Ices

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Icy shrubs on the shore at Craigleith, January or February.
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Backyard clothesline, Easter weekend.
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Frozen grasses along Church Street, Easter weekend.
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Ice in the maples in front of mom and dad’s, Easter weekend.

Biltmore Estate

Visit to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville on December 4th.

Had photography been permitted inside the house, it would have taken me 1000 hours to get through all the rooms. Ah, the massive print collection included works by Durer! Even the kitchen had views of the mountains! All the creamy white subway tiles in the swimming pool room! The brass animals! The giant library step-ladder! Needless to say, I could go on.

These pictures are from our walk through the Shrub Garden (the Ramble) and some other gardens near the house designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (must return in spring). We finished the day with high-class desserts at the Library Lounge at the Biltmore Inn (with live piano playing Christmas music).

 

The Great Dismal Swamp

Norfolk Botanical Garden

We wandered around for the 175-acre garden for couple hours, but I could easily spend a whole week here if they would let me camp out!

Unfortunately my camera battery died early on, so I don’t have any pictures of the azaleas or witch hazel in bloom, the American woodland garden, the canal, etc. etc. etc. Once I return to Canada and get my phone out of airport mode, I do have a few pictures of the Japanese garden to add. Here are 6 pics for now:

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The conifer garden
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One beauty from the immense rose garden
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A wild jackalope in the southwest garden
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Josie making dinner in the children’s garden
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Josie in the rose garden
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Big tree with a weird root ball
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Evergreen love!

American Thanksgiving road trip