Tenth Day

Saturday, July 3, 2004-

After breakfast Howard offered to show them some of the sights in and around LaGrange and to drive down to Warm Springs, GA, which had been made famous by President Franklin D Roosevelt's therapeutic visits and was the location of the "Little White House" that he had had built there during his tenure as President, if they were interested in that sort of thing. Having a tour guide who actually knew about the area sounded like a wonderful idea, and as it turned out, it truly was.

After seeing some of the sights in LaGrange they were off to Warm Springs. There were several days' worth of exhibits, pictures, memorabilia, etc. at Warm Springs, but they just spent a few hours. Both the Little White House Museum and the Warm Springs pool had recently been restored and remodeled and the hosts were more than a little proud to show them off. Carol, Howard, and MJ all went along with the expected dipping of the hand in the spring water, but no miraculous cures were reported.

Above: FDR's "Little White House"

A fascinating feature on the grounds of the Little White House is the Walkway of the States. A large stone, perhaps one hundred pounds, from each of the fifty states is displayed with its common and scientific name. Some of the stones are carved in the shapes of the state that they represent. Gneiss seemed to be the favorite stone of several of the states. Howard, Carol, and MJ each speculated about possible pronunciations of "gneiss." In the best tradition of a retired academician, MJ vowed to look it up later. (By the way, it's pronounced just like "nice.")

Left: The Walkway of the States

Callaway Gardens was another high point of the trip. Situated at Pine Mountain, GA, about seventy miles south-southwest of Atlanta, the 14,000 acre nature preserve contains four golf courses, a butterfly conservatory, a world-class botanical garden, several restaurants, lodging accommodations, and other attractions. Since it was past lunchtime when they arrived, they made their way across the preserve to the Gardens Restaurant for the most elegant hamburger and portabella mushroom lunch that anyone could imagine. Their table on the veranda overlooked the Lake View Golf Course, a vista often enjoyed by the founder Cason J Callaway, according to local lore. The Jamaican waiter's lyrical brogue further accentuated the peaceful, though exotic nature of the experience. Carol and MJ's plans to treat Howard to lunch or dinner in appreciation for his hospitality failed; he kept muttering something about their money's not being recognized around these parts.

The Cecil B. Day, founder of the motel chain Day's Inn, was memorialized with the establishment of the butterfly conservatory at Callaway Gardens by his wife Deen Day Smith. 1000 butterflies of 50 or more species fly freely among the human intruders and provide a truly unique encounter with nature.

Above: Day Butterfly Center

Left: One of over 1,000 butterflies in the Conservatory

The John A Sibley Horticulture Center was equally impressive with its 22-foot indoor waterfall and seemingly endless examples of species of plants from around the world. Predictably, a wedding was being rehearsed there by some robust young Marines in full dress uniform and their Southern belle counterparts in frilly dresses.

Right John A. Sibley Horticulture Center
Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

Above: Howard Tolen and Carol Stockton outside the Sibley Horticulture Center, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

Left: Red Banana Plant, Sibley Horticulture Center, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

A dozen other major attractions at Callaway had to be left for another trip another day. Visiting the Callaway Gardens had been suggested to Carol by Harriet Govan before they left St. Simon's Island. Good advice, Harriet! And Thanks, Howard, for seconding the suggestion and providing the transportation. Southern hospitality's image is now restored!

Saturday, July 3, 2004-
After breakfast Howard offered to show them some of the sights in and around LaGrange and to drive down to Warm Springs, GA, which had been made famous by President Franklin D Roosevelt's therapeutic visits and was the location of the "Little White House" that he had had built there during his tenure as President, if they were interested in that sort of thing. Having a tour guide who actually knew about the area sounded like a wonderful idea, and as it turned out, it truly was. After seeing some of the sights in LaGrange they were off to Warm Springs. There were several days' worth of exhibits, pictures, memorabilia, etc. at Warm Springs, but they just spent a few hours. Both the Little White House Museum and the Warm Springs pool had recently been restored and remodeled and the hosts were more than a little proud to show them off. Carol, Howard, and MJ all went along with the expected dipping of the hand in the spring water, but no miraculous cures were reported.	Above: FDR's "Little White House"
	A fascinating feature on the grounds of the Little White House is the Walkway of the States. A large stone, perhaps one hundred pounds, from each of the fifty states is displayed with its common and scientific name. Some of the stones are carved in the shapes of the state that they represent. Gneiss seemed to be the favorite stone of several of the states. Howard, Carol, and MJ each speculated about possible pronunciations of "gneiss." In the best tradition of a retired academician, MJ vowed to look it up later. (By the way, it's pronounced just like "nice.") Left: The Walkway of the States
Callaway Gardens was another high point of the trip. Situated at Pine Mountain, GA, about seventy miles south-southwest of Atlanta, the 14,000 acre nature preserve contains four golf courses, a butterfly conservatory, a world-class botanical garden, several restaurants, lodging accommodations, and other attractions. Since it was past lunchtime when they arrived, they made their way across the preserve to the Gardens Restaurant for the most elegant hamburger and portabella mushroom lunch that anyone could imagine. Their table on the veranda overlooked the Lake View Golf Course, a vista often enjoyed by the founder Cason J Callaway, according to local lore. The Jamaican waiter's lyrical brogue further accentuated the peaceful, though exotic nature of the experience. Carol and MJ's plans to treat Howard to lunch or dinner in appreciation for his hospitality failed; he kept muttering something about their money's not being recognized around these parts.
The Cecil B. Day, founder of the motel chain Day's Inn, was memorialized with the establishment of the butterfly conservatory at Callaway Gardens by his wife Deen Day Smith. 1000 butterflies of 50 or more species fly freely among the human intruders and provide a truly unique encounter with nature.	Above: Day Butterfly Center Left: One of over 1,000 butterflies in the Conservatory
The John A Sibley Horticulture Center was equally impressive with its 22-foot indoor waterfall and seemingly endless examples of species of plants from around the world. Predictably, a wedding was being rehearsed there by some robust young Marines in full dress uniform and their Southern belle counterparts in frilly dresses. Right John A. Sibley Horticulture Center Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA
	Above: Howard Tolen and Carol Stockton outside the Sibley Horticulture Center, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA Left: Red Banana Plant, Sibley Horticulture Center, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA
A dozen other major attractions at Callaway had to be left for another trip another day. Visiting the Callaway Gardens had been suggested to Carol by Harriet Govan before they left St. Simon's Island. Good advice, Harriet! And Thanks, Howard, for seconding the suggestion and providing the transportation. Southern hospitality's image is now restored!