Elizabeth's Secret Garden

Visiting the Sarah P. Duke Gardens was an exceptional experience. Attention to detail was prevalent everywhere. I’ve toured many gardens, but this was one of the most beautiful, well kept gardens I’ve visited. It was obvious that many dedicated gardeners put great effort in keeping everything in tip-top shape. It is easy to loose track of time gazing at the multitude of flowers. The variety seems almost endless from flowering bulbs to roses along with perennials and annuals that allow for year around blossoms. The pond draws children and adults to watch Coy fish and goldfish swim past. The Terrace Garden has an enchanting,  story book appearance. Ivy weaves its way up the terrace. Flowers at Sarah P. Duke Gardens                                                 ...

Yates Mill is an important historic landmark to Wake County, North Carolina. It possesses  an intrinsic value for the surrounding community. It is the last operable water-powered grist mill in Wake County. This fact is compelling when it is considered that over 70 mills once existed in the area! This decline makes Yate Mill worth saving. The Yates Mills Associates Inc. did precisely  that in 1988. They headed the effort of preserving this 200 year old mill so that it can still be enjoyed today. The mill is fully operating and heritage tours are held each weekend from March to November. The mill’s heritage included the production of lumber, milled corn, wheat, and carded wool. Find out more here.   http://www.yatesmill.org/about-us/ The over flow of water from the lake. The reflective nature of the pond makes for a beautiful picture.       Hidden amongst the trees is the visitor center that offers a museum to explore the history of...

On this blog entry, I will be displaying photos of various pottery stores from my family’s trip to Seagrove, NC. In the following link, you can see a past article I wrote on the individual pottery artist’s pieces along with some history on the area. The photos show some of the pieces made by talented potters.   http://elizabethssecretgarden.blogspot.com/2013/04/pottery-showcase-in-seagrove-nc.html   This first store is the Seagrove “Creations” Pottery Gallery & Hearthside Coffee. Yes, a pottery store that doubles as a coffee shop which makes this pottery shop very unique. The idea behind this was to allow customers the joy of having coffee and pastries as they look upon the wide selection of pottery.   Their Website: http://www.potteryofseagrove.com/ The Seagrove Creations Pottery Gallery & Hearthside Coffee store sells pieces from over 65 of the local potters and crafts people. It was very entertaining to walk through and gaze at the large collection. ...