WHERE THE RED IRIS GROWS

By

Minuet in G

Our adventure at Palmetto State Park

south of Abbeville, LA was filled with 

wonder and excitement.

There was a discovery at every turn.

There is actually a red iris that ONLY

grows in this area.  How cool is that!!!!

Gypsy Rhapsody had told me about Palmetto,

but her stories don't compare to the real thing.

Grandson, Cooper, always loved to look through that

little opening in Gypsy's door...

and he still loved doing it in me.

Cooking outside is Vannie's specialty.

She says everything tastes better.

T-Pop has to get in the picture.

He and Cooper are trying to prepare the fire for...

...smores...

When son, Ashley, and daughter-in-law, Diane, arrived,

they all headed out to see exactly "where the red iris grows".

The trail was filled with nature in every form.

Palmettos...

giant magnolia trees...

benches hewn from downed trees...

secret hiding places in tree trunks...

tiny yellow flowers strewn over the path...

the bayou in all it's glory...

Evangeline Pond...

a red eared turtle sunning itself on a partially sunken log... 

and finally the pentacle of our journey....

THE ALLUSIVE RED IRIS....

only grown in this area of the country...

WOW...

After that adventure, it was time to put the steaks on the grill.

Ashley built the fire just to the right perfection.

Now, that's some happy faces chowing down on juicy t-bones.

Dessert Time!!!!

As the sun went down, Cooper and Ashley

babied the fire till it was just right again for...smores.

The crunchy gram crackers...the melted chocolate...the squishy marshmellow...

Oh my goodness, the whole gang had sticky fingers and smudges of chocolate 

in the corners of their mouths.

Cooper is still not too big to sit in his papa's lap.

We all watched till the fire died down and the fireflies came out.

And, yes, there were fireflies.!!!! Like twinkling stars in the forest...

The next morning the smell of coffee and bacon and

fried eggs filled the air.

What a perfect family weekend!!!

I'm so glad I've been adopted by this group.

Ashley looks like he might be trying to fly a kite.

Well, folks, that is his tent.  Sure was a nice little compact

thingy.  

Down the Bayou in Palmetto State Park...

The weekend had to come to an end.

A good old South Louisiana camp out...

It was my first experience in this part of the country.

I can't wait to come back.