It's Springtime!!

It was a BEAUTIFUL day today, so naturally we headed straight to the botanic garden.


We've had a couple of weeks a really nice weather, so all the cherry trees and redbud trees were exploding with blooms. Carter said the trees looked they were full of bubblegum, and Erek thought they looked like cotton candy! Hundreds of them showing off their magnificent spring display! We've also been amazed by the wisteria blooms that have appeared seemingly overnight. And the tulips at the garden were gigantic!!


The park was full of people, mostly supporters of a run/walk event that was taking place. We bought a few packs of fish food and headed over to the Japanese garden to feed the koi. Beth and I chanted a plea/prayer that Erek would not end up in the water. It worked, although I think we were only successful in diverting the bad luck to another family next to us, as their little girl did take the plunge. Scared everyone for a second and once she was safe, Beth and I exchanged glances that we were glad it wasn't one of ours for a change!


After our usual trek past the Japanese garden, through the azalea walk, skipping the under-construction butterfly garden (going on three years now?), and meandering through the magnolia grove, we happened upon Carter and Erek's favorite spot: the secret playground (aka, the Prehistoric Plant Trail). Over the past year they have added a few dinosaur-themed additions, and the boys had fun riding the stone dinos.


After playing for a while at the "secret playground", we wandered through the woodland path that leads back to civilization and then headed out. Both boys had a great time and both carried home prized "artifacts", which were nothing more than dried out magnolia tree leaves they picked up on the ground.