Downtown Florals

Downtown Selma is filled with flowers this time of year including these white beauties by the Dallas County Courthouse.

Where's the Toad?

Although not unique to Selma, these toadstools (mushrooms) have been appearing all over town lately, and we hardly saw any of them last year!

Now, all they need is a toad to sit upon them.

Art Walk

This pretty fish is looking to swim her way into the hearts of art enthusiasts. She is among paintings by Candice Ward at The Frame Shoppe and will be featured in Selma's First Art Walk on Friday, August 1.

The walk is sponsored by local art galleries and frame shops. They will be open for refreshments and viewing from 4 til 8 p.m. Galleries include the Selma Art Guild, which is having a preview reception in advance of its summer juried art show.

Along with the fish, Candice has several other ocean-themed paintings on display.

The Frame Shoppe is located on Water Avenue adjacent to the St. James Hotel. The Selma Art Guild is at 508 Selma Ave.

From Carter's Corner

Here's a typical summer day in downtown Selma. This view is from the corner of Carter Drug Co. I recently posted another view looking toward the store HERE.

Pet the Alligator (Camera Critters)

Well...never thought I'd hold an alligator!

This little charmer drew plenty of attention last week at the McClelland's Critters Petting Zoo downtown at the libary. The baby gator, which has no teeth yet, is sitting in my left hand while I focus the camera in my right hand. Other critters on tour were baby Bengal Tigers and a magnificent python. The zoo brought them all the way from Banks, Alabama.

Take a look at the rest of God's beautiful creatures at Camera Critters!

The Old and the Unusual

Everyman Books on Martin Luther King Jr. Street offers a lot more merchandise than books, although books alone are enough to get my attention. There's a couple of old quilts like Great-Grandma used to make and plenty of beads and baubles, musical instruments, bric-a-brac and area travel information.

The owner teaches a few music lessons on the side, and the place is becoming known for its Open Mic Nights once a month. That's where you, yes YOU, can sing your songs, play your music or recite your poetry and prose. Tonight, however, features a mini-concert with two Alabama musicians. Joe Kirkwood, who has written songs about Old Cahawba, bridges, the Alabama River and growing up in Birmingham, is the featured performer. Local songwriter Destiny Brown opens the show. Cost is only $5. Oh yes, the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Stretched

The arms of a crane stretch over the edge of the Edmund Pettus Bridge one bright blue day last spring as renovations were under way. What do these arms look like to you?

Check out more Skywatch Friday photos HERE.

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.

Covered in Kudzu

Here's KUDZU, the stuff that strangles forests, traps vehicles and stalls military tanks.

And NO, I'm not kidding!

This vine grows a foot or more a day in the southern U.S. and elsewhere around the world. Here, it covers the riverbank behind the St. James Hotel. If you dare to brave this abode of copperhead snakes, be sure to collect its wysteria-like blossoms in August, and make jelly!

Signs

The rear of some of the older buildings along Water Avenue reveals signs such as these. The Purina Chows sign is posted at the former Dallas Feed & Seed. It can only be seen from the Alabama River and perhaps the Pettus Bridge... or if you take a stroll through the back alley.