Flowering Trees

Douglasville, Georgia is one of the most attractive places on Earth during the spring season. Or do I just love the town for any reason? I do love the spring flowers and today I give you two examples of what we locals enjoy beginning around the middle of March.

I discovered this absolutely beautiful Bradford pear tree in a Douglasville neighborhood off of Chapel Hill Road. Unsurrounded by other trees, the purity of the white blooms makes one gasp with appreciation.

This picture does not do justice to the lovely ethereal quality of the blooms on these pink cherry trees. Many neighborhoods in Douglasville line the front entrance with the lacy and slightly rose colored trees. These sentinels of greeting make the viewers/visitors pause at least briefly to admire the plain old prettiness of the scene.

All over the city the Bradford pear and the cherry tree have been used to welcome visitors, to enhance property, and to announce the arrival of spring. Some years the blooms are fuller than others, but I enjoy each and every one. More pictures follow. I tried to photograph the sun behind the blooms. For some reason, the flowers appear more heavenly that way. Let me know if you can see the beauty of the plants in the photograph.

Another rainy night in Georgia

I know. I know. I should be ashamed of myself. I have neglected this blog for many months now. And it has such a good purpose: What's the weather like in Douglasville? I have no excuse. I simply got caught up in the living instead of the observing of the weather and life in Douglasville, but now that I have led my husband to blogsville, I have no reason not to pursue my original intention to write each day. He is off to a fast start and leaving me in his dust or is it pollen?

Right now I am looking out of my home office window and I see darkness descending under the cover of thunder clouds. After all, it is 7:40 p.m. DST. But after all the plague of winter weather this past season, one would think and hope that thunder clouds would not be part of the weather scenery.

No matter, the neighborhood's daffodils have lightened my day several times. When I pull out of the neighborhood and when I return, I get to see their sunny, gleeful faces greeting me. And to add to the lightness, the gorgeous Bradford pear trees are blooming throughout the city. Their whiteness makes me think of angel wings and stuff.

Good night for now.

The Flood

I am astonished that I have no posted anything since August 23, 2009. I guess I have been busy, but that hasn't kept me from noticing all the beautiful things in Douglasville. Around the first of September I saw the occasional sumac bush turning bright red. And since then, the dogwoods in my backyard have all colored up. So Fall foliage is soon to be the seasonal flower.

Unfortunately, Douglasville had a horrendous storm last night, and much more rain today so the beautiful things are getting a bath in rain water and gloom. But you should have seen the beauty last night at the lightning illuminated the trees and yards. The colors blue and black painted the scenes in such high drama, I forgot I was afraid of a lightning strike. Fortunately, I had windows to look out. My cats weren't so lucky. I didn't get them in until the wee morning hours.

There are many businesses and schools closed in the county today because of the storm and rain. My husband just couldn't help himself. By 8:30, he was on the road looking to see what he could see. Too bad he didn't take the camera with him. I could have pictures to post.

I promise to keep updating fall foliage and the storm and the flowers.

Scrubbed Air

Yesterday as we drove down the new Dorsett Shoals Road, we were treated to a view of bright green leaves and perky flowers due to the rains of the past few days. The air smelled so good my husband called it "scrubbed" air. The rain has cleansed the air of all the pollutants at least for awhile.

And today we awoke to 60 degree temperatures, very cool and refreshing after the hot muggy days of the past week. Douglasville weather has an answer for everything. Is fall so far away? I think not. I have noticed a few, a very few, turning leaves on the dogwood trees. They've turned to a bright red.

By the way, the new intersection at Dorsett Shoals and Chapel Hill Road is a job well done. Before the new road was put into place there was a very dangerous intersection at the intersection with Annewakee Road and Dorsett Shoals and Chapel Hill. But now traffic is able to zoom through safely. Chapel Hill road is being widened into four lanes as it has need to be for some time. When school began on August 6th, the traffic was maddening. One day it took me 20 minutes to move from Chapel Hill High School to the Publix Supermarket. I'm very grateful for the road construction this county is able to provide. I'm also grateful for the good weather. We're looking forward to at least three days of wonderful sunshine. Then maybe some more rain. The tomatoes and green peppers won't complain.

Rain, Rain Go Away

I know. We need the rain. In my last blog, I stated that my rain barrel was empty. But the rain comes at an inopportune time. I must travel to Virginia, and I don't want to drive in the rain.

Outside my window, the atmosphere is gray and stormy with rain so far gently falling. Will the fall increase in power during the night? I don't know.

The rain is welcomed by everyone because it has been hot and muggy for three days at least. We want to be comfortable to get out in our yards where the flowers bloom and the greenness comforts us.

Douglasville is covered with clouds dripping water.

For the Love of Rain

Will the tropical storm headed for Pensacola come this way? We all wait to find out. I hope so. My rain barrels need water. I am down to the last two inches. This morning I used what I could to water the tomato plants. I also restrung them so that the new branches could be elevated and get the sun better. I have many wonderful green full tomatoes and one is beginning to ripen.

The August weather has been hot so far, but also there's been an occasional muggy and hot day. What's the difference? Well, on muggy days, the air is so close you can hardly breathe and it is usually cloudy. It is on these days that I have to watch all the plants because they need water desperately.

We went to the High Museum today and viewed the Monet Water Lillies. What an honor! So many museums to choose from.

I have the crepe myrtles to enjoy still and I must say they have not yet waned. In fact, unlike azaleas, they are more beautiful than ever. One thing that amazes me each day is the variety in color and shape. I will try to get more pictures on this blog. You must share my joy with me.

In The Heat of the Night

Do you remember that old television series about a Mississippi sheriff of a fictional town called Spartica? It was always hot. Their skins appeared shiny from sweat and occasionally you could even see a removal of hats and brow wiping. Well, right now in Douglasville, there is even heat in the night. After the wonderful coolness of July, we find ourselves actually sweating when we go outside to get in the car. Even though the seats in my car are leather not vinyl, they heat up pretty well during the day so that I sit gingerly when I get in with shorts on. Last week, I got in the car go to Kroger's and jumped out with a loud, "Yeow!" No real burn on the back of my exposed legs, but it felt like I just sat in a hot skillet.

No matter. There's still a relative coolness in the morning. Although the time is briefer, we can still leave the doors and windows open for awhile before we must resort to the air conditioner.I don't mind cool weather. In fact, how could I appreciate the cooler weather if I didn't have the comparison to make?

The tomato plants are loaded, even the cherry tomato plants. They, unlike the rest of us, adore the hot weather as long as I keep pouring water on them. In the morning as the sun hits the plants, you can almost see them turning their faces upward to worship the heat.

The weather makes people in Douglasville head north and one of my favorite places to go is Fire's Creek in Murphy, North Carolina. Turn off Highway 64 at the sign. It is about 2 hours from here, and located down a long, winding road. By the time you get there, putting your feet in that cold creek water is all you can think about. The clear water is so cold that the only time I am comfortable in it is in August. Once I visited Fire's Creek in July along with my two granddaughters who were little tikes. They bravely wore swim suits and sat in the water fall until a short time later their lips were blue. They were shivering, but they still didn't want to get out. My step children grew up in Murphy. They tell me they used to jump off the bridge into the pool just below. I still don't know how their bodies took the shock of the cold water. I think next week-end will make a great picnic-at-Fire's-Creek week-end. I just might get rid of the heat of the night for a short time.