Callaway Gardens Nov 2012

Last week, we made our annual trip to Callaway. I only spent an hour and a half in the gardens on Friday morning as well as seeing the lights on Thursday night before, but I saw a lot of beauty in that short time! I missed seeing the butterfly garden and discovery center, but we had to head back to Atlanta. In the horticultural center, they had a lot of topiary this year and the usual fall mums. The Christmas decorations are also being added.

 The Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel is always one of my favorites and there was no wind so there were great reflections in the lake. Love the stained glass!

 I usually walk to the azalea bowl via the horticultural center, but on this trip I decided to park in the lot for the azalea bowl and check out that entrance....wow! What a great display of mums!

 Being a Florida Gator fan, I was not thrilled when this topiary greeted us (they are the only team that beat us this year...at this writing, they are number 3 and we are number 4), but I felt better when I saw that Ga Tech and the two major schools in Alabama were represented also. We do love our football in the south! Callaway is very close to the Ga/Alabama state line, so that is why those schools were chosen.

 The poinsettia tree was done in a swirl of the two colors this year with a couple of gingerbread topiaries.

 This group of trees does not look that impressive in the daylight, but at night, they are beautiful (photo later).

 I love the succulent wall at the horticultural center! It is one of the largest and prettiest collections I have seen.

 Last year we stayed at the new hotel in the gardens, but we went back to the Mountain Creek this year.

 The Fantasy in Lights begins the Friday before Thanksgiving. Our group always goes in on employee night on Thursday. The weather this year was wonderful...just enough nip in the air to get the Christmas spirit, but not too cold!
The light display is very hard to photograph from the moving trolley, but here are a few shots. You can also drive your own car through but we really like the trolley better.

 Here are the trees with the lights. They reflect in the lake next to them and it is beautiful.

If you have never been to Callaway Gardens, I highly recommend a visit! I love this time of year or in the spring when the azaleas are in bloom! This trip is the official beginning to the holidays for me. Hope yours are festive and happy!