4-1-17 Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville:

Wanted to get to the Gainesville extension of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens while the tulips were blooming.  So when Angie asked if we wanted to go there with her and Josh today, I didn't hesitate to say yes!  Since we're sort of along the way to Gainesville from their house, they picked us up.
While I was waiting for them to get here, I checked out the woods to the south of our condo.  Imagine my surprise when I came across a dinosaur?!

 I managed to escape and soon we were on our way to Gainesville.  This is another reciprocal garden to MOBOT, so we got in free.  Angie and Josh did, too, since they're members of the Atl. botanical gardens.

Josh hamming it up.

 one of the thousands of gorgeous tulips!

 Looking back towards the office.

 LOVED all the tulips!  I think we were pretty much at peak season.

 They really had them grouped beautifully by colors.

 So makes me think of Easter!

 Even the "blown" tulips were beautiful---almost rose like.

 many of them had gorgeous ground covers by them, too.

 I was also surprised at how many daffodils were still blooming.

 and Azaleas

 Angie and Josh enjoying the landscaping.

 Nice to see so many other Spring flowers now, too.

 I already forgot what these are called. 

 looking back down the path

 there were even 2 bee keepers there giving out samples of fresh honey and talking about bees.

 back to more tulips.

 Angie, Josh and I even went for a walk in the woods while Ken waited for us by the office.

 Not a whole lot of leaves yet, but a definite green haze.

 some of the odd flowers on some of the trees in the woods.

 Angie and Josh leading the way.

 more of the above flowers.

 looking at the tulips from the woods trail.

  A Bluebird!  

 Up by the stick sculpture were a bunch of hula hoops on the lawn.  Angie and Josh gave it a go---without much luck.

 more of the daffodils there.

 at the side of the office.

 the wood stick sculpture

 another angle.

 looking towards some more tulips.

 The garden is relatively small.  The walk through the landscaped part is only about .75 miles and the path through the woods was only about 1.5 miles more.  But it was a beautiful day and a beautiful garden.
Since we were in Gainesville, be went to the little town square and looked for a place to eat.  Ended up at Avacados.  It's a cute little restaurant with very good food. 

 Then we went across the street to the park in the middle of the square.  Apparently this "Sun" represents the Sun and there are plaques in the square representing where the planets are in relation to the sun and each other.

 Looking across the street towards Avacados.

 Looks like the dogwoods were in full bloom, too.

 a statue in the middle of the square.

 a hen on the top of another restaurant along the square.

 Don't know that this is part of, just thought it was neat looking.

 From there we went to an Estate sale on Lake Lanier.  We all got a few little things.  I should probably take a picture of our treasures and put their picture on here.  We ended up with 3 little fish figures mounted on driftwood, a cupcake pan, a fish shaped dish bowl, and a glass decorative bowl---for about $6. 

Another great weekend excursion with the kids.  Gonna miss it next weekend when Angie is off to Texas to visit a friend.