On the Road to Shangri La
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Leaving a few minutes early even....
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Fair warning, this was a garden trip, therefore this is mainly a photo tour, but you know I can't keep my big mouth shut totally.
This time last year Pat and I had spent a week in Vicksburg, Mississippi and had planned on stopping in southern Louisiana for a couple of days and a day in Orange, Texas then meandering home. Those plans were washed away by the most gigantic rainstorm we had ever had the privilege (choke) of driving in. We cancelled our reservations and headed straight home at a snails pace down Interstate 10 hoping to keep tail lights of the car in front of us in our sight because we couldn't see anything else. So we decided to make a quick trip to finish off our aborted trip last year. The first stop was at Davy Dogwood Park in Palestine. This actually added a good two or three hours to our trip, but they are so beautiful we thought it would be worth it. WRONG. The dogwoods had all bloomed out and we only saw a couple of trees still in bloom. The drive through the park is lovely however.We had not even hit the highway before we had to stop for a train...there is something about me and trains. I am the world's largest train magnet!
On for our traditional breakfast - sausage biscuit for each of us, tea for me and coffee for her. It is how we start most of our travels.
With the fast food economy and transportation issues settled we headed on down the road to Davy Dogwood. As I said the drive is lovely and we did see a couple of blooms. Just not enough for this bloom loving fool, guess we will have to try again next year.
Since we had spent so much time trying to see the dogwoods, we put off Shangri La until the next day and settled in for a good night's sleep instead. OK OK, for a glass or two of wine and then a good night's sleep. We needed it for the gardens...wow...
First stop was the butterfly house, led by our sweet volunteer Floy who went in with us, but then deserted us to get back to her official post.
There were several "babies" but most were way down in the foliage and hard to photograph.
Most of the butterflies were still in bed, but a few of the Zebras were fluttering around.
From the butterfly house we went into the orchid house. Unfortunately, due to the flooding the past couple of weeks, the gardens had been closed (reopened the morning we were there) and the lizards dined on the butterflies in the orchid house.
The Orchid House
Then it was off to see the grounds.
The place was over run with BUGS!
Actually it was an exhibit by David Rogers that is running from March 5 through May 28. These ants were doing what ants do best, walking in single file looking for a picnic to crash.
His work is beautiful.
Before we stroll through the gardens, have a seat and let me tell you the garden's story.
The gardens are funded through the Nelda C. and H. J. Lutcher Stark Foundation. H.J. Lutcher Stark developed the gardens 60 years ago. His mission was to educate and enrich the lives of the people of southeast Texas. I can't remember all the details (of course) but the gardens were closed for 50 years due to damage, probably by a hurricane. Finally they decided to rebuild it and had the plans drawn up and then Hurricane Rita came along. At least they hadn't started building, and when they did they were able to reopen the gardens in 2008 despite Hurricane Ike.
The garden sits on 252 acres and includes a beaver pond, a heronry with a bird blind, over 300 species of plants, and bat houses. There are four sculpture rooms and 5 formal rooms. And from personal observation I can tell you the whole 252 acres is immaculately kept.
So let's see some of those 300 species of plants.....
Wish I could tell you what all these pretty flowers were, but I just don't know. I love them and admire them but totally ignorant as to names. Well I do know an azalea when I see one, and the sign said the pretty pink blossoms on the branch are Mock Satsuma Orange trees. Little bitty fellas.
To get to the Heronry you have to go under this guy....I can think of one friend that lives in Seattle that might want to scroll quickly by....love you Carmie! In fact the file name is Carmies Nightmare.
Once you get past this body snatching carnivore and down the path, the manicured and formal gardens disappear and you are in another world. Just as beautiful but a bit more untamed.
on down the path a bit and we started to see nests....
Not sure what was with the one on the bottom, he was passed out cold I guess, never moved.
Oh what I would have given for a good lonnnnng zoom lens, just not the price of one.
The bouncers of the Heronry.
On the path to the Heronry we spotted another of David Roger's creations. He was peeking over the bushes at us.
Being the mighty bug hunters we are (and because the path led that way) we rounded the corner and got to see the full Monty. I cropped out his head to show you the gorgeous work Mr. Rogers does.
Back to the formal gardens and out of the wild.
Lines can be as beautiful as blooms, here is proof.
Azaleas, of course, we are in the south. Yards, gardens, roadways were ablaze with every color of Azalea known to man.
RUN!!!!! This is an Assassin Bug...he will bite you in the assassin!
A hidden treasure
Two of my favorite things, new growth and backlighting.
The terraced gardens are filled with these antique sugar kettles that Mr. Stark collected. They were originally used on plantations for the evaporation of cane juice and the crystallization of sugar.
With my unnatural fear of "legless lizards" this guy gave me a start as he was scratching around in the undergrowth. Was sure a relief when I saw it was feathered with two legs!
Shangria La Gardens is not just a beautiful place to wander around, it is also a learning experience for the children of the area. There is a special place for them to plant crops (which are donated to local food banks), build bugs, and otherwise interact with nature. Someone that works in the children's area does have a sense of humor. It is Mr. McGregor's garden, made up of several small garden plots, and even has a scarecrow.
and....if the scarecrow doesn't quite do the job then the scarelizard will take over. Nobody, but nobody gets past the scarelizard.
Time to hit the road, past some more of David Roger's work, metal sculptures, and a long stand of trees all in a row.
There were milk crates set up with different sized pinecones and other materials, all picked up on the grounds. Pat is holding one of the pinecones used for the body of the bug, or maybe for a bug with a fat head...or wherever your imagination might take you.
Run Carmie Run!!!!
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