Foto Friday . . . vacation part III, The Wedding Tree

"A vacation is having nothing to do
and all day to do it in."

- Robert Orben

I don't know about you, but one of the things I like to do whether on vacation or not is to explore.

 Since the beach flags were still red and it was overcast, we decided to do just that. My google search

found the Eden Garden State Park and it was only $4 per car, my kind of place! I mean who wants

to go shopping when you can traverse a place like this with ancient oak trees and a mansion?

The Eden Garden State Park is tucked away on the shore of Tucker Bayou and part of the estate that was owned by a lumber mill family, the Wesley's. At every turn there are these incredible live oaks with Spanish moss and resurrection fern. The fern grows right on the tree in the bark and stays dormant until there is a rain and it comes to life.

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And just as we started out, before we got to those trees, a corn snake crossed our path. I'm definitely

not an expert of snakes, but I know a corn snake when I see one . . . I used to own one, only he was much

more handsome and colorful than this one.

And here she is, the turn-of-a-century plantation house. It was built in 1895 by William Henry Wesley with all the elaborate Victorian trimmings, that is until Lois Maxon bought it in 1963 and restored it in the Antebellum style. I mentioned earlier ancient oaks, how about 600 years old ancient? That would be the tree on the left and what they endearingly call "The Wedding" tree because of all the weddings that have been held under it. We all put our hands on this tree, and you could just feel it's energy.

The windows even have the original glass that gives a bit of a wavy reflection.

After all the renovations she filled the house with a very expensive collection of Louis XVI furniture, which is the second largest in the U.S. The needlework on this chair was exquisite!

This was one of the upstairs bedrooms . . .

And a reflection of the flag on the front of the house from the upstairs wrap around porch....

{Photograph life - patriotic}

I forget how many acres there were, we didn't get to it all,  but what we did see was magical.

We took some sandwiches and snacks with us and ate at a picnic table on the edge of the bayou.

There were a few beggar squirrels who enjoyed a some Cheetos, and this one cracked us up at how he would go up the tree and hang upside down while he ate.

One of the formal rose gardens, which wasn't in great bloom. There was also a secret garden, in fact it was so secret . . . we couldn't find it!

. . . but, there were these beautiful hydrangea's to make up for it.

{Flower Art Friday, Photo Art Friday}

I love finding little gems like this on vacation, or well anytime. What about you, what's your favorite part

of a vacation? Do you like to explore?

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself . . . a friend is driving down from Dallas for a short get away and I can't wait to see her. It's been 4 years . . .Whoo hoo!

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Love, Kim

XO

P.S. Next vacation stop, either the wharf, or the gators . . .hmmm