Thursday, April 8, 2010

Wilmington, North Carolina ~ Part Un

One of the things I've done over the last busy week was take some time to go on a date with my husband. We've been together for over 5 years, but I think dates are still important!


We took the whole Saturday to go down to Wilmington, which is about an hour south of us on the coast. Wilmington is a beautiful city, and has something for everyone. 18th Century houses, beautiful beaches, awesome restaurants...everything Jacksonville doesn't have.

You can't go just anywhere and have a horse dressed as a bunny pull your carriage on Easter weekend!




We saw so much and took so many beautiful pictures, this'll have to be a two parter. Hell, I took so many, it may turn out to be a three parter! O_O


Like I said in my last post, I've been trying to be more active, so we fit some fun excercise into the day. First stop was to play frisbee in the Hugh MaCrae Park. The park has such pretty landscaping, so of course I took some pictures! Thank god there are none of me sweating with the frisbee...

The camellias here are just about done blooming, but this one was still pretty.


I'm a sucker for a retaining wall...


The azaleas are starting to bloom out everywhere. In fact, Wilmington's annual Azalea Festival is being held this upcoming weekend. I really wanted to go, people open up their historical houses and gardens to the public for tours!

But my brother in law is coming to visit this weekend, he hasn't been here in years. I'm taking a garden bullet for you Steve!!

Maybe I can talk them into taking me down there anyway, and I can drop them off in the pub all afternoon while I go out touring....hmm... :)


Some of my favourite azaleas of the day:






There's no Newcastle Brown in there, Mr. A!



The dogwoods are also in full bloom. I'd love to have one of these. They're very short lived trees though, and prone to disease.



From the look of this tree, I'd say it's a cherry. Look at the trunkage on this thing!


This is only one small part of MaCrae Park. I just think it was so pretty :) Most of the park is just pines. There are giant Koi in that lake. Huge! I'm surprised one of them didn't flip out of the water dolphin-style and snag that kid!


Some turtles chillin' like villains on the only island in the pond. Maybe they're afraid of the Koi too.



Cool Japanese Maple. Which I had to get in front of, of course.


Ham alert.


Eastern Redbud, I presume?


Very weird duck. I've heard of Turducken before, but this is ridiculous.


Some more of his homies resting in between tourist feedings. They didn't even have the decency to look scared when I got close to take a picture.


Lovely place. Couldn't play frisbee for long though, it kills me! I have bruises all over my shins, and my fingernails got shredded. I'm not a girly-girl, but c'man! Enough was enough!


Mr. A and I went for a pint in the Grand Union Pub, and had some fish & chips. Yes! There is an abundance of delicious seafood here in the coast, but no one's really done an 'authentic' fish & chips. Grand Union's were AWESOME. Ok, not really authentic, we weren't eating them out of paper or anything. But so tasty!

Usually when you see a place advertised as a 'pub' down here, it's a murky establishment with one pool table and a fat hillbilly behind the bar serving Budweiser in a pint glass. I always back out of the 'pub' slowly...no sudden movements...


After lunch, what did Mr. A treat me to? A visit to the 'Airlie Botanical Gardens'.

Beautiful! Amazing! Astounding!

Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for the pictures :) No time to post them tonight. But be on the lookout tomorrow!

Today was the tepid appetizer. Tomorrow? The filet mignon!!

13 comments:

Jim Groble said...

Cool duck. After 34 years there is nothing I enjoy more than going someplace with Pat. jim

Kyna said...

Nothing I love more than hearing a man talk lovingly about his wife :D Congrats on 34 years btw! :D

Floridagirl said...

Sounds like you had a great getaway! I could use a daytrip myself. Wonderful azaleas, and I love that turtle photo. That park does look beautiful! Can't wait to see the garden photos. : )

Susan (aka Sunny) said...

Yes you have reminded me dates are important......does digging in the dirt together count? Lol! 25 years in May for us.

Anonymous said...

This must have been a nice date you two had. Congratulations for taking the time. So many don't. Patty and I will be married 55 years come July 12th.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Kyna ! Hey Jim !
Husband and I have racked up 33 years today in fact (a military marriage lasting this long is record setting .. believe me) and we enjoy the simplier things in life so much too : )
That trip was awesome girl : ) reminded me of some tours we took in the Netherlands .. so much to see it is overwhelming but gorgeous ! Can't wait to see MORE girl !
I love the horse as a rabbit and the ducks .. well they are twilight Zone material eh ? LOL

Meredith said...

If this was the appetizer, can't wait to see the main meal. I'm sure it'll be delicious.

Beautiful pictures. I'm so glad you two got to go on a date -- and an awesome one! I dragged F. out away from the books once this week, too. Dates are important. ;)

Noelle Johnson said...

What a wonderful time! I love having date night, which is not always easy to make time for, but sooo important. I would love to be in Wilmington for the Azalea Festival...

Dirty Girl Gardening said...

Love the turtle!!

Jayne said...

Love that park! What a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. It sounds like you had a great little getaway with Mr. A. Oh, and I think the duck is a Muscovy duck. Weird looking, for sure.

The Idiot said...

I took Mrs IG out last week. In fact, I'd forgotten about it (not taking her out, but I took some garden photos). We tend to do the food thing when we go out, because we're both into it; she likes the finer things, and I'm a pig!

Curbstone Valley Farm said...

Wow, that is some major trunkage . I like Mr. A. better already...nothing wrong with looking for some fine Newcastle Brown. Your duck looks like Muscovy duck...they are quite unique looking. Not too closely related to a Turducken, thankfully!

Kimberly said...

Great getaway! Good for you and Mr. A! I've been married for 13 years, and dates are OH SO IMPORTANT!! Especially with 2 kids and a father-in-law running around. Great photos...thanks for sharing your trip!!