8-9-17 Atlanta Botanical Gardens-Gainesville:

Time to get out and go somewhere again.  But it was a cloudy day with rain in the forecast.  So I suggested we just run up to the botanical gardens in Gainesville.  It's another reciprocal garden with our MO BOT membership and convenient for us to get to.  So with my waterproof camera in hand (Olympus TG-4), we were off.  Turned out to be a great day to go.  I guess the clouds kept people away.  We had it almost to ourselves.  It didn't rain, although with as hot and humid as it's been here lately I wouldn't have minded if it did!  And the garden was lush and colorful---I guess the plants like the heat and humidity more then I do.

 This guy wasn't here last time we were here.  The lady working the admission desk said it was part of an exhibit that had been there for something like 4 months ending in July.  I was shocked to realize it had been over 4 months since we've been here!

 It's the time of year that the water lilies are in bloom!

 the lotus flowers are done, but their pods are interesting.

looking towards the main walkway

 the back side of the entrance---and the lily pond with another remnant from the frog exhibit.

 Don't know what these are---or most of the flowers in the garden for that matter---but we thought these were really neat.

 another peek at the lily pond frog.

 Ken figures this could be how tall our grass is in our back yard in St. Louis.

 I've always thought it would be neat to go to one of the concerts here, but haven't made it yet.

 the half flower bush that's so common in Hawaii.

 Love the wooded views throughout the garden

 a cool trumpet like flower.

 cozy bench

 Love the colors and texture of this  (hydrangea??)

 a spent flower, but it looked neat.

 one of the many bees around enjoying the garden, too.

 the little cascading waterfall in the garden.

 another texture and design plant.

 another cute sitting area.

 some blue blue flowers.

 the bottom of the waterfall

 love texture and design stuff.

 the garden really isn't very big, but there are a lot of nice areas to just sit and enjoy the surroundings.

 there's even an outdoor train

 the flowers were really looking good.

 the hydrangea looking plant again

 another busy bee

 ???

 I also took the 1/2 mile or so walk through the wooded area of the garden

 there were a few wild flowers in the woods.  Thought this was a rather interesting "mosquito-looking" bug.  Too bad my p and s camera doesn't know what I want it to focus on.

 The path through the woods ends at the concert venue. 

 The guy from the entrance bidding us "ribbit".

Such a nice little garden.  Hopefully it won't be another 5 months until we get back there again!