God's Glory

This time of year we are especially blessed to be in the midst of God's glory.  It is all around us, filling our senses and renewing our spirits. I tried to captured a little of it with my camera a couple of days ago, but, of course, you can't really capture the true essence of His glory in pictures.  I wish you could have been with me to see it "in person." I was at the Old Court House Museum in Vicksburg, which is at its most beautiful this time of year when the dogwoods are blooming.  The Old Court House is one of my favorite places in Vicksburg, and I loved just walking around the grounds, taking it all in.  The sky was an incredibly beautiful blue, a perfect background for my pictures.    The dogwoods were resplendent (the only word that comes to mind to describe them) ...  their profuse white blossoms almost blinding in the noontime sun.     This is the Hobbs Freeman Memorial Garden, a lovely tribute to a beloved and renown Vicksburg sculptor and artist. As beautiful as the dogwoods were, my favorite picture of the day was found under the branches of this old Camellia bush ... The camellia petals were shedding and lay amongst a bed of violets ... Violets and Camellia Petals ... they remind me of "God's Potpourri." I wish you many happy days filled with an abundance of God's glory. Happy Spring!

The Colors of Spring

{ Post No. 1050 }

I spent a very pleasant afternoon one day last week strolling the grounds and gardens of one of my most favorite places in Vicksburg -- the Old Court House Museum.

The above picture was taken when the dogwoods were blooming last Spring, but it's a little early for them to be blooming now.  However, the colors and signs of Spring were scattered everywhere, in spite of the recent heavy rains and cold winds we've been having in Vicksburg.   

Forsythia, Quince, and Narcissus were blooming ...

And, although the mauve irises looked rather downtrodden after a rain shower the night before ...

I managed to find a lovely bloom that withstood the wind and rain, as if it was just waiting for me to come along and capture it in all its glory before it, too, faded ...

And glorious, it was!

 Not to be outdone, the color purple was royally represented by this beautiful purple iris ...

Do you remember when Crayola had a crayon called "Spring Green?"  That's what came to mind when I spotted this bicycle leaning against the building ...

It's still a little early for the roses in the rose garden to bloom, but I came across a couple of lovely "early bloomers" ...

This forlorn-looking little hydrangea bush was tucked amongst the Camellias, its faded blooms patiently waiting to be replaced with this season's bright pink or blue blossoms.  If you look closely, by clicking on the picture, you can see tiny leaf buds popping out.  I'd love to go back in June to find out if it is a "boy or girl" hydrangea.

I loved rambling around the grounds of the Court House, and look forward to going back in a couple of weeks to capture the Azaleas and Dogwoods in bloom.  

In the meantime, I hope you will join me next time as I take you through the Crape Myrtle arch shown in the picture below,  and down the brick path to explore a very special memorial resting underneath the branches of that old oak tree in the distance.  

Dogwoods on the Square

Two or three weeks ago, I shared a few pictures of the Old Court House Museum in Vicksburg, which I captured at dusk one evening.

At that time, the dogwood trees surrounding the Court House Square were loaded with buds and a promise of Spring.

Last Friday around noon, I returned to the Court House, and was rewarded with a glorious sight — the dogwood trees were in full bloom!

They were absolutely dazzling!

I'm afraid my pictures don't do the trees justice — they are truly breathtaking in person.

And speaking of breathtaking ... the casual observer strolling the grounds of the Square may admire the flowers from a distance.

But if you are a regular visitor to Southern Lagniappe, you know I don't admire anything from a distance for long. My curiosity always gets the best of me and I have to get off the beaten path ... or, in this case, off the sidewalk ... and get a closer look at things. I'm so glad I took the time to see these beautiful Irises up close and personal.

These mauve blooms were exquisite, and were as large as salad plates.

I enjoyed seeing this memorial garden honoring Mr. Hobbs Freeman, a much loved and respected local artist, sculptor, builder, jewelry maker, cook, and gardener.

He could create whatever his mind could imagine, and many of the themes of his art were focused on natural places, especially native plants and wildlife.

Mr. Freeman passed away last June, but his art and his legacy as an ambassador for both art and nature will be forever remembered and honored by his many friends and the people of Vicksburg.

Azaleas are in full bloom, and I enjoyed capturing a few pictures of the ones on the Square.

I also captured a little lagniappe ... or serendipity, if you prefer ... along with the flowers.

After watching the bees for a few minutes, I can understand where the expression, "busy as a bee," comes from. Notice the pollen covering this bee ...

I'm planning to do a "drive-by" photo tour later this week of the azaleas at some of the antebellum houses in Vicksburg (plus, a few of my favorite neighborhoods, too!) ... and hope you will come back for the "tour."