On Christmas Eve I made a quick stop at the Earlysville White Oak once again (find links to other images here) - my Dad's two brothers stayed with him for a bit so that I could run to the grocery store (when I arrived on Friday, you might say that the cupboards were bare). I thought to myself: as long as I manage to get an image of this tree, then all is normal and my world isn't teetering on the unmanageable.
Tomorrow I load up the dogs and the cat and I head to my place in South Carolina. I can't wait. Hopefully I'll post images of garlic (that I planted when I last visited in October) and perhaps plant some clover and I will, most definitely, visit my favorite camellia grower and wander his garden. I'll also take more photographs of his remarkable camellia collection and listen closely while he tells me stories about some of them - I've decided to write a book about his love of camellias, and about his garden. I need to learn as much as I can from him too.
Yes, tomorrow I head south. Tomorrow I sleep in the Airstream under a canopy of live oaks.
Howdy, Pam, and a belated Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope your southern sojourn is good to/for you.
It's funny you mention garlic. Earlier this month in Mexico City, the Mrs. and I saw the biggest heads of garlic either of us have ever seen. Pictures to come over at my blog a little later today . . .
Posted by: John B. | 27 December 2011 at 08:04 AM
It must be so hard to keep your equilibrium while swinging between three homes, Pam - one day with your dad in the past, other days of work in the present, and more days at your someday-again home. But somehow you do it with grace, sharing the experience in precise phrases and lovely images.
May your dad enjoy the new book and may you and your faithful companions have a good trip to Carolina.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Posted by: Annie in Austin | 27 December 2011 at 04:54 PM