As you may have been able to tell from the last few posts my creative juices have been running on the low side. Stress tends to poke holes in my reservoir and it was time to make repairs. So I packed up the kids for a day at the MN Landscape Arboretum. If you’re local and you’ve never been, go. Even if you have been there, go again. Regardless of the gray skies, this day had the triple effect of giving hubby time to work on the house, entertaining the kids and jump starting the right side of my brain. Nice!
I took more pictures than I care to admit. I know Martha will understand this. But, truly it was so inspiring. I’m hoping you too might find a little inspiration in what I found there. I know I did. And in an effort not to lock up your computer with the biggest post ever I’ve broken it down in to several, and I mean several, posts. Enjoy!
I saw the most amazing variety of dahlias:
As usual, the art was unexpected. I want to go back to see more as I got sidetracked before getting to see the entire Art ‘n Trees Trail. This birch was no birch, it was actually a polymer replica with fun little doors all over it:
The colors blew me away. I wasn’t expecting so much color in the flowers at this time of year. It was a bit surreal.
The texture combinations were amazing. I just couldn’t get enough:
I never fail to learn something as well. Did you know it takes about 9 times as much water and 7 times as much land to produce a single McDonald’s burger as it does a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
Not all, but many of the posts over the next week or so do have a kid friendly tilt. I can’t even describe how many crafty ideas it has inspired me to do for them. Even if you don’t have kids I know you’re a kid at heart and may still find inspiration through their naturey goodness. I’ll probably also be adding some pictures to my twin cities photo set if you’re interested. I promise not all of the posts and pictures will be of flowers, but they will be nature related and may hopefully, provide you with some crafty ideas as they did me.
Three Sneaky Bugs 
Having just come back from the Montreal Botanic Gardens, I know exactly what you mean by an embarrassment of photo riches. I’m looking forward to seeing what you saw there, especially since the photos in this post get my inner gardener going already.
Oh, I love the arboretum. We were there about a month ago and I was just thinking this weekend it would be nice to go back now that it’s not so hot out.
The japanese garden is always a favorite.
it’s been a few years since i’ve been there. i really should go before it gets too chilly to enjoy…
Sweet Nelly! Beautiful pictures, and so much here I’m going to double dip on this and your stump art post. In fact I might even triple dip, and I’ll probably head over to your flickr later to see the pictures bigger.