Introducing Callaway Gardens to Papa

I have been here almost 13 1/2 years and during that time mom has joined us for several trips to Callaway. However, my dad has never walked the grounds or created these treasured memories with us. We love our time at Callaway Gardens and are so thankful it’s only 2 hours away…we can sneak down for the day with a little bit of planning. A reciprocal gardens membership makes the trip even more feasible.

This year we were especially happy to be here during the Azalea Watch. Lovely!

Katie’s favorite part of Callaway is the butterfly garden. The blue morphs are generally quite difficult to photograph. Maybe late in the day is a great time to visit this house.

[Photo credit goes to my mom (who is not normally a photographer). She did great, right?!]

Mom remembered having taken a photo with Katie at this window when Katie was much smaller. In fact, Katie wasn’t even a year old.

Here she is in 2009 at 5 1/2 year old.

Now, she’s 9 1/2 and oh so very “grown up”. Her time with Gramma has been extra special this trip. Katie craves that girl time even more now as she transitions into this new phase of growing up.

These were both taken at the little chapel after a beautiful but long walk from the Azalea Bowl. Mom spotted how the arch framed the family who was looking at a snake and turtle near the edge of the water, and requested a photo. I love how it turned out!

Michael adores his Papa!!

Beautiful walk and again mom requested this photo…she spotted the colorful reflection in the water and wanted it captured on “film”. If only I could get her behind the camera more…she has such a great eye for the details of photography.

Michael is interested in photography and often asks for certain pictures to be taken. Today, I made more of a point to give him the camera. I had been fooling around with “the rule of thirds” and realized it was a great lesson to pass on to Michael as well. Here is the photo I took.

Here’s the photo Michael took (when I wasn’t even around). I love downloading pictures and finding surprises like this on my camera. Well done buddy. You did it!

The Sibley Center is always filled with great little “statues”. Michael posed with all of them I think and of course requested a photo too.

Papa even braved the carpenter bees to get close enough for a photo also. The things you do for your grandkids I guess.

We have come to really like the chance to play ball in the center field surrounded by a beautiful circular sidewalk lined with flowers. It’s really pretty and perfectly large enough for some serious play! (I’ll tell on myself as I’m certain someone in the family will mention it in the comments…after telling Michael not to fall playing tag with me, I promptly landed on my rear in the mud! Daddy says I bounce well!!)

Cousins…and they managed not to fall in even!

The customary photo around the picnic table.

Here they are in 2007…

and in 2009…

and in 2010…

and in 2012…

6 weeks old and looks so much like her cousin Luke.

She just might end up with Gramma Lissa’s hair.

It’s the end of our day at the gardens and she’s a bit tired of being held. So sweet!

Don’t you love the gorgeous colors of spring in the South? I love it here. Thankfully, I don’t struggle with pollen allergies. Thank goodness because there is a lot of pollen on everything. In fact, we had to wipe down our faces after being outside all day.

Happy spring everyone. Despite the fact it was 76 degrees today, it is still spring!