Ron Grooms Photo Blog

North Carolina Aboretum Fall Colors

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:19:40 +0000

A few weeks ago we made a trip to Asheville, North Carolina. We spent a few hours at the North Carolina Arboretum, walking trails and looking at the exhibits. As we were coming off one of the trails back to the parking lot, I turned around and saw this grass standing against a background of beautiful red leaves in the distance.

John Osteen’s Cabin Revisited

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:09:08 +0000

John Osteen opened his log cabin to the public again this past weekend. I had been looking forward to making another visit since last year when I went out for my first visit. (Last years visit seen here) . The day was overcast and we had a slight drizzle on the the way out. When you step through the door to the cabin, you find a warm and inviting fire in the big stone fireplace. Just as warm is the welcome that you receive from John Osteen. To greet his guest he has a hot cup of coffee off the wood stove, as well as sweet potatoes, biscuits and corn bread with plenty of syrup and honey. The best thing of all is just the conversation.

John, an avid historian, built his log cabin back in 1976. Since then he has add a smokehouse, chick coop, barn, a one room school house, and a Confederate Museum. There is a lot of history to learn as you walk back through history to a time when life was simpler.

See more pictres from John Osteen’s Cabin 2010 Open House.

Butterflies out at Hopelands Gardens

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:44:40 +0000

Walking around Hopelands Gardens taking some macro shots and ran up on a stand of purple flowers with bees and butterflies. I liked the contrast of this orange butterfly with the purple flowers.

Hopelands Gardens Bee

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:36:27 +0000

Had a warm fall day at Hopelands Gardens in Aiken. Playing around with some macro shots and found that the bees and butterflies were active today.

Watson’s Mill State Park and Covered Bridge

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:46:57 +0000

On a recent summer afternoon, we returned to Watson’s Mill State Park for a family reunion. It is always fun to climb around the rocks and watch the people playing in the water below the below the the bridge, or just sit in the shade and relax to the sounds of the rushing water.

Aiken’s Makin 2011

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:42:16 +0000

This past weekend, about 30,000 shoppers came to downtown Aiken, South Carolina for the annual Aiken’s Makin arts and craft show. More than 200 vendors and exhibitors were on hand with plenty of arts, crafts, and food. This year marked the 35 Anniverary of this popular event. In past years, vendors were located in the grassy parkways between the streets. This year, however, a new layout had all vendors set up in the roadways for better accessibility. For more pictures, see Aiken’s Makin 2010 or Aiken’s Makin 2007.

Photo Walk on the River

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:05:19 +0000

On a recent photo walk at the Brick pond and North Augusta Greenway, I looked across the Savannah River and saw this scene.

Dogwoods and Azaleas Come to Aiken

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 05:44:00 +0000

I love the spring when the Dogwood and Azaleas are in full bloom in Aiken.

South Carolina Aquarium Thru the Eyes of a Child

admin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:48:00 +0000

The South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston is a fun experience any time. Watching the excitement of a child seeing it for the first time is priceless. Fish and animals from all parts of South Carolina are on display, from the mountain forest, to the Piedmont, coastal plain, salt marsh, coast and ocean. There are fish of all kinds as well as birds, otters, alligators, and turtles. There is even a Touch Tank were you can touch and feed Rays and other sea creatures.

Hopelands Gardens Camellia

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:56:00 +0000

The Camellias at Hopelands Gardens were beautiful this year. Aiken, South Carolina has been having a colorful spring as flowers of all descriptions having been blooming.