2021 Aug 10, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens Nashville, Tennessee

Hubby and I traveled the backroads to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, TN, via Natchez Trace, getting off at the Leipers Fork exit. Hubby parked the car near the entrance and showed the girl at the ticket counter our online tickets.

Pink LEGO Dog 

The first thing we saw as we entered the gardens was a big pink dog made of Lego blocks. We walked down a long, winding sidewalk, down several steps to the Train Exhibit, inspired by the Little Engine That Could.

In front of us was a couple with a very independent little girl, about two or three years old, with a head full of curls. What a magical place, as you enter the land of trains and Fairy mushroom villages. The train exhibit was constructed from rough timbers and featured five train tracks, totaling over 800 feet of track. As we walked through, we saw trains crossing bridges and passing through tunnels. We were in a magical land of trains.

We saw beautiful yellow lilies floating in the lily ponds and pink, orange, white, and red roses bursting with life in the Rose Study Garden.

Roses

We saw art pieces made of musical notes and wire. We also saw many Yellow and Black swallowtails on the butterfly bushes.

Yellow Swallowtail 

We saw a red lion, a zebra, a blue bear, colorful birds, a red turtle, a green lawnmower, and a man working in the garden, all made of Legos. Also, LEGO rabbits were spotted throughout the Bradford Robertson Color Garden. We walked around the Mansion, but not inside. Workers were repairing the pool in front of the Mansion in the Martin Boxwood Gardens.

Cheekwood Mansion 

There were waterfalls, ponds, and creeks running through the gardens. We visited the Art Bark exhibit, which featured crayon sculptures by Nashville artist Herb Williams. Inside the visitor center were restrooms, drink machines, and a beautiful rose LEGO sculpture. We took a break to cool off, drink a soda, and use the restrooms before beginning our journey home; we didn't walk the entire garden, but we had a wonderful time. We traveled home along the backroads, this time taking a different route. We came out in Columbia, TN. We got a late fish lunch at Long John Silver's and brought it home.

2018 Mar 17, & 2016, 2015 My thoughts

March 17, 2018. Today, I went to the Florence Lauderdale Visitor Center, where I saw a little Bird (Killdeer). As I started walking past her, the little Killdeer's feathers flared out. I took my cell phone and took a couple of pictures. I noticed 4 eggs were lying on the ground near her. She had made a nest in the grass near the sidewalk at the visitor's center. That was why there was an orange cone sitting there. I hope she guards them well.

Killdeer 

March 17, 2016: Today was a beautiful day, and the sunset was fantastic. I did a little work outside this afternoon. I sat looking out my window, watching all the varieties of birds eat from the four feeders. My husband said to look, and we saw a long-eared rabbit sitting in front of the tractor, eating grass. I looked out the window on the other side of our RV and saw a groundhog waddling down the field, looking for his dinner of fresh clover. Well, I lay on the sofa watching Wheel of Fortune (we watch it every night), and when it ended, I went to work on my computer. Every evening, I check to see what color the sunset is, and tonight it was awesome. I will post some pictures later. While taking photos of the sunset, I turned around, looked behind me, and saw a herd of deer (doe). I counted at least eight. They just stood there while I snapped their picture. I was careful not to make any sudden moves. I have not seen any deer for some time. This warm weather has brought out all the animals, and climate change has caused us to have such an incredible sunset.

Rabbit 

March 17, 2015, was such a beautiful day; the sun was shining, and there was no rain, snow, or sleet. I enjoyed it very much; we didn't go anywhere, just worked a little in the yard. The older that I get, the less I want to do any manual labor, for it makes me hurt all over; that is old Arthritis working in my bones.

2019 May 15, Day Trip Decatur's Historic & Parks Gardens 💐 🌷

Hubby and I had a great day. I was unsure if we were going anywhere because by 10 A.M., it looked like rain, but we decided to go anyway. 
We rode to Decatur, stopping at Old Bank Park, Where We took pictures of the Garden.

Old Bank Street Park Garden 

Next, we rode to Frazier Park. (Never been to this park) I was surprised at how beautiful and serene it was. It had blooming Hydrangeas, and Magnolia trees were in bloom, along with other shrubs, trees, and flowers, by a running stream with a cross-bridge. 

Frazier Park 

We rode over to Albany to Delano Rose Walk and the Children's Riverwild Playground, splash pad, and Garden. We took the grandkids to the park to play when they were small. The River Wild Garden Walkway was new to us. 

DragonFly 

River Wild Park 

Toad Frog 

Swamp Rabbit 

Tortoise 

Delano Park Rose Garden

We loved the Frogs, Toads, Beavers, Fireflies, Turtles, butterflies, signs, and statues throughout the Garden. By the time we reached the Rose Garden, it had begun to sprinkle. A landscaper working in the Garden, I said A little rain cannot hurt but he said I cannot get my work done in the rain. I kept on taking pictures, but the rain got harder. I looked around, and the gardener had disappeared; he had gone back to his truck to keep from getting wet. I started back to the car, and the rain began to come down hard, but I made it to the car before I got too wet. We drove to Huntsville to get our car's oil changed. By the time they finished, the sun had come out, so we rode back to Decatur so I could finish taking pictures.

Pink Rose 

Entrance Way lined with Snow Queen Hydrangeas

We were getting hungry, and since we had stopped at the Shell Gas Station, which sells hot food, we bought some corn fritters for lunch. Hubby had been wanting some. We also stopped at McDonald's for hot apple pie.
We ended up eating at Jack's on Hwy 31 because we couldn't decide where to stop in Decatur. But that was okay because we both liked Jack's