Ruby Mize Azalea Garden

A few weekends ago we drove to Nacogdoches to attending the SFA Spring Plant sale to pick up some native plants we’ve been wanting for a good while. We had gone once before, I think when I was pregnant with Forest, so considering that was 8 years ago, it has been a bit since we’ve attended. We had some time to kill between the sale and getting lunch in Lufkin before we headed into Angelina NF to do some botanizing, so we dropped by the Mize Azalea Gardens to walk around. Since everything was a bit delayed this year we really caught the azaleas as a good time. Usually they are already winding down by the time the plant sale would have been going on so it was a delight to get to enjoy them this year.

So, this is really just a colorful azalea appreciation post! The color combinations and light were hitting *just right*!

Arisaema dracontium, green dragon

I love camellias but they don’t love our yard. *sad face*

The ‘Cascade Falls’ weeping bald cypresses are looking really good now, creating a tunnel to walk through.

This hawk landed right as we were approaching the trail. It sat and let us take photos, terribly lighting, though. Chris suspected it had found some prey to stalk and it was too enticing to leave.

I think we’re due for a weekend in Nacogdoches sometime soon to explore the other gardens that the university has, plus to get out and see some other areas of Angelina NF that are nearby. If you ever find yourself in the area, definitely stop by the gardens, they are free to the public and there are several parking locations to easily access them!