Posted on by kimhaynesjohnson

March 20: 3:08-3:39 A Trip to Gibbs Gardens

I take an afternoon break at work usually around 3:30 for about 10 minutes to stretch my legs and walk outdoors around the building in the sunshine when it’s warm. My body and soul need the Vitamin D. I need the release of noise and stress to take to the silence. I’m reminded of Margaret Simon’s recent post on Notes from a Walk inspired by Denise Kreb’s post on her own morning walk and take some mental notes for a blog post later. I notice the flowers, the birdsong, the hidden Pirate Trail so perfect for a solitary walk to indulge for just a few minutes in the name of what little sanity and peace of mind exists right now.

This walk reminds me of our visit to Gibbs Gardens last year, where we took in the breathtaking views of daffodils and tulips. It makes me want to go back again. They’ve just opened for the season on March 1. I pull up the ticket information and the hours, starting to plan the trip in my mind. I check out the Bloom Update calendar and admire the photos of the same daffodils I’d seen last year that were recently photographed, smiling their friendly, welcoming springtime smiles already this year.

This weekend? Next weekend? What’s on tap for us? I text my husband: Let’s go back to Gibb’s Gardens! Which weekend works for you?

And then, across the parking lot in the row of pines, I see the familiar ghostly cloud of yellow spores signaling me from the tip top branches, sweeping through the needles and swooping down, taking my inner springtime joy with it as one giant corkscrewing wave spirals in a hurried flurry to the ground. My weekend dreams pummel in that same way inside my heart, and I can feel it.

I cover my nose and mouth and return to the less-spored indoors, turning the personal air purifier in my cubicle to the highest setting, abandoning all ambition to make the drive to Gibbs Gardens until after pollen season and penciling a note to myself to tape to my keys: remember to dig out the NeilMed sinus rinse bottle before bed.

Gibbs Gardens trip plans

come to a screeching-hard halt

in this pollen count

Today’s Pollen Count in Pike County, Georgia is 184 grains per cubic meter of air……..

  • Today: High
  • Tomorrow: Very High
  • Saturday: Very High

8 Replies to “March 20: 3:08-3:39 A Trip to Gibbs Gardens”

  1. I love spring except for the allergies. Our oak trees are dropping so much pollen that my car cannot stay clean. I would love to tour the gardens with you. Those flowers look amazing.

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  2. Kim,

    Your prose today is poetry. I was right there w/ you walking around Gibbs Garden, and as the pollen count temporarily crushed your dream, falling snow awakened me from mine. I suppose a pollen count of “none” is a positive.

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  4. Kim, those maps of the gardens look incredible. I do want some traveling tips from you!! So sorry the pollen count detracts you from enjoying the outdoors. Love the photograph of the flowers and absolutely loved this paragraph:

    And then, across the parking lot in the row of pines, I see the familiar ghostly cloud of yellow spores signaling me from the tip top branches, sweeping through the needles and swooping down, taking my inner springtime joy with it as one giant corkscrewing wave spirals in a hurried flurry to the ground. My weekend dreams pummel in that same way inside my heart, and I can feel it.

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  5. Those flowers are heavenly! The yellow cloud…hellish. Pine pollen is late coming to NC this year. We are bracing. I hope you will have some sweet, soft rains to wash the yellow stuff away, so you can walk in Gibbs Gardens again with joy. And peace of mind. And getting that Vitamin D.

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  7. Oh, Kim, sorry for the pollen that keeps you from enjoying the tulip farm. That photo is beautiful! I hope you will get to enjoy the Gibbs Gardens.

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