Skip to main content

Featured

A Closer Look at Winter Damage

But first, take a look at this gorgeous rainbow that we had on Friday! The five-day stretch of warm temperatures last week really jump-started the garden. Now that plants are putting out new growth, it is easier to see what kind of damage the winter left. Back in mid-January, we experienced five straight days of below-freezing temperatures. This caused much damage in Portland and areas where frigid winds were a factor. Here, we were fortunate to not get the wind and the cold temperatures were dampened by a blanket of snow. That said, it was a tough time for the garden and there are noticeable casualties but no outright deaths that I have seen. The bottlebrush ( Callistemon 'Woodlander's Red') did not like the cold at all. It was planted six years ago, in the north-facing garden no less, and I've not experienced die-back on it until now. A local expert said to cut it all the way back so that is what I did. If it doesn't make it, I won't be too distraught. It is

A trip to New Orleans



It has been over 15 years since I've been to New Orleans. Michael and I had planned a short trip at the beginning on my spring break with his brother and family. Things didn't go as planned, however, and the death of the father of one of Michael's dear friends prevented him from going. I didn't want to go without him but we had invested in a place to stay and it was too late to cancel plus we didn't want to disappoint Michael's family who were so looking forward to it.

We left early Saturday morning and arrived by mid-afternoon. I had forgotten how many people are on the streets and how bad the traffic is in the French Quarter on a weekend and I have to confess, we were wondering just what we had gotten ourselves into and I know we all went into panic mode for a while. We had booked a room right in the heart of the French Quarter and parking places were difficult to find and the one-way streets were driving us nuts. But finally, we located a parking space, got our lugguge into the room and found a parking garage to store the car. After the initial culture shock, the trip went pretty smoothly.

This is where we stayed - The St. Philip Apartments on St. Philip Street. Appropriate no?



The courtyard was so nice -



After we settled in and finally ventured out, we first walked down to the French Market -





Saturday was beautiful but Sunday was anything but, with a drastic drop in temperatures and a bitterly cold wind. We spent Sunday visiting the Aquarium and World War II Museum (Colton, our nephew, is an expert on the subject and he loved it). Some shopping on Decatur Street but the temperatures kept us mostly inside.




Tim and Colton take a stroll down a deserted side street near Jackson Square -



An artist on Jackson Square -





Monday started out cold as well but the sun came out in the middle of our cemetery tour and it turned out to be a nice day. We continued to shop and buy souveniers. Later that afternoon, Tim and I took a long leisurely strool and look at some of my favorite things in the city - the architecture, the plants and the balconies.



















A beautiful Lady Banks rose was in full bloom -





And more beautiful architecture -







I'm hoping we can plan more trips to New Orleans. I think the city is so beautiful and fascinating. I find it very intriguing and there is so much to explore there.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Glad you had a good time on your trip to N.O. I can't believe that Lady Banks rose is in bloom already. Mine isn't even showing buds yet, and we are only 30 miles north of New Orleans.

    Jan
    Always Growing

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this funky city. When I was still in hotel management, my company sent me there for three weeks of training at a hotel in the heart of the French Quarter. I am with you on the architecture and the balconies.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad you had a good time Phillip!I echo Jan, I can't believe that Lady Banks is in full bloom!--Randy

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love those balconies, the wrought iron work and flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's a fun city to visit and the French Quarter can be very noisy and crowded...but, with the restaurant choices and the architecture...It's really great. We've stayed in the Garden District, too...but that meant a trolley ride to and from town~That's fun, too. The lady Banks is beautiful! gail

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fun outing. The Phillip was your perfect perch. All of those baskets full of flowers are gorgeous. Of course the architecture behind them is was sets them off.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fantastic post. I loved the tour of the French Quarter! I'm not sure if i could be coaxed out of that wonderful little hotel courtyard.
    Marnie

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the Big Easy, Phillip. Thanks for sharing those gorgeous photos.

    There's no city quite like New Orleans is there? The gardens, people, and architecture are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You know how I feel about New Orleans, having been there twice in the last month! I have pics on my blog from the more recent trip (from Audubon Park).

    I'm so glad you had a good time and plan to go back.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, what a lovely city. I've never been there and the only images I had of it were the flood and Mardi Gras parades. I didn't realize it was such a nice place.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've been to New Orleans many times and your pictures remind me why I love it so.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well I have been missing your blog posts...now I know why! I've never been to New Orleans but your pics give me a good idea of the beauty there. You got my attention when you said cemetery tour! Which one? I would love that.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jennifer, we went to the St. Louis #1 cemetery tour. It is one of the older cemeteries and not as pretty as some of the others but it has several notable graves such as Marie Leveau, the "voodoo queen".

    ReplyDelete
  16. Phillip, we stopped in New Orleans on St. Patrick's Day morning on the drive back from our Florida spring break trip. I just had to see the French Quarter again, post Katrina, and make sure it was still there. It was, in all its glory, which you captured beautiful in these pictures. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm so jealous - it looks like a great trip! Have you ever been out to Longue Vue gardens?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wonderful photographs. What a treat. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts