Taking Flight

A cardinal takes flight after perching atop a lantern in Lafayette Park.

(So,  the perfect picture of this redbird sitting on this light was not to be!

 Just before the shutter snapped, he flew away.)

 But, this pose is probably more interesting anyway!

 

Signs, Signs, Downtown Survey

What do you want to see in downtown Selma?

Stop by the Lafayette Park entrance on Water Avenue

 and let city leaders know. Just above the blue sign

 is a large board where you can write your answer. 

Linking to Signs, Signs

 

Sundown in Lafayette Park

It's sundown in Lafayette Park, site of  Selma and Dallas County's first bridge 

across the Alabama River. The Pettus Bridge, lower right, replaced it in 1940.

Linking to Skywatch Friday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Good Fences, By the River

The fence at Lafayette Park is perfect to hold on to

 and get a good look at the Alabama River.

Linking to Good Fences

and City Daily Photo Blogs

All Dressed Up

The Bridgetender's House is all dressed up

 to welcome warmer weather and hopefully, sunnier skies!

Privately owned, the house where the bridge tender lived

 and was on duty to open the old swing bridge,

 recently was renovated and is nestled

 by the river in Lafayette Park. 

It is a favorite subject in Selma for photographers and artists.  

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows

and City Daily Photo Blogs

Welcome to the Bridge Tender's House

The pale yellow Bridge Tender's House adorned with a few bright flowers

 is a welcoming presence in Lafayette Park. Situated right on the river bank,

 the historic abode once served as home for the bridge tender whose job

 was to open and close the original swing bridge for boats.

That bridge was demolished to make way

 for the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1940.

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows and City Daily Photo Blogs

Focus on the Flag

ABC Wednesday is celebrating the letter "F" this week,

 so we'll FOCUS on the FLAG and the FREEDOMS for which it stands. 

This flag hangs from the Bridgetender's Cottage in Lafayette Park

 and is especially beautiful with the bridge in the background. 

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Skywatch Friday (Fair with Flowers)

Skies were fair during the first part of last weekend as Selma put on some of its finest attire to welcome Pilgrimage guests.

This historic marker for the former swing-span bridge and lamppost in Lafayette Park wear a rosy pink as the Bridge Tender's Cottage nearby opened for tours. The Pettus Bridge is in the background.

View more skies at www.skyley.blogspot.com.

Cold Day in Lafayette Park

BRRRRR! Monday brought out gloves, hats and scarves, and Old Glory waved all day! I think you can see how cold it is as evidenced by this view from Lafayette Park. The Arctic blast will linger through the weekend, and we could have highs that stay below freezing for a few days later this week. Weather forecasters encourage everyone to wrap pipes, bring pets inside or at least provide outdoor shelter and check on the elderly.

Rain Swollen River

It's not at flood stage, but the Alabama River is swollen as it moves rainwater from the past several days further south. Many areas in Alabama have received several inches of rain causing flash flood warnings.

This view is from Lafayette Park off Water Avenue downtown. You can see the Bridge Tender's House at left.

Skywatch Friday (Lilies of Lafayette Park)

Yellow daylilies stand tall in the flower beds by the St. James Hotel and Bridge Tender's House in Lafayette Park. This week has been mostly sunny and very hot, and it's not quite officially summer.

See more sky pictures at Skywatch Friday.

February Theme Day, Paths and Passages

If you happen to be dining on the terrace of the St. James Hotel (not shown), just follow the red brick path past the Bridge Tender's House (left) and make your way to the river overlook at Lafayette Park. This is the location where the first bridge crossed the Alabama River. That bridge was torn down to make way for the Edmund Pettus Bridge (background), which opened to traffic in 1940.
(Click on the photo to see a larger picture, and click HERE to view a similar photo taken in autumn.

There are more than 50 other City Daily Photo Bloggers participating in Theme Day.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Gathering at the River

Young and old alike gathered at the river the day the butterfly sculptures were unveiled. Many took the opportunity to visit on the riverbank at Lafayette Park.
To view some of the butterflies, visit The Butterfly Project.

(Click on the photo for a larger view.)

Ta Da!

Ta Da! It was that kind of moment on Thursday when the horn blew and the first butterflies were unveiled. "Tranquility," painted by artist Nate Brown, center, sits at the foot of Lafayette Park on the bank of the Alabama River. Sponsors are Raymond and Ann Thomas, left, and Kathi and George Needham, right, and McNair and JoAnn Ramsey, not shown. More than 40 of these five-foot-tall sculptures are stationed across Selma's downtown historic district. The Butterfly Project is sponsored by the Dallas County Arts Alliance as an effort to showcase the artistic talent in Selma to begin a downtown revitalization. The entire project is locally produced. Butterfly Flight Path maps will be available this weekend at the Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival and Riverfront Market Day. Most of the butterflies can be seen via walking tours. The rest are a short driving distance away.

To see more photos of the ceremony and other butterflies, check out The Butterfly Project.

Market Day Wares

Canvas art was among the many wares for sale at last year's Riverfront Market Day. This year's market activities are Saturday, Oct. 11. There will be music, food, arts, crafts, antique cars, pony rides, a strolling musician and much more!

This section of Water Avenue is the entrance to Lafayette Park and leads to the St. James
Hotel entrance, Bridge Tender's House and The Frame Shoppe.

Evening View from Lafayette Park (Skywatch Friday)

Here's the evening view from Lafayette Park. Just take a seat on the bench and enjoy!

Stay seated and cruise on over to other Skywatch photos HERE.

Summer Scenes, Upriver

The late afternoon sun spotlights the railroad bridge upriver from Lafayette Park off Selma's Water Avenue.

View Down the Fence Line

Here's the view down the ornamental fence line toward the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The fence is in an area known as Lafayette park, just off Grumbles Alley and near the rear of the St. James Hotel and The Restaurant on Grumbles Alley.

Notice how the kudzu has been cut back from the fence. Last summer, the kudzu was allowed to roam all the way to the ironwork.