Churches in Full Bloom

Over the last 3 weeks, I was able to take some photos of local churches with plantings of rhododendrons in full bloom.

The first church was photographed on May 10. It's in the Wilkesboro community on Boomer Rd. The round stained glass over the front door is of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane.

The other churches were taken about a week or so later -- all in Avery County. Rhododendrons were one of the reasons that Avery County got into the nursery industry. Folks used to dig them from the woods, then they started growing them. It only makes sense that they plant them around their churches. This first church is on Cow Camp Road and is the Presbyterian Fletchers Church.

The next church is at the intersection of 221 and 181 and is the Pineola Presbyterian Church. I also have a picture of it taken a couple of weeks prior to this one before the rhodos started blooming.

The last church is the Linville Falls Community Church. It reminds me of the old hymn, oh come to the church in the wild wood.

Today's Winner

This barn caught my eye today with a pond in front of it surrounded by flag irises. It is on Bethel Rd in Watauga County.

Getting Started

This blog is about churches (that's the doves) and barns (that's the swallows) that I like and have photographed.

First let me say that I am not a professional photographer, but I do use a lot of photography in my profession. Ever since my brother gave me my first camera (a Nikon F-series in 1982) I've enjoyed photography. I like how worrying about taking a good picture makes me think about what I'm really seeing. I wish I was a better photographer, and I thought this project would help me practice.

So why barns and churches? In western North Carolina where I live and work, there are so many beautiful examples of both. I guess I decided to get serious about enjoying them.

Barns and churches really have a lot in common. They aren't structures that people spend a lot of time in like their homes. Yet, you end up looking at them a lot, so people through the years have taken pride in their community church and their barns. That doesn't mean that folks always had a lot of money for these structures, but that often makes them that much more unique and interesting.

Barns and churches are also all about what you put your stores in. That's obvious with barns, but it's also true of churches. It's where people put their faith and their friendships. It's a constant in changing times.

Times have changed a lot in western North Carolina. A lot of barns have seen better days -- some churches have as well.  It's sad when beautiful old buildings aren't taken care of. At least I can take a picture of them.

My first image is from about a month ago in the Altamont area of Avery County. I personally don't like all these barn quilts, but this one is rather nice, especially with the Christmas trees behind it.

Just a bit further down the road was this pretty scene. I don't know what the name of this church is, but it depicts what I want to show in the blog. After all, people need their gardens and their ponies. They also need their churches.

On the way back home I took a picture of this stone church in the North Cove of McDowell County. From this church you view the narrow end of the valley that makes up the North Cove, travelling up to Linville Falls on 221. I think this church by its location as well as it's pretty stonework would help people remember God.