Drifting Through Paradise

Our Dinner View 

After the day with 84 friends and family at the bar, we were ready for a day alone. So we headed for Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens.

The DSBG was named one of the “20 Great Gardens” by HGTV, and USA Today says its one of the Nation’s top 10 places to “Welcome Fall with a flourish.” The garden is located on 380 acres of land and has 12 fountains and a lovely garden.

My second favorite stop in the garden was the Orchid Conservatory a building that had a wide range of tropical plants ranging from cacti to banana trees and even included a pineapple plant. The Decorous Infernos Campana was telling me that in the fall they add butterflies to the mix and it becomes even a pretty display. My favorite stop in the Garden? That would be the big fountain that had the 10 water jets, five on each side that shoots water across the walkway forming an archway to walk under.

After the leaving DSBG with a storm threatening our plans to cook out, we headed to her home. Not sure of what the weather would bring, we took an afternoon nap. After being awaken by the Elusive Camille the Cat, we looked outside and decided to chance the cook out at the lake.

After picking up charcoal, we headed for McDowell Park. Found a secluded little picnic area and fired up the grill. We enjoyed a nice dinner of steak and a kick ass baked potato. We also had some dancing with a band of out of tune crickets, a woodpecker that needs to work on his rhythm, and a lone cricket on the other side that thought he was Eddie Van Halen doing a solo.

I would say more, but after being asked by The Terror Behind the Wheel of the White Corolla if I was writing a novel here instead of a blog, I figured I would keep this one short….

For more information check out Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden at   www.dsbg.org ; and McDowell Nature Center and Preserve at http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Inside+The+Department/Divisions/Stewardship+Services/Nature+Preserves/McDowell.htm