Botanical Gardens

 

Yesterday we took a trip to a local botanical gardens. It was a gorgeous day! After lots and lots of rain recently, it was nice to be outside in the sunshine, surrounded by beautiful nature. We had a picnic lunch in a park before we went into the gardens. Then, spent some time strolling the grounds before taking a very informative tram tour. I wish we could retain all the information they give us because it's so fascinating. Maybe it's just my sleep-deprived brain, but there is just more cool stuff there than I can remember.

Hunting for nature.

When we got there they gave her a list of things to look for while we walked around.

I was intending to take a picture of this lantern. 

I didn't realize that the background was so sweet.

This was awesome! 

I was taking a picture of what we thought was a lizard, stranded on a coconut. As soon as I started to snap the picture he jumped off and RAN across the TOP of the water!
So, apparently, lizards can walk, or at least run, on water!

Climbing this super cool tree

 

 I think I could take pictures of flowers all day. If only I had a real camera!

My younger daughter took a picture of this because it looked like candy corn.

Something retained from the tram tour: This is from the Cycad family, a prehistoric order of trees.

They are often mistaken for Palm trees.

 This is the shadow of the Ibis who rode along on the top of the tram.

 Sometimes he jumped off and ran alongside of us looking for lizards.

 We saw these at the zoo and thought they were interesting. At the botanical gardens we found out that This is a Sausage Tree and this strange looking fruit feeds Black Rhinos, Elephants and Baboons.

Giant air plant

Enjoying the shady stream

Beautiful  butterfly garden

We stopped to watch this locust for awhile

she loved the tram tour

Rainbow Eucalyptus

 

Of course, I HAD to take some butterfly pictures.