Orton Plantation and Gardens-Part I

Every May, George and I take our beach vacation to Ocean Isle, NC (north of Myrtle Beach). In 2007 while in North Carolina, we drove north to the Wilmington area to visit the Orton Plantation and Gardens. This historic landscape was designed around the 1735 mansion and colonial rice fields overlooking the Cape Fear River. There are walking trails all around the plantation. Since George and I love beautiful flowers, we were excited to see the gardens. I chose 13 pictures to share--and will divide them into two posts. We think that you will find Orton Plantation Gardens a wonderful place to visit if you are ever in that area. In order to find out more about Orton, click HERE. The picture above is the gorgeous mansion. Below are five more pictures.





Above, the beautiful road to the mansion





Yipes---Who is our first visitor while driving toward the mansion?? Think he's a friendly one??????





Above, you can see our first glimpse of the gorgeous gardens!





Oh how I love Impatiens!!!





This last picture above shows more of the beautiful, well-maintained gardens and the walking trails!!! (More to come tomorrow!)

Oh Dear, Deer!

Yesterday the sun came out in the Glade and melted alot of our snow in areas where that gorgeous sun hit!!! There's still quite a bit of snow left in the shady areas. Our temperatures are still below freezing and have been for over three days. BUT--the forecasters say the weather will get warmer beginning tomorrow!!!! It was a nice snow and I loved it. BUT--now I'm ready for some sunshine and warmer temperatures, at least for a few days.


Late in the afternoon, I glanced out back toward the golf course. There they were----seven beautiful deer on the fairway, enjoying some fresh grass on some of the areas where the snow had melted. We live in a protected area --so all wildlife can live here safely, except for all of the construction and clearing of the woods. Here are some pictures of the deer enjoying the day yesterday beginning above with all seven of them!!!! Note the left-over snow! (More pictures are below!)





In the picture above, I could hear them talking to each other. The one on the left said, "Oh My, don't you love this sunshine?" The one on the right said, "Yeah--I do, but I like eating this grass even more. I was hungry."





It wouldn't be a group of deer pictures without the BUTT shot!!!!! ha ha





"Okay, Mama, I'm coming. Just wait a minute so I can take one more bite."