Quest Comments - 2009

John & Lucille's Country Retreat

252-725-0236

http://www.stellacountryretreat.com

Elegant farmhouse only 8 minutes and one stop light from the beautiful beaches of Emerald Isle -Four Bedrooms, 3 baths and sleep 8-Ideal for vacations, reunions, and small weddings.

Thank you so very much for the hospitality and especially your exquisite personal touches in making our visit with our son and his family a very memorable one. We all spent Thanksgiving here and had a wonderful time. It made our visit so comfortable with all of room and comforts of home. S Kraynik 11/28/2009

We came for our niece's wedding. The cottage was perfect....spacious and so comfortable. Everyone congregated here. Thank you so much for your kind hospitality. The flowers were beautiful and the food/beverages so appreciated. We want to come back.
L. Geremina, Raleigh, NC 10/3/2009

During our visit we celebrated my daughter’s marriage. The wedding was reception were both beautiful! It rained some during the reception but the porch provided perfect coverage. The quaint setting made for a romantic wedding. It was her dream wedding. Thank you for making this home so welcoming. K. Meador Virginia Beach, VA 9/26/2009

The beds, like the home, are fabulously comfortable! We had a delightful stay-thank you so much for this! B. Lundiens Annapolis, MD8/23/2009

We had an unbelievable week in your very comfortable and homey retreat. The house is wonderful and your beautiful touches have added so much. We loved the area and found so many wonderful things to do and explore. It has been heavenly. Thank you for the gift basket and beautiful flowers. C. Seymour, Ebensburg, PA 8/8/2009

After driving for 900 miles to reach this beautiful home, we cannot express the feeling of welcome when we entered the door. We have had a lovely two weeks. The boys loved the surf. We had a great trip to Cape Lookout, Fort Macon, Harkers Island, Hammocks Beach State Park & of course the beach. The Gray Family, Toronto, Canada 7/12/2009

Thank you so much, Deloria, for sharing your retreat with us. It is so homey and comfortable. You went all out with the goodies in the basket, fruit, fresh flowers, water in the fridge. You made us feel so welcome with the personal card. My grandson was ecstatic when we came inside the house. His first response was "We must come back here." Both grand kids had a ball. There was so much space for them to play and ride their bikes. It was such peace for the adults and all the amenities were so thoughtful. We had a wonderful time!! M. Exum, Durham, NC 6/19/2009

This has been a dream come true! This house felt just like home, and we can’t wait to come back. Thank you for filling this place with so many loving memories.
L. Winestine, Raleigh, NC 9/13/2009

Thank you so much for opening up this beautiful home to use for our wedding! We all had such a wonderful time that we will never forget. The weather was perfect and the property made every picture we took look amazing. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect week for our friends and family. Thanks again!
Patrick & Rileigh Ray, Newport, NC 9/6/2009

How wonderful to sleep under a guilt! It is like staying at grandmas! Thanks for your overwhelming hospitality. This home is so full of love. L. Atkinson, Statesville, NC

…..It was great to have everything we needed available in the kitchen. Each bedroom with its unique décor gave us a welcome surprise. Thanks for everything. The Amon Family, Catawba, NC 8/15/2009

We worried just a bit about not being closer to the beach, but the short distance proved to be more than a fair trade for the tranquility we experienced. Deloria’s eye for detail provided everything that helped our family feel right at home. The Griffins, Terre Haute, IN 5/16/2009

Deloria, thank you for such a beautiful and peaceful stay. Your retreat is fabulous and we couldn’t have asked for more. We had a great family gathering and look forward to many more here! You know exactly how to make a guest feel at home!
The baby loved the Easter basket with snacks and the fruit. I thank you for such great hospitality and beautiful flowers. You really are special and we truly appreciate everything you have done to make this trip memorable! B. Westhoff Dallas, TX 3/21/2009

After two days and 14 hours of driving through snow, sleet, and rain we were so excited when we drove up to this beautiful house. We knew it would be perfect when we saw the lighted Christmas tree outside and the beautiful wreath on the door. The gifts and special card on the table were a welcomed surprise. The girls couldn’t believe “Santa” had left a letter. When we rounded the bend and saw the cozy perfectly decorated living room, we knew we were in the right place. You have put so much into this blessed retreat and our family appreciated it all (comfortable beds, Christmas decorations, beautiful sheets, abundant towels, etc.) We had so much time to play games, do puzzles, read, and relax together-it is the way holidays were meant to be! I believe that the love your parents shared still blesses this house. The Whaley Family 12/27/2009

