I Love a Good Garden Center.

I love a good garden center.

To me that means it is charming and has paths, looks landscaped not like plants for sale on a bunch of big box store shelves and they don't care if I wander. 
I like atmosphere and ideas I can use.

You just know it when you come around the corner and spot one of these special places.

A couple of weeks ago I was visiting my parents 
and my mom directed me to the cutest garden center ever, Liberty Landscapes.

If you are anywhere near Bedford VA it is worth the trip. 
(The D-Day Memorial is in Bedford and it's amazing. 
Make the trip and see it, then go buy a plant. Or two.)

 #yourewelcome

(See - not your average garden center!! It's gorgeous! #backyardgoals)

This place is like wandering around a really pretty backyard on a garden tour. 

Except it's big and fabulous.

It is housed in an old coal and ice warehouse and railroad yard 
right along the railroad tracks.

 I could just move in.

(original, real deal sliding doors!)

It's good from the old rusty truck out front that announces they are open 

(don't you want to find an old, rusty truck now?)

all the way through to their social media presence. 
They post a plant of the day every day on IG with an informative blurb.  

Gardening eye candy and you learn something too.

#winwin

They are so nice.(Ask for Ashby - he's awesome!!)
 And obviously talented so be sure to go.

I tried to convince them to serve refreshments to me in the garden.
#umbrelladrink

#betterlucknexttime

I wanted all.the.plants.
I did buy a plant even though I was traveling.
The displays are irresistible!!

from my iphone...

In one week Mollie had the opportunity to watch her HS Track teammate, Kendall Williams, perform as an USA Olympic Athlete (I know!!!)

                                                                             (Opening Ceremonies - Rio 2016)

(A cute post from her brother and UGA teammate, Devon)

(We were glued to the TV - hoping to see Kendall!!)

 Then we quickly bought tickets to go see the Major League debut of a friends' son (Dansby Swanson #2) at The Ted that Wednesday night (picture below) and then at the end of the week another HS Track teammate began his first professional football career as an LA Ram - Go Brian!

I guess these kids ate their Wheaties before school!!

What a week!!

I'm loving these water trough "pools" 

 They have filtration systems, are big enough to cool off in and are giant galvanized buckets. I love galvanized buckets.

They are all over Pinterest... I'm seriously wanting one.

I'm crazy for oyster shell anything.

 Including eating the actual oyster so this birdbath is amazing in my book.

When I'm bored or waiting somewhere I play with Waterlogue on my iphone.
(I know it's been around a while but I never get tired of it!)

My sister has chickens. I want chickens. I live in a city.

I think (pun intended) my mom is good at vignettes.

He's a handsome boy!

It's a holiday weekend... If you need us, we'll be here.

Concrete World...

Oh, how I love thee.

I was in Virginia visiting my parents and I found out about Concrete World.

What can I say? I love an artfully shaped chunk of concrete.

I have been looking for a concrete dog for quite a while. 

I live in Georgia so all I can find is a bulldog. 

I have 2 Goldens. I want a big, Golden-looking concrete dog.

 For a great price. Also not a possibility in Atlanta.

Thus explaining my fondness for concrete places on backroads and not near pricey Atlanta. 

If you know of a concrete place that fills these two requirements in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina or Tennessee, please share. Really. 

Anyway, I liked the pooch above but I didn't get him.

 Because... no good reason. Indecision.

 The thought of finding a better pooch down the road... 

(This would be a classic #firstworldprob. I know)

How about this palm tree fountain centerpiece?? 

It's taller than I am (which isn't saying a lot but it's like 6 feet tall!!)

They had these huge flamingos. About 4 feet tall. 

(That's my BIL playing in the fountain. Over 40.

Boys never change - water and they are in it!)

Here's the fountain. 

You can get it in this stained finish

 and the pump is moving the water around all the tiers. 

I love fountains like this. 

 But what I really fell in love with were the urns.

 They were fabulous.

 And huge - at least 3 feet tall.

 And a zillion pounds.

This is my absolute favorite one above.

I just love it.

And then they had about 4 styles of pineapples.

 All good!!

Concrete World - I will return.

 In a big truck.