Botanica with Friends

Jonathan and Brenna making music.

Scary!

Ahh, much better!

Sydney found a praying mantis. Andrew saw an opportunity for a photo opp.

The Butterfly garden

This was the hatchery for the butterflies

If you were very careful, you could catch and hold the butterflies.

Auntie Jill was the official butterfly catcher.

On a warm September Saturday, we met Sydney and Brenna at Botanica and spent a beautiful afternoon enjoying the children's garden! Hannah stayed home because we went during nap time, and we're not quite ready to give that up yet! The children ran and ran in the children's garden while Jill and I sat by the entrance and enjoyed adult conversation. A great day for all!

Botanica Gardens with Grammy and Grandpa

In the Butterfly House, the boys were able to hold a butterfly.

Andrew was beyond thrilled and a little afraid to move and maybe even breathe.

Don't let Jonathan's sleepy expression fool you. He loved it too!

When we reached the rainbow garden, Hannah was out of the stroller and never got back in. The girl must've run a couple of miles around the children's garden.

 still running

She paused briefly to water the vegetables in the garden.

"You mean I get to run around and play with water?! This is the best place ever!"

Hannah and Grandpa making music.

The boys playing the drums.

More music making - Jonathan's music box sounded like rain as he dropped little pebbles in the wooden box. 

This was the exit of a large tree fort that the boys had a great time exploring.

I loved the rainbow garden. So pretty!

My attempt to get them all to look at me.

 Next to the Children's Garden, they had a Once Upon a Time temporary garden. Several popular children's stories were set up with buttons you could push to hear the story told to you. Very fun!


First he's a prince...

then a scary wolf

a royal musician

Checking out the Three Little Pigs houses.

Three Little Pigs

The Three Bears

Trapped by Hansel and Gretel's evil witch

Grammy joined in the dress-up fun.

Poppies - my fav

While Grammy and Grandpa were in town, we decided to check out the Children's Garden at Botanica. The weather was perfect for walking around and looking at the flowers. The kids were not very interested in all the different gardens until we reached the Children's Garden. So much for them to see and do. They loved it and if it doesn't get too hot, we'll go back!