A little chuckle...

At the Franklin Park Conservatory on this past Saturday, I noticed a beautiful star shaped flower that I had never seen before. In the desert room down in the gravel, purplish pink, it caught my eye. Yesterday, catching up on the weekend's paper, I was reading all the interesting parts. Once again my eye was "caught" by a photo almost identical to mine. It seems... that my flower... is the "carrion" flower... and it apparently smells like rotting meat! Well, I don't know if the size of the room prevented a stink or if the flower just wasn't "ripe", but I smelled nothing when I bent to capture the image.

It just goes to show...
everything is not always what it seems to be...
=-)

Smiling in the summer sun

Fish!

I am happy to tell you,

our field trip was a wonderful success.

My students were well behaved,

intelligent in the "education" piece of the program

and

happy in the green house.

Delightful eating their lunches and

not too loud on the bus.

But,

do you want to know a secret?

We went to see the butterflies,

but,

I think everyone's favorite part was seeing the giant Koi!

I don't blame them,

I love the fish!

My favorite is the massive yellow one.

I call him Sam.

The kiddos were also fascinated by the texture on the magnifying plate that showed how butterflies see.

...sigh...

The world is lovely through the eyes of my little ones.

I wonder though,

if they are as tired as I am.

May you be blessed this evening,

no matter what your day has been like thus far.

As night falls,

may you find peace and a moment of quiet.

I wish you only happiness.

Kindness from strangers

Standing before the fish early in the morning, I noticed that the koi food machine still had some food left.


I silently wished that I'd thought to pick up a quarter or two from the car change dish.


Just as I was thinking this, a mother with two beautiful teenage daughters gave my girls a giant scoop of their food before they walked away.


Thanking them profusely, my girls happily fed the colorful swimming vacuum cleaners!


Isn't the world a lovely place?

Fishy daydreams

Come and have a seat.

Spend some time in a quiet peaceful place.

Choose your favorite fish and name him.

Listen to the gurgling water and let your mind wander.

Soft light filtering down...

wrapping you in a warm embrace.

Come, visit, a wonderful place.

A little piece of paradise!

With its glass walls glittering in the morning sun, my daughters and I happily approached a piece of paradise.

Formally named the Franklin Park Conservatory and Chihuly Collection, this exotic treat is located at 1777 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio.

If you're fortunate enough to visit, you will not be disappointed.

Water will fall just inches from your eyes. Jasmine will scent the air as you walk through the Himalayas and giant Koi will inspire your love.

Add in a desert, a rain forest and an amazing butterfly exhibit and you will just be touching on what the Conservatory has to offer you.

This unique place houses plants, animals and even exquisite hand blown glass by the artist Chihuly. It is a treat in any season but, especially delightful to visit when Ohio turns cold. Many times we've wandered through the balmy rain forest room on a bitter winter day.

I must confess however that it is a bit pricey. At $7.50 for adults, $6.00 for seniors and students and $4.00 for children 2-12, you should consider a membership if you fall in love like we did. A household or grandparent membership is $55 dollars and will allow you free admission all year. The Conservatory is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm. Wednesdays 10am-8pm. Though normally closed on Mondays, the Conservatory is open on Holiday Mondays. Parking is free. For more information please go to their website at: http://www.fpconservatory.org/.

A few considerations: The floors in the rain forest and Himalaya rooms tend to be damp, so care should be taken with those who have unsure footing. Those visiting who use wheelchairs should enter through the main doors and take the ramp down to the left and use the elevators to the second floor. Also, this is not a place to run and yell. Children are welcomed and are even provided with hands on activities, but if you have a little dear who can not hold hands and use their inside voice, this would not be a happy place to visit. One last thought, if you have a loved one who is sensitive to environmental changes you may need to skip this trip. My son, does not like the sudden changes in temperature and humidity from room to room. Because of this, we visit the Conservatory when he is not with us.