Cold Spell Damages Flowers

Recently I posted an article about Sasanqua Camelias VS Japonica Camleias. In that post I wrote the following:

I prefer the Sasanqua over the Japonica. On the crystal coast the Japonica blooms in December and January. Sometimes our coastal winds and sudden cold spells burn the buds and blooms. At Thanksgiving the weather is warmer and the sasanqua is a show stopper. So even though the Japonica flowers are larger and fuller than the sasanqua, Japonica blooms can ruin quickly with a atypical cold spell.

Well, during the past two weeks low tempertures have damaged the Japonica Camelias blooms as you can see in the photos. Even though the Camelias at the retreat are very large and old growth the blooms have been hurt by the dips in the temperture. The buds show dark spots caused by the weather so I don't know how many flowers will open after this cold spell.

Until a few weeks ago there had been lots of rain and rather mild temperatures so the early blooms were huge this year and beautiful in color.

Every Christmas my mother would decorate the farmhouse with the Camelias. I've kept this tradition but not this year!

http://WWW.STELLACOUNTRYRETREAT.COM

252-725-0236

Colorful Fall Flowers

Sasanqua Camellia, native to Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, is one of my favorite foundation plantings. Its dark green waxy foliage alone is enough to have a place in the garden landscape. The sasanqua, however has an added fall surprise with its indescribable show of of pink and red blossoms. There are clusters of buds and profuse blossoms equal to colorful spring flowers. And when fall colors are predominant, this splash of pink and red really stands out.


Petals fall to the ground around the base of the shrub making a carpet of color, adding to the beauty


The sasanqua is not as large as the well known Japonica Camellia and better suited for small spaces. It is a densely branched evergreen with pyramidal to oval-rounded shape. It grows about 6-10’ high with lustrous dark green leaves and 2-3” flowers and can be pruned to a tree like shape.


I prefer the Sasanqua over the Japonica. On the crystal coast the Japonica blooms in December and January. Sometimes our coastal winds and sudden cold spells burn the buds and blooms. At Thanksgiving the weather is warmer and the sasanqua is a show stopper. So even though the Japonica flowers are larger and fuller than the sasanqua, Japonica blooms can ruin quickly with a atypical cold spell.

One of the common cultivars found at most nurseries is “Yuletide” It has a re d flower with yellow stamens, single form, upright habit and dark green foliage. Another great sasanqua is “pink Butterfly”, bright pink, single, very large, October - November, and vigorous grower

Sources:

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Michael A. Dirr, page 173, Stipes Publishing, Campaign, Illinois, 5th revision - 1998.

All About Azaleas, Camellias, & Rhododendrons, Ortho Books, page 18 & 89

John & Lucille's Country Retreat

252-725-0236

Crystal Coast Vacations

Thanks to Jason at Crystal Coast Rentals. for the following write-up about the John & Lucille Country Retreat. We appreciate his kind words.

Stella Country Retreat!

This vacation rental is simply amazing. When you look at all of the amenities it will provide you and your family, it’s easy to see the value here. The Stella Country Retreat is a place out in the country, not far at all from the beach.

The retreat is a large farmhouse that will take you back to simpler times for a very relaxing vacation experience. Staying off the island has several advantages with regards to noise and traffic.

Stella, NC is a quiet, and laid back kind of place. If you want to head to the beach for the day, you can be on the sand in about 15 minutes, if that. Pick fresh grapes from the vine while relaxing on the property. There are several other fruits to choose from too. Plum, apple, and fig tress also grow here.

The retreat is a great place for visitors planning to do some hunting or fishing. There’s a boat ramp very close to the retreat.

Visiting someone stationed at an area military installation? You’d be hard pressed to find better accommodations while staying in the area.

There’s plenty of activities to do in our area, and the Stella Country Retreat puts you right in the middle of a lot of them. The beaches, aquarium, and shopping are all very close by.

I hope you enjoy your visit to the Crystal Coast.