I found something really exciting this week. Well, I didn't really find them, but I found out about them. My favorite park in the whole of central Arkansas is Wildwood Park for The Arts. Their website defines the park's vision "to provide opportunities for lifelong learning, engage the imagination and celebrate the human spirit through encounters with nature and a full spectrum of the arts: visual, performing, literary, horticultural, culinary and more." The horticultural vision is what draws me. Wildwood contains Central Arkansas’ largest botanical gardens. That's where I was and that's a little bit about it, now, I'll share what I found. For the longest time only one swan has made the park its home and Buster is her name. After they named Buster, they found that Buster is actually a "she" so they're working on a new name for her. Anyway, I was thrilled when I walked up to the lake and saw two more swans. One of the park workers said they had arrived this past weekend. They've named them Elizabeth and Alexander, quite proper names for such elegant creatures. I really hope they come up with an elegant name for Buster! I also really hope these swans stay around. They seem to be a couple and since July is their mating month...maybe there'll be little ones the next time I visit the park.
Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.
Randomness
#1
Have you ever seen a Bottle Brush Buckeye shrub? Me neither! Don't they have the prettiest most unusual flowers! Those flowers are called panicles. I had to look that word up. It means "any loose, diversely branching flower cluster." The shrub has white panicles in summer and yellow panicles in fall. Each panicle is about 4 inches wide and a foot long. I guess I'll be making another trip to the garden to see the fall panicles. (I just like throwing that word in!)
#2
This guy was just too busy satisfying his sweet tooth to notice me and my camera. I loved these unusual flowers. Anyone know what they are?
#3
Another pretty flower from Wildwood gardens. This is Sweet Azalea. Sweet? Oh, yes! Have you ever smelled honeysuckle? This azalea smells just like that and it even resembles honeysuckle blooms! Amazing smell!
#4
Enough from Wildwood Garden today; on to other randomness. This is my new favorite salad; baby spinach leaves, walnuts, and Craisins drizzled with Raspberry Hazelnut Vinaigrette Dressing. I also like to use Blueberry Craisins and almonds for a different flavor. Pretty yummy!
#5
And lastly, let's talk about the weather. This is July...this is Arkansas...this is the south and yet, this has been the best summer in a long time. As you probably know I DON'T LIKE SUMMER! My mom always told me not to use the word "hate" but I can't help it! I HATE SUMMER! Summer heat makes me sick, literally! But, this summer the weather has been wonderful. Take today for instance...in the 70's...no humidity...breeze blowing...YES...my kind of summer! A great time to rest in the hammock and flip through some good magazines!
I'm including one more image
and wishing you all a happy 4th!
