Three Coins in the Fountain....Part Three

The final stop on our 'fountain' tour took us across Mobile Bay to the little town of Fairhope.  There is a rose garden surrounding the fountain, which is always a favorite backdrop for photographs.  I found two 'volunteers' for this picture.

Three Coins in the Fountain....Part Two

Next stop on the 'fountain' tour was downtown Mobile, to Bienville Square. Named for Mobile's founder, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, it takes up an entire city block, bordered by four streets.

Bienville Square had its beginnings as a public park in 1824 after Congress declared that the land be forever used as a city park. The walkways, benches, and live oaks were added in the 1850's.  The large cast iron fountain with an acanthus leaf motif was installed in the 1890's. 

There used to be goldfish in the fountain when I was young.  Those days are no more.

It's still a lovely place, full of squirrels that are so tame some will come and eat right out of your hand.

This little fellow is enjoying a yogurt-covered pretzel which I happend to have on hand.  He probably doesn't get those very often!

Three Coins in the Fountain....Part One

While sightseeing around my hometown, Mobile, on Memorial Day, my family and I found ourselves drawn to areas which also included some lovely fountains.  It's probably good to have out-of-town company occasionally, because it seems like that's the only time I really get to explore my own community.

Washington Square, located in the Oakleigh Garden District of downtown Mobile, Alabama.

Stately live oaks line the sidewalks leading to the fountain, which is in the center of the square.  Historic houses face the square on all four sides.  I'd love to wake up each morning to that view!

Mimosas, Anyone?

I could be referring to the delicious cocktail composed of champagne and orange juice.

But actually, I'm referring to the lovely mimosa tree, also known as the silk tree. They are blooming everywhere in my area right now.

These blossoms are so fascinating to me. There was one of these trees in my front yard when I was a child.  I used to call it the powder-puff tree, because of the blossoms. I picked them and pretended I was using them to put powder on my face.

There are several mimosa trees located just outside my office. The other afternoon I took a break and walked around the pond where they are planted. The timing was perfect, as they were at their peak of bloom.

Apparently these trees are considered invasive because they reproduce and regrow faster than many native species.  The mimosa tree originally came from China, where it was used for ornamental purposes.

The mimosa usually grows to between 20 and 40 feet at maturity.  The leaves are especially interesting; they are from 5-8 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. Each branch has from 20 to 60 leaflets.

The fragrant flowers resemble pom-poms,  ranging in color from white to pink, and are at the end of the branches.

Mimosa seeds form inside flat, straw-colored oval-shaped pods from August to September, but they stay on the trees until winter.  I'll go back later in the season to take a look at the seed pods.

The mimosa seeds can lay dormant for as long as fifty years. The tree can grow as much as three feet in one season. Because of this, it's a strong competitor for other shrubs and can quickly dominate its habitat, especially in open areas and forest edges.

Time for a different kind of cheeseburger...

I love cooking with Bisquick. If you've never tried some of their impossible pies, they are just so easy and tasty.  Here is a recipe for "Quick Cheeseburger Bake."


1 lb (at least 80%) lean ground beef
3/4 c. chopped onion
1 can (11 oz) condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 c. Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers frozen mixed vegetables
1/4 c. milk
2 c. Bisquick mix
3/4 c. water
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Generously grease rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in soup, vegetables and milk.

2. Stir Bisquick mix and water in baking dish until moistened; spread evenly. Spread beef mixture over batter. Sprinkle with cheese.

3. Bake 30 minutes.

This would be so good with a tossed garden salad.  I'm thinking brownies for dessert!

source: http://www.bettycrocker.com/

Braxton Bragg (1817-1876)

General Bragg is buried in the Confederate Rest portion of Magnolia Cemetery.  A very controversial  commander for the Confederacy in the Civil War, he was a West Point graduate (1837) with a reputation for strict discipline within the ranks.

Prior to the Civil War, he saw action against the Seminole indians and in the Mexican War. In fact, his use of 'flying artillery' during the Mexican War revolutionized the battlefield use of that arm.  In 1856 he left the Army as lieutenant colonel and became a Louisiana planter.

During the Civil War, he was in charge of the operations against Fort Pickens in Pensacola Harbor, after initially commanding various operations in Louisiana. Early in 1862 he briefly commanded the forces in northern Mississippi for the attack on General Grant at Shiloh.   He later relieved General Beauregard after this battle.

Unfortunately some of his later actions did not result in success for the Confederate forces. On the last day of 1862 he launched an attack on the Union forces in Murfreesboro, Kentucky, but did not carry through the initial success. Having to withdraw, he was driven into Georgia.

He led forces to a victory at Chickamauga, but again failed to follow up the success. Instead, he attacked the Union army at Chattanooga and simply waited for Grant to break through his lines.

All the while he was engaged in disputes with others, namely Leonidas Polk, James Longstreet, and William J. Hardee.  As a result the Army of Tennessee proved less than effective.  He was removed from command after the Battle of Chattanooga and appointed as advisor to Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia.

After the war he served as Alabama's chief engineer, and eventually settled in Galveston, Texas, where he died suddenly while walking down the street with a friend. 

Braxton Bragg's grave in Magnolia Cemetery.

Remembering the Fallen Heroes

May 31, Memorial Day.  A day to remember and honor those in uniform who gave their lives in service to our country. It was a special day for me. My son and his wife were here, so with my daughter and her husband and my mother we set off to Magnolia Cemetery in downtown Mobile, where both the National Cemetery and Confederate Rest contain the war dead from the War of 1812 through Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Magnolia Cemetery is a very interesting place. It was established by a municipal ordinance in 1836. At that time it was outside the city limits. Originally built on 36 acres, it's now in the heart of downtown Mobile, but has grown to cover 120 acres, and is the site of over 80,000 graves.

Originally called the New Burial Ground, the name was officially changed to Magnolia Cemetery in 1867.  It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

In addition to the 6,000 veterans who are buried here, Magnolia Cemetery also contains the graves of Mobile's two Jewish congregations.

This section is known as Confederate Rest, and contains the graves of those who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.