Bloomin Good Time

Last Thursday i took some pictures that I wanted to make a post of. Well some things came up and procrastination reared it's ugly head. I went to Atlanta over the weekend to go to Sal Grosso for a friend's birthday party, and packed ourselves with meats of various kinds. Then we spent some time playing on another friend's Wii. Then I came back home and left my friggin camera bag in Atlanta. Luckily I had copied my pictures already. Follow the link to my ramble if you want to see the pics.

This is the line of Cherry trees that grow behind the building in which I work. The picture really doesn't do them justice. The petals really started falling like snow yesterday and are carpeting the parking lot and bed with pink petals. But I can't take a picture of it. Oh well. maybe next year.


This is a picture of the space behind the library. I had to dodge the Bumble bees. They were flying around like madmen. It looks a little odd because the clouds were making some strange lighting effects on the open space. It was kinda cool. Anyway there are a bunch of Redbuds on this side and more pink trees on the other. The grass was the most amazing green, but what do you expect from a college build on agriculture and engineering.


A friend of mine worked for campus planning for several years and recommended Yoshino Cherries when they were replacing the trees in front of the library. I think it was a good decision. At the time Clemson was voted #2 party school. We joked that they should have been Maraschino Cherries instead.


In front of the library and cherry trees is a reflection pond with fountains. The seating around the trees overlooks the amphitheater, Hardin, and Brackett.


Farther up behind the amphitheater is Carrilon Garden that holds one of the bells from the bell tower.


This is a little zoom to show the bell off a little more.


I left campus and went out to the Botanical Garden on the outskirts of campus. If you are around, every Spring and Fall they have a sale. I recommend you stop by for some interesting plant choices. Plus the staff can answer almost any question you have about the plants. The entryway into the garden has a bell and some nice walkways.


There is an area in the garden planted with nothing but camelias. Here's an example.


There is a trail that goes through the camelias. It starts off and you think that there are quite a few of them.


Then you take a turn and realize that it's practically a camellia forest. When I got there some plants were in full bloom and the rest were on the way out. The smell was amazing. If I hadn't been taking my allergy medication it would have driven me crazy. As it was the sweet smell almost gave me a headache. I'm just glad it wasn't a Gardenia forest.


Getting into the rest of the garden you see several benches donated and placed in various nice spots. I like the azalea behind this one.


One of the benches overlooked this scene right here. You can barely see the water running behind the foliage and rocks.


Lets look at that from the bottom side. There's the bench I was talking about. You can even see the blue flowers from here too.


Down by the big pond the wildlife was enjoying the 80 degree day. The turtles were out basking on several of the logs.


The resident geese/mafioso were out in force. For the love of God don't feed them. They get quite aggressive. I walked by without making eye contact, but I managed to snap a picture.


I saw a white duck resting in the shade on the warm day, and then realized what I think is a mallard had plopped down for a rest under another one of the benches.


And as a closer, one of the other flowering plants. I think the label said it's an azalea.


I have more things I wanted to show at the house, but without a camera. Oh well. Maybe I can get it this weekend.