A thing of beauty, a joy forever

You can go to Frankfurt, Calais or Rome,

But the best things in life are close to home.

That's how I feel after I've been on vacation, which usually means I've been La-Z-Boy-deprived for longer than any human should have to endure.

But it's not just going away that makes me appreciate what we have right here in this area. Sometimes you have to get out and take a look.

My wife and I did exactly that last weekend. We were not disappointed. We were bowled over by a couple of spots.

First we drove up U.S. 61 to Apple City -- not to be confused with Old Appleton, but it's in the same vicinity.

Apple City is just west of U.S. 61 on Route F -- about as far south as you can go in Perry County without being in Cape Girardeau County. The community's focal point is St. Joseph's Church, which is surrounded by a school and several other brick buildings along with a small cemetery.

But the big treat for sightseers is the shrine to the right of the church in what appears to be a deep gully. It is, in fact, a place where an underground stream has been exposed. Water cascades out of an opening in the rock, makes a U-turn and disappears back into another cavern.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, two priests labored to landscape the area.

It is both a place of natural wonder and spiritual awe, particularly at this time of year when so many flowers, shrubs and trees are in full blossom. We stood at the bottom of the ravine and listened to the rushing water, awed by the natural, transfixing beauty.

The parishioners of St. Joseph's are to be commended for keeping the place tidy and the grass mown.

If you want a short retreat from everyday life, take the drive to Apple City, find the shrine and sit a spell. You'll re-enter the flow of the real world a different person.

If you head back south on U.S. 61 and turn west on Route KK just past Old Appleton, you'll soon come to Route D, which makes a beeline south for Oak Ridge. At the four-way stop, make a right onto Route E. When you get to Route B, turn left and go to the first road (County Road 472) on the right. Soon you'll find Torre Lane on your left and signs pointing to Pinecrest Azalea Farm. Be careful on the gravel lane that goes down the hill, because there's not a lot of room for passing. But it's worth it.

Gene and Linda Penzel of Jackson have planted acres of azaleas that should be in full bloom this weekend. But that's not all. There are rhododendrons that will bloom shortly. And huge patches of daffodils that must have been stupendously beautiful when they were in full bloom.

If you've ever wondered how many colors of azaleas there are, go take a look. My personal favorite was a scarlet variety that looked like an artist had used glossy enamel to touch up the naturally red blooms.

The Penzels have obviously labored for years to turn their piece of hillside into a springtime feast for the eyes. The road loops counterclockwise from a small stream that is easily forded. Take your time, and look both ways, because in every direction there is something special to see.

I like to putter in the yard. The azaleas I planted along the front of our house three years ago are finally turning into bloomers. The hydrangeas in the back yard came through the winter unscathed for the first time, so there are leaves -- and buds -- on the old limbs. The old azalea we inherited, which is outside our kitchen window, is sagging under the weight of its own blossoms. Soon the magnolia will be putting on its creamy white show.

Despite my efforts with flowers and the joy they bring, I continue to be amazed by the large-scale efforts of individuals like the priests at Apple City at the Penzels on Torre Lane. More than that, it makes the heart glad when they so generously choose to share the results of their efforts with total strangers. Thanks, one and all.

R. Joe Sullivan is the editor of the Southeast Missourian.