December trip to MBG

Almost the end of December, and we still hadn't made it to MBG. It was in the single digits when we were supposed to go before Christmas, and I just could not persuade Arline to go outside at all!!!!
So, we went as soon as we got back from Little Rock.  It was not as cold, but it was pretty windy, so we spent most of our time in the Gardenland Express.  The poinsettias were as spectacular as they always are!!!

I particularly liked these-they had very spiky leaves and were almost orange in colour.

These were also lovely

Ben actually smiling

Maggie, Arline and Ben

We ventured outside into the Linnean House because Arline thought that some of the camellias might be blooming already, and she was correct

Ben and his "no more pictures" finger....

We had a very quick walk around the gardens, well as much as I could get the others outside.  To be fair, it was pretty cold!!!!

November trip to MBG

Maggie and I met Arline for our November garden trip.  We have been so lucky with the weather this year, it was another beautiful day.

They have already started putting the Garden Glow ornaments up.  Maybe not too surprising since Thanksgiving is at the end of next week

They have a bunch of cacti in the Linnean House right now, this one was covered in flowers

Cacti always remind me of my grandmother-she had a whole windowsill of them

Some things are still blooming in the garden.  We saw some flowers that had to have been there all year, we just hadn't noticed them before

Some of the roses are still hanging on

Garden Glow set up by the Climatron

There's always something flowering in the Climatron!!

I love these little fern-lings....

Absolutely beautiful day to be in the Japanese garden

October MBG trip

It was just Arline and I at MBG for our October trip. Couldn't drag Ben out of bed or Maggie away from the TV!!!!!  It was a different trip without a child, but we had fun and could look at whatever we wanted without being dragged along.  These Autumn Crocus were growing by the entrance

We went in the Climatron because we haven't been in there for a while-way too hot in the Summer, and who needs more humidity????  There were some lovely flowers in the Climatron this visit

This one was my favourite

They had decorated for Halloween

There are still some plants in the Kemper gardening centre, we saw some lovely artichokes-I have never cooked them before.  Arline said I should give it a go because they are yummy

These gourds were quite delightful

...and check out the lovely blue sky behind them

We walked through the Japanese garden 

The leaves are gradually starting to change colour

These chrysanthemums are lovely every year

Very peaceful

After all these months, we found the tree that Arline had been going to take a picture of every month!!!  We hadn't been able to find it after January!!!  Now we know where it is, we are going to have to do the monthly visits next year too!!!!

They are doing so well on the renovation of the garden keeper's house. It is absolutely fantastic now

We shared waffles for brunch

Our brunch view

This is what my asters "should" look like if they can survive being eaten by the rabbits for a few years

...and my turtle head, we have a long way to go

Found these milkweed balloon plants by the exit.  Definitely need to get some next year!!!!