Abundant home-state pride spurred me to instigate a friendly photo-fueled feud via my Twitter feed. The conflict centered on the prettiest and best-est springtimes ever: New Jersey vs. North Carolina. Having spent eight spring seasons in the Garden State, I give props to the beauty that blossoms there once winter ends. But that was precisely the problem. Winters in Jersey were so harsh and long, the thaw melted into and chilled most of the spring months. I prefer springs that arrive on time, or better yet early and then linger. After eight fun-filled years, I quit my Jersey Girl stint and returned home, again a true-blue Carolina Girl.

Pride is among the deadly sins, and my competitive drive is no virtue either. That said, I set out to advance my stance in the online “feud.” Painstaking finesse aided my quest for the most verdurous visions of spring’s breathtaking essence. Then the perfect moment arose and I plucked it. At the height of the fairest season in the Tarheel State, an invitation from my green-thumbed sister, who’s on the Charlotte Garden Club board, to the annual member picnic in the celebrated gardens of Wing Haven.

Here’s a fountain of iPhone photos from that magnificent May day, which makes a convincing case about North Carolina’s springtime supremacy. Good thing Jersey Guys Sidney and Brian are such good sports.

— VF

If I had Aladdin‘s lamp for only a day,
I’d make a wish and here’s what I’d say:
Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning.

From the song “Carolina in the Morning”