week he is asking for our The Crayola Box of 8 – Blue . I have gone into my recent and archive files to see what I could locate to best represent this week’s theme. I will also be sharing Blue Along Trails as part of Friday’s CWWC post (Stay tuned to more Blue and feel free to share your blue with Cee’s Which Way Challenge as well as Dan’s CFFC challenge this week.
Here are my entries …
Robinwood Lake Warlick YMCA Gastonia, NCBlue Mask 2020 Abilene, TxColeman sliding at Warlick YMCA Gastonia, NCColeman Trekker Loop Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCThe Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium Gastonia, NCColeman on Trail Warlick YMCA Gastonia, NCColeman on Trail Warlick YMCA Gastonia, NCCommelina communis, aka Asiatic dayflowerAmerican Airlines Flying through the Blue Skies Blue American Agave Plant Abilene, TXColeman playing in sand Warlick YMCA Gastonia, NCRobinwood Lake Warlick YMCA Gastonia, NCEarly Explorers The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia. NCThe Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium Gastonia, NCBlue Leisure Suit My dad and Pawpaw Great Falls, South Carolina
Blue Glove made into a Balloon The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia. NCLake Crandall AnneSprings Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCCee’s Fun Foto Challenge Dan’s CFFC -Blue
God Bless. Enjoy your week. May it be filled with love, joy, laughter, and lots of fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
I’m joining Terri Webster Schrandtin her new Sunday Stills theme of Animal of the Month. This challenge will be for posting photos of an Animal, Bird, insect, reptile or other Creature of the Month. This month she also has a subtheme of Wild. I am focusing my images on Reptiles in the Wild areas of the Southeastern United States (mainly the Carolinas).
Pond Slider The Pond The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, NCEastern Spiny Softshell TurtleBrunswick, Georgia Pond Sliders South Fork Catawba River Goat Island Park and Greenway Cramerton, NCRed-eared SliderSouth Fork Catawba River Goat Island Park and Greenway Cramerton, NCRed-eared Slider South Fork Catawba River Goat Island Park and Greenway Cramerton, NCCommon Box Turtle Rocky Branch Trail Cramerton, NCPond Sliders Lake Haigler Anne Springs Close Greenway Fort Mill, SCPond Sliders, Red-eared Slider, Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles, and Common Box Turtle
God Bless. Have an adventurous week. Stay Cool. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
On a recent visit to the Anne Springs Close Greenway Coleman greets a Horse (with owner’s permission) with a gentle petting. Coleman loves to see the horses and pet them. However, it is always best (like we do) to ask the horse’s owner prior to petting a horse.
Coleman Greets a Horse
Coleman loves to see the horses and pet them. However, it is always best (like we do) to ask the horse’s owner prior to petting a horse.
Coleman petting a Horse at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Hike/Walk. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
Location: Catawba River; Catawba Indian Reservation; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA
God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Enjoy your Lovely surroundings. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.
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Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography 