My Actual Green South - Where I've Always Gone Home

They say southerners are tied and bound to the land. I believe it. Not only the Southern Gothic writers like Faulkner and O'Connor illustrated it, but even the more recent ones - Conroy and his generation painted the full picture for all of you who looked in from the outside of this exotic region. I spent most of my childhood playing outdoors till it was dark - I roamed my way through forests, explored trails or made my own, rode my bike alongside the marsh and around the coastal islands where I grew up. They offered more refuge to me than indoors or under any roof every did. 

These photos were taken when I came home one year from Brazil - this was during spring. The coastal South in all its glorious spring splendor is stunning. I love Brazil and its tropical climate so I came from one beautiful place to another. This was when I was still living in New York, when I'd been gone for 17 years from the coast where I grew up and even though I loved cities and city life, returning to this gorgeous nature and haven was always a treat. It had everything I didn't have in New York - way more green, it was always warmer, much slower and a pleasurable escape. It was always just what I needed when I wanted to get away for a little break. I always have fun with my Nana - how I call my grandmother - and she is continuously the coolest since she also has a gypsy and artistic soul - seen dancing here and loving our photo shoot with all the spring blooms and colors.