Besides being an excellent source of sisters, grits, and bizarre botanicals, it turns out that North Carolina is a great place to spend November. I flew out of Cherry Capital Airport just as the Dreadful Dismals arrived in northern Michigan, and landed at Charlotte-Mecklenburg in time for a bonus autumn. I had no idea that camellias bloomed in November, or that there were so many kinds of maples in the Piedmont. Satisfactory.
I can hear all the car guys in Michigan yelping now. You went to Charlotte and you looked at camellias??? Where are your priorities? Alas, I got nowhere near the sacred NASCAR track. I spent a lot of time in Lake Norman, though, and it is my understanding that many NASCAR icons reside there. Perhaps I saw some. I would not know. (If you have no idea what we’re talking about here, I recommend you read Sharyn McCrumb’s St. Dale. Sharyn will explain it all for you and put a bow on it. Even if you do know what we’re talking about I recommend the book. Also the camellias.)
Torch Lake Views 
cherokeebydesign
November 30, 2010
Glad you enjoyed your stay in NC….next time your here, make your way to Cherokee, NC.
Raven
Gerry
December 1, 2010
I did, and I will make a point of it. I long to make a good road trip with Miss Sadie and the Cowboy. It will have to wait until next year. The snow is coming tonight.
Cindy Lou
December 1, 2010
Though I do like NASCAR, I so much more enjoyed seeing the beautimous flowers and color. Snowing again up here today after yesterday’s melt….enjoy, enjoy and soak up some sunshine for me 🙂
Gerry
December 1, 2010
Thanks, Cindy Lou. I’m back home now, and it’s snowing a little here, but just lightly. Just a little reminder that it’s December.
P.j. grath
December 1, 2010
Loved the flowers, of course, but was wide-eyed with delight at the MOON GATE!
Gerry
December 1, 2010
Wasn’t that pretty though? That was pretty. And you should have seen how beautifully it framed my sisters, each of them in profile, looking at the gardens. You should have seen them spot me framing them and scampering off the path. I told them that someday they’d wish they had that particular photo, as it was going to be really, really lovely. They told me spinach.
Wendi
December 1, 2010
Glad you are back and had such a good time. A little bit of extra warm (and pretty botanical) goes a long ways to help us through the long winter to come.
Gerry
December 1, 2010
Thank you. I’m looking forward to making the Egypt travelogue with you. That should warm us up a treat.
Anna
December 1, 2010
What a treat! I love camellias and it has been, oh, about nine years since I been to the South. I really like the Feng Shui brick round entrance. NC is such a lovely state! Nice slideshow!
Gerry
December 1, 2010
That Botanical Garden is well worth a visit. North Carolina made a big impression on me. I’d like to explore it in depth sometime. Very nice place.
Karma
December 1, 2010
My mom recently returned from “running away” to North Carolina to get married. They were in the Raleigh area though – not sure how near or far those parts are. They are Carolina Hurricanes fans, so they got married and then took in some hockey games! They also ventured a drive out to visit the Biltmore estate.
Gerry
December 1, 2010
Well congratulations to the newlyweds. I’m not real clear on North Carolina geography either, but I think the Biltmore estate is about 90 minutes from Davidson. We didn’t go this time. If I ever get back there in the spring, it will be high on my list. I’m a Wings fan, and fully understand why someone would go to a hockey game for the post-wedding party.
Scott Thomas Photography
December 2, 2010
Look at this…a couple of my favorite sports being discussing on Gerry’s blog. Lovely photos you brought back to share with us from North Carolina. I drove through there recently and much like seeing it here than through a car window.
Karma…what a great story! One of the Hurricane players is from Oswego, New York where I often take sunset photos.
Gerry
December 2, 2010
It’s a nice place – next time you should plan to stop. Have some grits.
Nye
December 4, 2010
Gerry, you were not far from us at all, and I’m sure Lake Norman is nothing comparing to Torch Lake. 🙂
Nye
December 4, 2010
Gerry, where is that Feng Shui garden at?
Gerry
December 4, 2010
Hello Nye! I thought of you when I was making my plans, but figured that a busy Thanksgiving weekend was no time to try to meet for coffee.
The Moon Gate is in the Botanical Garden at UNC-Charlotte. The website has directions and parking information:
http://gardens.uncc.edu/
Lake Norman exceeded my expectations. For one thing, it was still warm enough there to stroll along the lakeshore and admire the boats. (All the boats have been pulled from Torch Lake.) We had our Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant overlooking the lake. Another day we went to Jetton Park. Very nice indeed.