From Songs of Selma Park

Here's an early evening, late-summer view of the Songs of Selma Park looking up the steps toward Water Avenue. To your left would be the Pettus Bridge, and behind you is the Alabama River.

Summer on Church Street

Here's a summertime view of one of my favorite houses and yards on Church Street. Wish I could keep my own yard this neat and colorful!

Something's Eating the Zinnias

Something's eating the zinnias! Earwig? Cutworm? Anybody got an idea?

I went in search of butterflies and found this little creature instead!

Flowers and the Flag

It's midsummer, but the flowers in this yard are still beautiful, and believe me, it takes a lot of work (watering and weeding in heat and humidity) to keep gardens looking healthy around here.

I like the way the American flag is displayed in the center of one of the flower beds.

Some People

I noticed this photograph and hand-written piece of paper in an upstairs window of a downtown building. (Click to enlarge.)

Curious to know what the paper says, I was able to enlarge it enough to read:

"Some people come into our lives
and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to near understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same."

That's a poem by Flavia Weedn, an inspirational poet and artist. I assume the poem is connected to the band photograph by whomever put them in the window.

Queen of Peace Catholic Church

The architecture of Queen of Peace Catholic Church is unique in that it was constructed with stones from remains of the old Confederate Arsenal, the second largest munitions industry in the South. The arsenal was destroyed by Union troops in the Battle of Selma. Notice the aqua stained-glass windows on either side of the front door.

Lily Pond

Water lilies are in bloom in this low area off Highway 41, about a mile south of U.S. Highway 80.

Dallas County has numerous swampy areas where lilies, water hyacinths and fern are found.

Photograph by Christine Weerts

Skywatch Friday (Vapor Trail)

It's Skywatch time again, and my camera caught a vapor trail before it dissipated early one morning this week.

See more Skywatch photos at skyley.blogspot.com.

Carl Morgan Convention Center

Located directly behind Selma City Hall is the Carl Morgan Convention Center. It's the site of events that need facilities for large crowds.

Named for a longtime City Council president and short-term mayor, the building has hosted Chamber of Commerce meetings, dances, Dallas County Cattlemen dinners, church gatherings, charity fundraisers and antique shows.......

The School Board was Here

This building with a belfry once housed the Baker School, then served as headquarters for the Selma School Board. Its steep steps never made it very accessible, and now the school board has a new building on Broad Street.

A Table of Historic Origins

While browsing through the newly opened Market Place downtown, I couldn't help but notice this beautiful, super-heavy kitchen island.

The sign says that the tabletop was used in the old Selma Machine Shop that was located where Everyman Books is now.

The legs are crafted from lumber salvaged from historic Water Avenue buildings.

The apron and shelf are made of flooring from an antebellum home in Orrville.

Locomotive Mystery

No, you aren't hallucinating. This really DOES look like an old locomotive sitting in the middle of the countryside on the way to Six Mile Creek.

Anybody got an idea about how it ended up there?

Thanks to Nancy Kenfield for submitting her photo of this unusual find!

City Skater

Feats such as this aren't exactly allowed on the steps of downtown churches! But, a handy camera caught the acrobatic skills of this skateboarder before he was asked to leave.

I Photoshopped the result to spotlight the action and give a 3-D effect to the steps and walls.

Thanks to Christine Weerts, today's guest photographer.

Carter Drug Grand Re-opening

Vendors Pam Parker and Julie Freeland of Birmingham were on hand Friday at Carter Drug Co.'s grand re-opening. Pam is a sales representative for Tyler Candles and Julie for 225 Unlimited.

They greeted shoppers and exhibited products such as pineapple crush hand-poured candles, decorative plates, frames and more. Other vendors demonstrated their wares and gave goodies to their purchasers.

The drugstore recently underwent a major interior renovation.

Skywatch Friday (Looking Up for the Weekend)

Skies are cloudy at the moment and will usher in heavy rain today for a weekend that is expected to bring blue skies and cooler weather. Can you remember what it's like to feel temps in the 80s with a cooling northwest breeze?

This Skywatch photo was taken recently along Lauderdale Street. You are walking beside the Performing Arts Centre toward St. Paul's Episcopal Church on a typical summer day full of fluffy clouds above.

Check out more Skywatch photos at www.skyley.blogspot.com.

