Travels of Nannie & Bubba: botanical gardens

Today's adventure was a fantastic visit to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens near our campground in Boothbay. We do love visiting any sort of botanical gardens, and this place was outstanding. If you ever get to this part of Maine, be sure to visit. We even had lunch at their cafe and it was delicious. Another stellar day!

The first thing we encountered was the Butterfly House. Complete with little butterfly girl and her mom....

This silly butterfly doesn't realize he's on a picture instead of a flower.....

Monarch.

After the wonderful butterfly house (lots of monarch caterpillars in there too!) we browsed our way around the gardens, snapping pictures by the ton. Here are just a few.

A sculpture called The Sphere at the entrance to the Meditation Garden.

Enlarge this picture to read the ID sign..... and hand me another kleenex.

Look at the size of these hosta plants - wow!

In the children's garden, Bubba was frightened by a bear in the Bear Den.

Children's garden. It was large and nicely done, lots of kids enjoying it.

Mr. Buzzy on a blazing star.

The color of these beauties was outrageous!

This sculpture is called The Pinecone.

Happy faces. :)

One of the last places we visited was the Fairy Village. It was also well attended with children, who were all very busy looking for fairies. Just a few pictures for you here.

Our morning's adventure was the Naples Botanical Gardens - and they had a special treat: DINOSAURS! Great big ones that moved and made noise, and even one that spit! Too bad it was just the two of us, I think the kids would have loved it. We visit botanical gardens everywhere we go, and this one was really spectacular. The numbers and varieties of bromeliads was incredible. There were so many amazing things to see, and we took a zillion pictures; it was hard to just pick a few. (too bad the videos we took of the dinos would not upload, bummer!)

After lunch we joined the family crew for a little beach time, but alas: the red tide was here and the high-water mark was littered with dead fish. Pee-you! Didn't stay very long! Everyone agreed it would be much nicer at the pool at the condo, so that's where we went. Swimming and snacking and generally enjoying life!

Supper was another adventure: Friday night in Naples, most nice restaurants are full, so we ended up a Party of Eight at the Wine Loft in the Mercato Plaza. Inside, upstairs on a balcony, sitting on sofas and easy chairs, and ordering appetizers and meals and desserts. What a good time!

Then it was late, and the kids had to get to bed, so it was back to the condo. Since the condo time is over tomorrow, the fridge had to be emptied of perishables (most of which came to our camper fridge, and thank you!). Birthdays for Anne and Bubba were very briefly celebrated, goodies handed out, and then it was goodbye. Such an excellent visit with my family, so much fun and love and laughter. Grateful for every precious minute.

Tomorrow begins the trek back home......