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Simply Soul Searching Karen :)'s avatar

"I feel like I've been cleansed from the inside out..." and now I do, too. Thank you for this mini-retreat, Laura! Your words and your photos--and your enthusiasm for all of nature--are gifts for us today.

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Laura B.'s avatar

Thank you, Karen. I'm so grateful we are on this journey together!

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Maureen Doallas's avatar

The mountain laurel is beautiful; I've found, though, it doesn't seem to last long when cut and put in a vase.

Lovely adventure for you.

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Laura B.'s avatar

I have never seen so much in bloom at once, Maureen! It was a rather surreal experience to walk through it. I have the same experience with rhododendron--it doesn't do very well as a cut flower. I'm not sure if there is some additive that might help or not. I was always told to crush up an aspirin to put in the water of my cut flower bouquets to make them last longer. Do you know of any secrets like that?

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Maureen Doallas's avatar

I've tried aspirin, with no success, and have read that gin or vodka is good, but if one enjoys either, that might be both too expensive and a waste to use in such a way. When I was near a Trader Joe's, I would buy cut flowers that would last into a second week, far longer than any purchase at a more expensive grocery. Maybe Trader Joe's knows something we don't.

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Laura B.'s avatar

I wish we had a Trader Joe’s in these parts! There must be something about the family the laurel and rhododendron are in that doesn’t do well with cutting. We need advice from a florist!

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The (Wild)erness Journal's avatar

Thanks for sharing! What a beautiful scene. 💙

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Laura B.'s avatar

It really was. If you ever have the chance to visit the area you won't regret it! In the fall the Dolly Sods Wilderness area is a flyway for many migrating birds.

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The (Wild)erness Journal's avatar

I hope I get the chance sometime! Thanks for the recommendation 😊 I love watching the migration.

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Ada Boggess's avatar

Love this, I feel like I was there with you!

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Laura B.'s avatar

You would have loved the mountain laurel, Ada!

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Diana Trautwein's avatar

Ab.Fab!!! Thanks for all of it🥰

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Laura B.'s avatar

My pleasure, Diana! Thanks for bearing with me and reading along!

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