The entrance to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. Conceived and founded by Cason and Virginia Callaway, this 2,500-acre garden opened to the public in 1952 as a retreat where "man and nature could abide together for the good of both."
Designed for year-round beauty, the azaleas take center stage in early Spring, but were past their peak when RVing friend, Brenda and I arrived.
But one can't be disappointed because the Mountain Laurel were blooming in full splendor.
The Callaways made their fortune in the textile industry. When Cason Callaway retired as CEO, he and his wife turned their attention on creating these gardens. This area is known as the "Azalea Bowl," and was funded by one of the Callaway brothers.
Although the azaleas blossoms are gone by, mountain laurel and irises line the pond.
Brenda on the bridge over the azalea bowl.
More Mountain Laurel
We'll see a lot more butterflies later in the Butterfly Garden.
Cason had a chapel built in honor of his mother, Ida Cason Callaway. You can tell where he got his name.
Behind the chapel is a small waterfall and creek. The location was chosen so that the creek could be dammed below creating a small lake in front of the chapel.
The little chapel in the woods is used for many weddings.
A Great Blue Heron stands guard.
Cason Callaway died a year before the chapel was completed. It was dedicated in 1962 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.
Native plumleaf azaleas.
Bridge across the Azalea Bowl.
This little wildflower is called "Fringed Pink."
The Camelias were gone by too, but I found this one bloom.
We had lunch at the cafe here.
Visitors were feeding turtles below the bridge.
Well-fed turtles.
Lunch made us late for the raptor show. We got there just in time for the clean-up crew...a Black Vulture.
He may not be very pretty, but he has an important job to do.
Along the scenic drive we found some azaleas still in full bloom.
Pretty Azaleas
A family of geese in one of the many ponds.
Our last stop was the Butterfly Garden. Doesn't Brenda make a pretty butterfly?
Entrance to the Butterfly Center.
Before we enter the butterfly enclosure, there is an active display of chrysalis. Each one is labeled above.
This huge Atlas Moth just emerged from its chrysalis. It has a wingspan of 10-12 inches.
The butterfly enclosure is very warm and humid, just as the butterflies like it. We, not so much.
Tropical gardens...
Sometimes the butterflies hide under a leaf.
Feature Plant, a genus of Bromeliad.
Notice the lovely blue topside, and the camouflage underside of the wings.
Brenda with a butterfly on her head.
You didn't expect me to remember all the names, did you?
It's a jungle in there.
Butterflies doing what they do...
There are multi-levels in the butterfly enclosure.
More wildflowers in the fields as we were leaving.
Looking down on Callaway Gardens from a Pine Mountain overlook.
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