The 2009 Official Crape Myrtle Photo

Here's the 2009 edition of the pink crape myrtle in my backyard.

Here's the one that I posted for 2008.

Future Home of Arts Revive

An old auto service building at the foot of Water Avenue is undergoing a transformation into an art center.

Perched on the bank of the Alabama River, the building will some day serve as a place for workshops and galleries with outdoor areas for inspirational views.

See the exterior plan HERE.

Southland Chemical

Need janitorial, cleaning or pool supplies? How about a Big Green Egg?

Then head over to Southland Chemical on Lauderdale Street. The red-and-white striped awning is easy to find.

Selma City Hall in Summer

Crape myrtles and magnolias frame the facade of Selma City Hall, and across the street these pretty pinks practically glow in the late evening sun.

Click the photo to enlarge, and you can see the municipal fountain on the far right. Just to the left of it is the Civil War Era Brooke Cannon. (Note that it's pointing north!)

Summer Sunday

Crape Myrtles line the sidewalks to downtown churches on summer Sundays such as this.

In the Garden

I could quote Robert Burns' Red, Red Rose verse, but even the words of that love poem wouldn't do this picture justice.

This rose grows in the garden at the St. Edmund Memorial Chapel. The statue of Mary was featured in Thursday's post.

(Photograph by Christine Weerts)

Skywatch Friday (Changes Ahead)

The skies have been changing this week as well as the wireless communication companies.

The Selma area benefited from some badly needed rain and cooler temperatures, and hopefully we will benefit from improved wireless service.

Check out more Skywatch photos HERE.

Mary Memorial

A statue of Mary, mother of Jesus, graces a small memorial garden next to the St. Edmund Memorial Chapel. The chapel was built in 1938 by the Edmundite Missions for African American Catholics. When the congregation merged with the white Catholic church in the 1970s, the former church building was converted to a chapel for the Edmundite fathers who live in Selma.

Thanks to Christine Weerts for sending her photograph.

*(City Daily Photo Blogs has reached a membership of 1,000! When Selma, Ala., Daily Photo began in March 2007, there were only about 200 members.)

Flower Mosaic

Mosaic art is a hit this year at the St. Edmund Learning Center Summer Enrichment program. Bright mosaics, many of them flowers, decorate the art room walls.

The children not only enjoyed designing their masterpieces but had fun tearing the paper into tiny pieces. After drawing a design, they glued the paper onto canvas, then used watercolor to paint over it.

Turning Pink

It's mid-summer and Selma neighborhoods are turning pink with crape myrtle blossoms, especially since some much needed rain on Sunday and Monday.

Lighting the Sky

Here's another photo of fireworks lighting the sky in Valley Grande on the Fourth of July. (Click the picture to see a larger view.)

The holiday celebrates the colonies' declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776 and states America's case for the right to be a free nation. You can read all about it HERE.

Fireworks on the Fourth

There were two fireworks displays in the Selma area on the Fourth, this one at the Valley Grande municipal park.

I went two years ago, and while grand, this one seemed even longer and more spectacular. Hundreds of people gathered at the walking trail and pavilion to enjoy food, games and country music aired by a local radio station before the show. Then, we sat in folding chairs or on the backs of trucks to watch the dark sky light up.

(Click the photo for a larger view.)

A Veteran's Back Porch

It's Independence Day in the USA, and it's celebrated every day on the back porch of a World War II veteran.

God Bless America!

(Skywatch Friday) Downtown Sundown

If it's Friday, then it must be Skywatch, and it's sundown in downtown Selma. I like the way the last golden rays of the day seem to spotlight the bridge and some of the buildings, and the sky is kind of purple.

There are lots more skies out there! Find them HERE.

Ready to Fly

Chirp, chirp! It's time to leave this nest!

The day after I took this photo, the nest was empty. Four baby birds flew out to make their way in the world. Their momma built this straw house in an angelwing begonia hanging basket. See one of their hungry beaks HERE.

July Theme Day (Empty)

It's Theme Day again, and for July, City Daily Photo Bloggers are posting photos of EMPTY.

So, I bring you an EMPTY skateboard park and EMPTY tennis courts at Memorial Stadium. Wouldn't it be nice to have the park or the courts all to yourself? EXCEPT, it is 11 a.m. on a scorching weekday! It's much to hot to skate OR play tennis right now. Better wait until late this afternoon.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants