Tammy, we love the Southport and Oak Island areas too. Southport is like you stepped back in time! That's one area I believe I could live. Calabash is nice too. John, we like the aquarium up that way and there's an area around Ocean City we like. Still have to check out the Elizabethan Gardens. Transplanted, that's an area I don't think we've ever been to, sounds lovely and interesing. ncrescue, We like Salisbury (neat old hardware store called Rufty), it's very quaint and laid back. We'll have to check out the cemetery. Some of the old roses you'll find at older cemeteries are tuff little plants and so fragrant. My husband has a memory of an old cemetery where they had what folks referred to as an old cemetery iris. He took me there one time to see some old family graves for genealogy purposes but they had just finished blooming. Not the Carolinas but here are some places in East TN. I think we've been to all of them multiple times. Have had more picnics in that area than I can count, even winter picnics! My dh grew up in that area and his Dad preached all over those hollows. Roaring Fork auto tour is incredible. Too small to drive RV's, Buses, etc due to old growth trees right up against the road. As I recall there use to be an old country store (pot belly stove and all that was NOT for decoration, lol) along there that we stopped in one day and there was an elderly gentleman sitting outside whittling that entertained my kids (and us) with stories while we looked around. He had as much or more fun than we did. There's another auto tour that takes you back into the hills where a lot of cottage/craft people live and sell their wares and you HAVE to see Cades Cove early morning or late evening. It's a one way loop thru an old mountain community. Most of the homes are gone, but they have preserved a few. Old cemeteries and churches, from the civil war era, lots of trails to hike and so forth. In the spring you'll see huge patches of daffs out in a field where a homestead use to be. Lots of dear, bear, skunks, etc. If you go in the early morn or late eve you'll see more of the critter kingdom. Slow down or you'll miss it!! I've heard people say they went thru it and didn't see the big deal. Those are the people that we pull over for and allowed to pass us. The deer cross from the wooded areas on one side of the road to the fields on the other in the day time and back across in the evenings, and they'll often come right across the road in front of you. Also when you cross the little streams look up a ways into the woods and you may see them in that area. There's a picnic area where kids (and big kids) can wade/splash in the water and we've often seen baby bears with their mamas roaming around. Umm, stay away from them! My daughter chased a family of skunks thru there when she was little calling out to them 'here kitty kitty..' luckily mom must have sensed she wasn't a threat! They also have an old mill arera where they hold special events thru the year. We especially love Old Timers Day with all the fiddle, banjo, etc. players. There's also the Townsend area, Greenback, the old Greenbriar school, the sinks, there are some old covered bridges in the area. There's a small power plant on I-40 right on the state line between NC and TN. If you take off back thru there it goes thru the Cosby area and then on to Gatlinburg. It's one of those areas where the back end of your car meets the front end, continual hairpin turns. Yep, we've roamed those hills, lol. Here is a link that might be useful: east TN

Well, not sure it's close enough to I40 - but if not, definitely put it on your list for another time (especially the daylily festival at the end of June) - Oakes Daylilies in Corryton, TN (just north of Knoxville). They have a web site, and they give very large, healthy daylilies. Some varieties are expensive there, but alot are not. They have very helpful staff as well. Here is a link that might be useful: Oakes Daylilies

@Lori A. Sawaya I really have to thank you. Your questioning why the builder is so strict about only using SW colors motivated me to ask again. I explained that SW has the color-match formulas in their system, nationwide, etc. The home builder salesman I had been dealing with had never had anyone ask to color match & investigated further. I can color match! Also, I did get a SW sample of Behr Silver Drop. I had asked for a quart in a flat finish as that is what the builder will paint with. Miscommunication & I ended up with a jug of Silver Drop in the SW satin sample paint & a can of Silver Drop in a SW (Superpaint) flat finish. Three drywall boards of Silver Drop & 3 different colors. The salesman at SW had told me that the lighter color samples that use Extra White as the base are usually very slightly lighter than the regular paint. I'm going to continue my search & check out BM colors. I so enjoy your posts. We are very lucky that you so generously share your knowledge & expertise.

Lilyfinch, I saw your cute bubble pics on IG. Lucia is filled with such joy. She and Henry are delightful. Lisa, you had me laughing at your dwarf SdlM. Goes perfectly with my non-blooming variety. But, your poppies! Wow! Now, that's a poppy! How long do Baby Blue Eyes bloom? Had to look up Bubble Bath. How have I never heard of that one?! HalloBlondie, I'm going to suggest he just add on to the small barn, which is more of a big shed. It houses his ATV, snowblower, lawnmower, wagon trailer and junk. We have just under 6 acres, but the out buildings are all clumped together near the house. Not the best look. Altorama, I'm torn between pampering my Edens and neglecting the heck out of them. Maybe I should send them to you for a few years, then you send them back to me once they get the hang of it. Sultry, the answer to your question is - not a clue. He asked me to find some barn pics to show the builder. He said I should choose because he wants me to like it. Can't be too upset with that! Lily, you'll soon be growing things you couldn't before and your growing season will be almost year round. Only a couple hours away is Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. You'll love all the garden bling in addition to the huge plant nursery. Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach is fun and Pageant of the Masters is incredible. There are the missions all up and down the coast. San Juan Capistrano was a favorite. If you like Mexican food, you will find that it is so much more authentic than Mexican food in the midwest. You'll love the jacaranda trees, camellias, gardenias and being able to grow your own citrus. I'd grow citrus for the scent alone. The fruit is just a bonus! Plants that were annuals in TN will be perennials in CA. You can visit Grace Rose Farm for a day trip. Sounds like they're gearing up for visitors, big time. The entire Santa Ynez area is worth staying a day or two and visiting Solvang, and a little further up the coast is Carmel and Monterey, wonderful get-a-way spots. At least, they used to be. A stop in Santa Barbara is a must. And, if you like antiquing, Summerland, just outside Santa Barbara was always a must. Not sure if it still is. Deborah would know. These places are not especially close to San Diego, but more like day or weekend trips. And, I am positively green with envy you will get to visit Lisa and Ingrid.