Hello sweet friends. I hope you are enjoying the first week of June!
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Psalm 34:8 (ESV)
Last week, Butch and I had an opportunity for a little getaway to one of our favorite places that we discovered in 2017! This trip made number 5 for us at The Swag, known for their stunning views, romantic vistas, and impeccable charm. Situated at five thousand feet, this Relais & Chateaux, all inclusive, mountain hideaway is truly a breath of fresh air! Join us as we roam outdoors on this magical 250 acre property, steps away from The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and miles of trails!
Fog or low clouds in the valleys and clinging to the ridges gives us a true sense of the reason for the name, Great Smoky Mountains!
This was our first time to take in the beauty of the rhododendron season!
This green area that leads to the garden has several sitting areas and places to hang out, eat a bite, read, or maybe just relax and enjoy the surroundings! You can see the garden in full bloom here.
At this altitude and in the mountains, it was still peony season!
After a few passing nighttime thundershowers, the next day brought beautiful weather to the NC Appalachians.
The garden has many handmade natural rustic features!
This is called Gooseberry Knob. The view from here is beyond spectacular. We were totally surprised when we hiked up to the knob with our picnic lunch to have the hill all to ourselves!
Ox-eye daisies must love the mountain air!
Who doesn’t enjoy a swing? Butch and I spent some time in this one! Butch says swings and rocking chairs make him relaxed and sleepy. I agree. The Swag has plenty of rockers too!
I was smitten by the stunning large-leaved lupines in blooms! The flower spires can reach up to twelve inches in length!
Lupines are popular ornamental plants that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees! It is too warm in my 8a zone to grow them. This was our first time to find these beauties in bloom!
On another day, we chose to again have lunch on Gooseberry Knob. As unlikely as it is to happen once (this is a very popular spot), we had lunch twice as if this was our own private Appalachian Mountain hideout! Our secret was discovered a little later by other guests!
Mountain Laurel and rhododendron right outside our door. A nice floral arrangement!
This lovely native wildflower is blue wild indigo. The blossoms resemble pea blossoms in shape. The plant juice can be used to make a purple dye!
We were excited to find Mountain Laurel beginning to bloom. We’ve caught them in full bloom here on a previous visit later in June. This was a treat, finding both Mountain Laurel and a wonderful show of rhododendron during the same visit! For a look at our previous June visit, click here!
This pathway led to the Chestnut Lodge where our room was located. We had a private balcony with an awesome view of the mountains. We could look down on hikers as they trekked the Cataloochee Divide Trail within The Great Smoky Mountains National Park…only 25 yards away!
Thank you for joining us in the mountains and relaxing with us at The Swag. To view our first visit to this wonderful hideaway, click here, and here!
Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda