This is a mid-sized cemetery located on the edge of the rapidly expanding town square of Monroe, Ga.

In an oddly barren plot that is lined with cement and granite, you’ll find one of its most famous residents – Moina Michael or ‘The Poppy Lady.’

Moina, a professor at UGA, had been visiting Germany when the war unexpectedly began and she went through quite the ordeal to return to her home in Georgia. Once she was back stateside she made it her mission to find ways to support the troops – both those fighting overseas and those returning home with PTSD, no jobs and plethora of other internal/external challenges.

Her idea was to find ways to use the red poppy as a tool to raise funds and awareness. And that she did! Millions of red silk poppies were sold by veterans and the tradition continues today.

In downtown Monroe you’ll find their welcome center has books on ‘The Poppy Lady’ as well as a small exhibit showcasing some of her personal items.

You can read more about her life and work here plus there’s an accompanying video that was created by her Alma Mater UGA. Sadly, her poppy garden at the UGA Science Building has long since been demolished…

This is the primarily black/African-American section of the cemetery and it’s the only section with this incredible stonework wall…

Look at this YELLOW BRICK! I absolutely love seeing yellow brick in major structures but this handmade marker is the only one I’ve seen in a cemetery. Even the curbing of the plot is made of bricks in the buttery hue.

My town of Athens, Ga is home to several structures made of this type of brick – the Bell Building which is now a hotel, the Clarke County Courthouse, and the Carnegie Library on the campus of UGA. And lastly, and one filled with tragedy, the Sutton home…which sat vacant for over 35 years after the murders of the couple who lived there. I drive by the Sutton house every single day on my way to work and back, and I never fail to glance over to see how the restoration is going. Note: it seems to have come to a standstill.

I’m also including this cool bank vault that is part of a pocket park on the town square. It has some lovely detailing!

The Crepe Myrtle Festival is this weekend (June 14) in Monroe and I encourage you to visit. It’s a long standing festival that went on hiatus but is returning with a floral-scented-car-show-homemade-goodies-country-music-arts-and-crafts-and-greasy-food-truck splash. You can find out more by visiting their website here.