The Botanical Gardens

I will be taking a blogging break.

I am feeling a little uninspired these days, understandably so.

I am thankful those I know and love are safe and healthy.

It is wonderful to visit the Riverbanks Botanical Gardens again.

We intend to stroll here every Sunday morning throughout the summer.

However I think there may  be another much needed shut down in our area. 

This is a happy place for Jim and I.

  

Oh the pretty pink!

 

 

The huge bamboo teepees should be covered in vines by the end of fall which will be a treat to see.

Seeing so much color along with the variety of flowers and plants is always a mood lifter. We seem to discover something new with each visit.

I hope you are hanging in there ok too. My escapism has been music, books and movies. Movie apps and the ease of downloading books are also things I am very thankful for these days.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

An Actual Outing!

Jim and I had our first outing since the outbreak! The Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens are open for reservations. This is phase 1 of re-opening.

 

Now we must be aware of standing 6 flamingos from each other.

The animals have no idea what humans are dealing with right now.

Certain beasts probably enjoy people watching again.

High touch zones are well labeled with "caution".

Bronze statues throughout are blocked off since these are also high touch items used for photo ops.

We always have to stop by the meerkats since they are smile inducing creatures.

These two were deep in conversation of the intellectual sort.

White rhinos are still due to arrive in the fall, as scheduled. The habitat is coming along.

Frogs were enjoying themselves this day too. This big guy looks like an ornament but was real.

It felt good to simply be out again. With the limited capacity it was a quiet, peaceful day at the zoo.

I hope you are able to find things to enjoy too. This is one place where we feel safe since it is easy to keep distance from others. It may be months before we feel comfortable enough to eat in a restaurant again since case numbers are still on the rise here.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

Strolling Through Cottontown

I fell in love with the neighborhood of Cottontown in Columbia, SC when attending its art crawl.

It was perfectly timed with the azaleas adding to its charm.

The brick bungalows are a favorite home architectural style of mine.

Each one is different.

Some have Tudor accents.

There are other styles mixed in that are beautiful.

There are some wonderfully landscaped yards about.

If you pay attention, you may see some quirkiness.

Turn your old jeans into a planter!

There are some Charleston style (deck above and below).

Cottontown, also known as the Bellevue Historic District, was established in the late 1890s.

 It is in the National Register of Historic Places.

It is an architectural conservation neighborhood so its character is here to stay.

I love the colorful awnings on this one.

Darling squares are at the intersections adding beauty and preventing drivers from speeding.

Cottontown is a fairly new reference to the neighborhood in recent decades that was previously always referred to as Bellevue. It does not appear there was a reason for it that made much sense. Regardless it is a catchy name that works in a state that was well know for cotton back in the day.

Ceiling fans and swinging benches on the front deck scream southern to me. A perfect spot for that morning coffee.

To visit this neighborhood, it is bounded by Grace Avenue, Bull Street, Elmwood Avenue and Main Street.

It would be wonderful to live here as it is in walking distance to all the fun the capital city has to offer like the weekly Soda City Market, First Thursdays on Main (when Main St is alive with live bands, business opened late, artists galleries and more), the Museum of Art, movie theater, and of course eateries and shops.

I hope you are all well and staying safe. It looks like it is going to be a long spring and summer for many of us across the globe.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

Recent Zoo Visits

It is always a treat walking thru the Riverbanks Zoo.

We never know who will model for us.

Apparently these guys don't need much to be entertained. A Budweiser box will do the trick!

Big daddy came right up to the window. It is amazing to be inches from such a magnificent beast.

Cute baby action was occurring while it was brunch time.

The squirrel monkeys enjoy the top of their habitat to soak in the warm sunshine during the cooler months.

Porcupines can be petted. I had no idea this was possible until seeing a caregiver hand feeding this little guy while petting in between bites.

Since I have always been a cat person, the black footed cat is a favorite to see. Since felines love their sleep, this is a rare sight!

It was feeding time for many of the animals which is always entertaining.

I hope some of these made you smile today while our world is in chaos.


Thank you for stopping by! ~Val