Around Athens: UGA's North Campus

Athens has a lot of great places to spend a warm sunny day outside. One of our favorite places to hang out is the Founders Garden on UGAs North Campus. The garden was built in 1946 by the Garden Club of Georgia. It is beautiful year round with its great landscaping. This time of year, there are a few things blooming... lenten roses, camillias, daffodils, and hyacinth. Eric and I spent Saturday afternoon enjoying the nice warm weather in Athens. I took a few pictures of the garden to entice you into visiting. It is a great place for a walk, studying, or having a picnic lunch!

 

All over North Campus there are smaller gardens like the Founders Garden.  We enjoy walking around the smaller gardens, admiring the architecture and landscaping. Here are some more pictures of around North Campus.... complete with a picture of the Arches.

Bradford Pear Trees

Bradford Pear Trees are very common in GA. They line a lot of streets in Athens (including one right by my house, as seen above) and are always perfectly shaped. I love this time of year when they are all blooming. I think they look like beautiful white clouds or snow covered trees. Unfortunately they do not produce edible fruit AND they don't smell very good. I am not sure why but they kind of stink. Here are some pictures so you can discover the beauty of the Bradford Pear without having to smell it :)

Vacations

It has almost been a year since we went on Vacation to Costa Rica and I have to say I am finding myself daydreaming about being in the jungle or on the beach relaxing all the time! I think I need a weekend week away from life. Just to enjoy and relax and not have any stress! I have obviously been thinking this way a lot with my prior post about camping :) It is just that time of year to take a break! The small obstacle in the way of a vacation is we have no time or spare money to spend on a week long vacay. Oh well...maybe in a couple months that will change.... but you can bet until that time comes I will be dreaming about it every day!

A little early...

Spring it a bit early this year! Last year I blogged about spring in April....it isn't even March yet!! The weather has been unseasonably warm and we already have daffodils and all the trees (with the exception of the dogwoods) are blooming. It truly is beautiful outside! The only downside for me is the pollen.... I found out a couple weeks ago that I am severely allergic to pollen (no wonder why I am always stuffy!!!). So I have started taking allergy shots. Hopefully this will solve my allergy issues for the rest of my life!

I have to say I am a little hesitant with the early spring, I am sure we will get some colder weather around the corner before summer comes. But for now I will enjoy the warm weather and the flowers before it is all over and the muggy hotness that is summer in GA falls upon us.

REI Dividend

Anyone who has an REI membership is excited for this time of year...why you ask? Because it is dividend time!! If you are an REI member you get a percentage of your purchases back each year in March. Plus they give you a 20% off coupon. So in the spirit of shopping at REI, I have made a wish list. Of course I have to share the dividend with Eric so I most likely will not be able to get everything I want :) ....but here is to hoping (and my birthday is in April....hint, hint)!! 

Arc'teryx Moveo Tank Top 

prAna Gigi Shirt 

Privo by Clarks Polar Lake Shoes 

REI Willow Roll-Up Pants

 

Camping....Hiking....Camping....Hiking....

Camping and hiking are the two things I keep thinking about this time of year....It has gotten nice out and I am ready to spend time outside! Unfortunately, it is still a little cold to do overnight camping and my husband has a sprained ankle so.... no day hikes for us! 

I love being outside end exploring the woods, having a camp fire, taking pictures, and enjoying my friends & family with me.

We have gone camping and hiking a lot since living in GA. We have been to Cumberland Island, the Appalachian Trail, Altamaha River,other parks in MN, GA, and NC and Costa Rica. 

Luckily for us we have friends and family that enjoy camping & hiking with us. I hope we can do a lot more this spring! (If Eric's ankle heals quickly.) 

Where do you like to go camping & hiking?

(PS. Our computer has been fixed! It is a miracle!!)