Friday, April 18, 2014

Gone to the Zoo

108/365

It was another Beautiful Spring Day.  I couldn't stand it.  The butterflies and flowers at the zoo were calling my name.  And after seeing the Ansel Adams exhibit earlier this week, I've just been Itching to go get some pictures, to be able to snap some stuff in manual.  I wanted to get some pretties.  I had been hoping to just take Jake down and not have to worry about any of the big kids, but Sam is pretty good, so after Kindermusik yesterday, we packed up a lunch and went down the White River Gardens by the Zoo, and had a picnic....with the butterflies and flowers.  

I will say, I was unimpressed with the new staff, who was trying to give me crap about taking my stroller in, when it was clearly Not crowded enough to warrant that.  And Jake was half asleep, that was not cool.  They acted like I was going to run over butterflies with my stroller.  Really?!  I'd be more worried about my kid stepping on them, than my stroller.  At least I know to watch out.  And really, we scope the stroller out when we leave to make sure we have no hitchikers.  Not a problem.  I've been going to the butterfly exhibit for Years, and never ran over a butterfly, and only once has one landed on my stroller for more than a second.  And I took pictures of it until it flew away.

I will say that this week the butterflies were interested in the kids and I.   We got in there, and one almost immediately landed on Sam's hand.  He lost his shit, shrieked like a little girl, and flung it to who knows where.   Now THAT would worry me more about the butterfly's health than the stroller.  Not sure why he flipped out this time, I guess he's just used to being there with Chris and they make so much noise the butterflies stay away.  My theory anyway.  The butterflies were in a great mood and came around us a lot.  Consequently, we didn't stay long, because Sam was losing his mind, so we went outside to Discuss how buttterflies are completely different from bees or wasps....and had a picnic lunch.

I did shoot completely in manual though.  So here's some of the pretties I captured.


When we first arrived, we got buzzed by 3 (count em 3!) Blue Morpho butterflies. 


I found this pretty monarch taking a sip on a gerbera daisy.  


Very cool.  Looks fake. 


Sam started getting a bit edgy about being buzzed by butterflies, so we stopped and focused on the fishies.  That went over a bit easier.  


I went to sit down on a bench, and was immediately joined by this pretty blue morpho butterfly.   He wasn't opening his wings to show the blue, but he did let me get really close.  


And this Cuteness. 
Who can resist all this?!


The hyacinths were in bloom.  As soon as we walked out into the gardens, we were smacked by a wall of smell.  It was heavenly.  I love the smell of fresh hyacinths in spring.  


I need to plant purple hyacinths.  


The daffodils were blooming, they were so pretty.  
Even sweeter with a small Sam nearby. 


Time enough, and flowers enough for Sam to stop to see if the daffodils smell too.  They do, but it's very faint.  And Sam didn't smell it.   I smell it though.  Smells like Spring!



Ah, and the snowdrops. 


This year, none of my snowdrops came up here at home.  I only got one small group of greens, no flower. 
Luckily, the zoo's were up and glorious.  


They are so pretty.  One of my spring favorites. 


Since they face down and hang at a funny angle, I have to get down on the ground to capture them.


I love this angle. Weird, but awesome.  
No I didn't lay down in the dirt...but my camera did. :) 


This pretty is called Windflower, specifically the Blue Shades.  
I wouldn't mind planting some of these around here either.  


Woohoo- the first of the tulips were starting to bloom too.  
We'll need to go down there next weekend or so, maybe around my birthday, for our annual tulip pictures. :)


The spot where we had our picnic had a little planter with pansies and these little white allysum.  
These Sweet Allysum were very happy in the sunshine. 


Time for a snack, how about a banana? 


Banana - na na.  Do doo, do do do. 


Jacob enjoyed his lunch of a veggie mum-mum and O's by the flower gardens too.


He slays me. 


He kept trying to pat Sam, although really it was more of a hit on Sam's head.  But Sam didn't mind, he's so good-natured. 



This flower is known as the Lenten Rose. 
A perfect flower to be in bloom on Maundy Thursday. 


OK, Mom, enough of the flowers, I want to box my brother. 


This was my cue it was time to go. 

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