K is for Kudzu (ABC Wednesday)

THE VINE THAT ATE THE SOUTH!

Crawling, crawling like a spider

 Kudzu weaves its web of green.

Creeping, sneaking through the forest,

Trapping trees in each ravine.

              

 Reaching, twisting towards the pavement

Stalking all the cars that pass.

  Can't the gov'ment make it stop?

A'fore it strangles us en masse?

(© The Kudzu Strangler by Rambling Round)

Posted at ABC Wednesday

Shadows of St. Luke's

The shadows of budding tree limbs dance across the facade of St. Luke's Episcopal Church at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park.

The 1854 church designed by Richard Upjohn was built in Cahaba,

later relocated and recently rebuilt at the park. 

Posted at Shadow Shot Sunday.

"I" for Idyllic

The letter "I" is celebrated at ABC Wednesday this week, and what could be more IDYLLIC than spring blossoms, a pond and a few waterfowl?

Alabama's State Flower

Soft...rugged.

Delicate...hardy.

Such are the attributes of Alabama's state flower, the camellia.

These pretty petals ably withstand southern winters and bloom from November til March.

While not native to Alabama, the camellia became the state flower in 1959, thanks to the ladies of Butler County who declared that goldenrod (state flower since 1927) was a weed unworthy of such distinction. (Frankly, I love goldenrod and would have used it in my October wedding had the florist not also declared it a weed unworthy of a wedding!) 

Moving on...the year 2005 was declared "Year of the Camellia" in Alabama, and most recently, the city of Greenville (county seat of Butler County) has announced that since it's known as "The Camellia City," there will soon be a Camellia Garden. Then, a new generation can learn how to propagate the shrub and keep both Greenville's camellias and Greenville itself  "alive and growing."

Camellia lovers might enjoy this article written in 1953 for the American Camellia Yearbook pleading the case for why Greenville should be the only city in America known as The Camellia City.  

Posted at Macro Monday

Blossoms at Sunset/Skywatch

When the sky "caught fire" last night, the glow was so bright that it provided an orange backlight through my neighbor's blossoming tree. What a perfect ending to a perfect day!

More skies await you at the Skywatch Friday Meme.