Mountain stairs

Lower Hickory Cove Road

Upper Hickory Cove Road

On our recent trip to the Smoky Mountains I saw these stone steps, both along the same road. They appear to have been built at different times, but you can clearly see the flat creek rocks used for both. Brush Creek, possibly the source for the stones, flows at the bottom of Hickory Cove.

Deep Creek Tubin’

Julia and Whit

Before Tubing

Eli at Juney Whank falls

Lily Explorer

Eli and Julia Tubin’

In the NC Mountains last week the young adult contingent (Julia, Whit, Joyce) did Deep Creek, while the young at heart contingent (DK and me) waded with the young things (Eli and Lily). Water was very cold, as usual, but the day was hot. Creek flow was also very low, which cut down a bit on rapid-shooting excitement, but was ideal for the munchkins. Eli, clever lad, was very cautious about slipping on the rocks and spent his time tossing pebbles and small boulders into the creek from a secure position near the bank. Lily, on the otherhand, knew no fear and was ready to walk on water, or anything that would get her into it.

Check it out next time you’re in Bryson City – tubes with plastic seats, $4 a day. Or wooden seats, $3 (and run the risk of splinters in tender backsides). For just $5 a day you can luxuriate in colorful plastic tubes with head rests! Deals at any price. And the flow should be a bit stronger, now that Torpical Storm Faye has blown thru with much needed moisture.

The Getty – Stream Garden

Bottom of Stream Garden

Middle of the Stream

Near the top

One more post on The Getty – these photos were taken of the scultural Stream Garden. Lovely plantings border a man made stream that flows directly from the top of hill into the floating maze in the Central Garden. As you approach the top of the ’stream’, rocks begin to litter the ’stream’ bed, and grow in size to large boulders near the top. Counter-intuitive, and very cool!

For more info on the gardens, and list of plantings, see http://www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/gardens.html

The Getty

Women and Art

View from the gardens

Travertine Marble

Getty Rock Fountain

I love The Getty. I was entranced the first time I saw it. Reflecting on that visit several years ago, what stands out in my mind is the travertine marble, the rocky water fountain, and the wide range of exhibits in a comfortable, easy to view setting. I remember huge stilt puppets – everything seemed larger than life. And it was free! The gardens, however, were recently planted and I hoped I could come again once they had matured.

So I was thrilled to see them while I was out recently. All the wonderful aspects from before were there in spades, and the gardens are so lovely! Later the same week we visited an article ran in the LA Times about the artist who created the gardens – check it out: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-hm-irwin24-2008jul24,0,5566108.story

And if you’d like more info on The Getty, follow this link: www.getty.edu/

Shell Stone

I’ve been fascinated by rocks and stones for years.  I’ve moved and set my collection of cobblestones several times, and would love to order a couple pallets of stone for dry walls.  Hmmm… 

Meanwhile, I saw this fossil-filled rock last Friday outside the new entrance to the Virginia State Capitol building in Richmond, Virginia. According to a Texas stone source, this stone typically comes from the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, 70 million years ago - a time when the sea covered parts of the State of Texas.  The texture and ancient shell imprints of the limestone capture my imagination – what was happening at the time these creatures lived?