Strolling around the grounds of the Georgia Governor's Mansion

I am back this week to continue the outside tour of Georgia's Governor's Mansion. The outside is lovely this time of year!

The Georgia Building Authority maintains the Governor's Mansion. Public tours are conducted throughout the year on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Reservations are needed for groups of 10 or more and can be made by calling 404-261-1776.

The Focklele Garden Company of Gainesville, Ga. has worked on the grounds.

click above to read about it.

This is the pool area. Look at that wisteria!

This is one of the prettiest areas on the grounds! A perfect place to hold a wedding.

Tennis Courts

These hydrangas should be beautiful when they are in full bloom!

The Garden Area

Click on the above to read more about the Mansion's vegetable garden.

This is a photo from the 2012 Easter Egg Hunt on the Governor's Mansion lawn.

Governor's Mansion Summer Peach Tea Punch

Here is a wonderful recipe I found and thought was appropriate to close our tour of the Georgia Governor's Mansion and Grounds (even though it came from the Austin Junior League)

3 family-size tea bags
2 cups loosely packed fresh mint leaves

1 (33.8-oz.) bottle peach nectar

1/2 (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1/2 cup Simple Sugar Syrup

1 (1-liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled

1 (1-liter) bottle club soda, chilled

Garnish: fresh peach wedges

Preparation

1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add tea bags and mint leaves. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes.
2.  Discard tea bags and mint. Pour into a 1-gal. container; add peach nectar, lemonade concentrate, and Simple Sugar Syrup. Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
3. Pour chilled tea mixture into a punch bowl or pitcher. Stir in ginger ale and club soda just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Wouldn't this be nice to enjoy on the Mansion's front porch!