Find LOVE in Colonial Williamsburg!

♥

Most people know our state motto, "Virginia is for Lovers", and if you live in Virginia you are probably aware of the LOVE signs that are traveling around the state. 

This weekend the LOVE sign made it's way to Merchant's Square in Williamsburg, 

and of course I had to visit it. 

And then of course we had to take a stroll through Colonial Williamsburg. I never get tired of it. 

The landscape is always changing through each season, so there is always something new to see.  

I especially love it when we get their early in the morning before the crowds come. It's so peaceful. 

I wish we had smell-o-vision, because this little corner under this tree smelled so sweet. ^

This little corner is so pretty. ^

I want a spot like this of my own. ^

click above to view full panoramic. ^

  

My trees! Here's another view. Remember them from a couples posts back? ^

It never occurred to me until this last visit, but I wonder how many people walk down Duke of Gloucester Street in CW and never venture through the gates and into the gardens. I wonder if most people don't even realize they are allowed to walk through most gardens without a ticket. The street is always full of tourists, but when we walk through the gardens we run across very few people.  

So, for those who may not be aware, you will know what areas you aren't allowed in when you try to enter them. Otherwise, it's all there for everyone to enjoy! (Not that I mind having a colonial garden all to myself now and then. ☺)  

♥

Spring in Colonial Williamsburg, Part I

Is spring really, finally here to stay? I certainly hope so. I am ready for it. Winter seems to have had a hold on everyone this year, but I think spring is starting to take over. I love seeing the tiny blooms peaking out of my twisted willows and Japanese maples.

I love Colonial Williamsburg in spring. We took a walk there recently and everything is still dormant or unplanted. But, I thought I'd share some pictures from a visit last May that I meant to share at that time, but never got around to. Hopefully this will get you in the springtime mood.

(all photos taken with a canon powershot 870 IS and edited in google+)

Red Buckeye

When we walked over to the "colonial garden" area on Duke of Gloucester Street we looked around to see if we could find the name of this tree above.

red buckeye

We're pretty sure this is it judging from it's label (above).

I love walking through all the gardens here. You can go from one manicured yard to the next down brick walkways and through little garden gates.

If you've never been to, or even heard of, Colonial Williamsburg, it used to be the capital of Virginia during colonial times. Basically, it's a living museum with ..... let me just copy and paste from wiki. So much easier:

Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum and private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The 301-acre (122 ha) Historic Area includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 (during which the city was the capital of Colonial Virginia), as well as Colonial Revival and more recent reconstructions. The Historic Area is an interpretation of a Colonial American city, with exhibits including dozens of authentic or re-created buildings related to colonial and American Revolutionary War history. -- read more at Colonial Williamsburg's Wikipedia page.

You need a ticket to get into many of the buildings, as it is a museum with costumed interpreters, but you can walk the streets, drink/eat in the taverns, enter many of the shops, and enjoy some of the gardens for free. If you haven't visited, I highly recommend it. It's a beautiful place.

I feel like I've visited it more in the past few years than I have my entire life, even though I've always lived within 30 minutes of it.

This is just kind of a tiny peek inside this living museum. Tomorrow I will show you some of it's more recognizable buildings and a bit of the colonial garden shop. More flowers!