Monday, December 29, 2014

Farewell 2014. It's been a Fab year.


In last year’s Farewell address I noted that I’d blinked, and 2013 somehow disappeared. Overall it was a pleasant year, but not one packed with unforgettable memories.

2014 has been strikingly different.

It all started with a road trip from the North Carolina mountains to Cambridge, Maryland for a dinner party thrown for members of my old book club (the Dorchester Divas.) It was a wonderful reunion, but the weather was ghastly and we swore we'd never travel during winter again. But I did manage to get out to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge which is one of the chief wintering areas along  the Atlantic Flyway. Despite the wind and cold I found a few photo ops.















February marked the 50th anniversary of my exclusive interview with the Beatles when the Lads arrived at Miami International Airport to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was a dizzying month filled with newspaper and radio interviews, and misty-eyed walks down Memory Lane.  The hero was John Lennon and our story appeared on the front page of The Miami Herald on February 13, 2014. I also wrote a remembrance for The Christian Science Monitor.



April brought the return of the hummingbirds and my invitation to judge at the Biltmore International Rose Trials.


Hummers returned on April 12th


I am honored to be a member of the permanent Biltmore judging panel
Seeing such beautiful roses and visiting with so many rose-loving friends was an unforgettable experience. A shrub called 'Miracle on the Hudson' flew off with top honors.

Rosy fun with Chris VanCleave, my Chris and Teresa Byington
The always spectacular Biltmore Rose Garden
Another important anniversary was celebrated in June – the 25th year since my first date with a certain officer in the Royal Navy.



Later that month we set off on another road trip visiting friends in Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Maryland and DC on the way to judge one of my favorite rose shows at Longwood Gardens.
       
The wild onions of Yorktown
American Pillar (a hybrid wichurana) at Longwood


In August I wrote my second posting about the historic trees at High Hampton in Cashiers, North Carolina, including the world's largest Fraser Fir.

National Champion Bottlebrush Buckeye



The trees at High Hampton are magnificent. The gardens aren't too shabby either.

Labor Day ended with a nasty surprise as Chris was rushed to Asheville for emergency bowel surgery. He was in Mission Hospital 11 days and we wondered  if we would have to cancel our big trip in October we'd been planning for almost a year.

Did we make it? What other special anniversary was on the calender?

Watch this space...



7 comments :

Teresa Byington said...

Love the trip down memory lane! And am so glad I got to be a part of your very special year. Social media is great and can sure start the conversations, but isn't is so wonderful with you can go from online to meeting and sharing special times in person. Happiest of new year to you and that handsome and very elegant officer!

Lynn Hunt said...

Teresa, it was such a joy to be with you and Greg and we look forward to many more good times together. Happy New Year to you both!

Sunil Patel said...

Hello Lynn, that's quite a trip through the year with a few interesting and fond memories in between. I haven't really stopped to pause and reflect on the year that's just been, but I know it's been quite a roller coaster ride. I'm hoping this coming year is more calm, stable and full of good gardening weather!

Lynn Hunt said...

Happy New Year, Sunil! I know you have had a super busy year working on your new garden. But I'm sure you will be seeing the fruits of your labours in 2015. I look forward to reading about your new gardening adventures. And yes, let's hope for good weather for us all. We had a very buggy summer which kept me out of the garden more than I would've liked.

Les said...

I'll be keeping an eye on this space, but in the meanwhile i wish you a very happy new year!

Lynn Hunt said...

Thank you, Les. Wishing you a very happy 2015 as well!

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