Rose of the Week: Dolly Parton

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I've decided to start a series featuring one rose from our yard each week.  This is the first in the series.

Dolly Parton is an east Tennessee icon.  Her Dollywood amusement park caused tourist to spend even more time (and money) in our part of the state, and her Imagination LIbrary, which mails age-appropriate books to the homes of preschoolers, has helped raise literacy levels in our schools.

Dolly Parton also has a rose, which we have enjoyed for several years, named after her.  I wonder if the fact that this is a 'plump' rose had anything to do with the naming of it?

'Our' Mt. Nebo Cabin

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Betsy and I have been going to the same cabin on Mt. Nebo in Arkansas for about eight years.  As you can see, it’s beautiful and and just the right size for two people.  It’s in a perfect spot for enjoying the afternoon light, and for capturing those gorgeous Mt. Nebo sunsets.

Whitewater Falls

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In March Betsy and I visited Whitewater Falls near Sapphire, North Carolina.  We’d been there before, but this was a beautiful morning, and there were very few people around.  It seemed as if we had this gorgeous waterfall all to ourselves.

Brush Creek Falls

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Betsy and I made our first waterfall-hunting expedition to West Virginia in April, 2010.  Brush Creek Falls in Pipestem Resort State Park was one of the waterfalls we visited on that trip.

Rainbow at Cane Creek Falls

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Betsy and I don’t always see a rainbow when we visit a waterfall, but when we visited Cane Creek Falls in Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee, we were fortunate enough to see and capture this rainbow.  This picture was taken during a visit to the park in 2009.

Rhododendron Blossoms

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Betsy and I are confident that Spring has come to stay when the big rhododendron by our deck bursts into bloom.  It has beautiful pink blossoms that are always a welcome sight.

Blatant Iris

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We have several varieties of iris in our yard, and we enjoy the display they put on before the roses start blooming.  This iris, Blatant, is one of the more colorful varieties we have in the yard.