I went wandering in the Botanic yesterday. Didn’t take the camera, so these are cellphone pictures. A spring photo
Flowers
Crocuses
A busy bee
Wallflower
She had a little sketchpad and a pencil.
The first picture looks like a late spring and lets hope the last one is not a early fall.
Things are still very very wet here. I’m thinking underwater railroad about now.
That last photo is particularly heart-warming. Good one, Tom!
Geoff George said:If that were a little boy, I'd worry. Girls are generally more sensible. And that's what my mother said.
lets hope the last one is not a early fall.
We are getting signs of spring here too. Weather’s warming up, buds are showing on the trees, and birds are chirping in the morning. Even mowed the grass just to see if the mower still worked…
Planted some miniature conifers on the layout last weekend and have some more to plant. Might get to’em today…
No pictures sorry. But I got to run trains today. First time sence Christmas that trains have run for me. Man what a great feeling. To bad it will all be getting taken up soon so Ican re build it. train is all ove the place. will try and get some pictures to post of the track. had to run my small stuff but still it was fun. Have been going non stop for the last 10 days trying to get eveything in order around the house so I can strat on the trains soon.
That “spring photo” reminds me of a local desert relic…
Many decades ago, long before Interstate 8 was built, there was only a small two lane road which crossed the desert between San Diego and points east. Just east of the San Diego county line, near the little town of Ocotillo, there was a small service station.
Nearby was a path leading up a hill, marked by rocks painted white. The proprietor, a Mr. Miller, would tell curious travelers, “Miller’s Springs is up there.” A short, thirsty hike in the desert sun revealed a set of springs from an old car seat, embedded in concrete at the top of the hill. Miller sold many bottles of soda to folks returning from that hike.
The original garage was bulldozed to make way for the freeway, and Mr. Miller set up shop at a new site closer to Ocotillo. After the freeway opened, the new garage and restaurant lost most of its business and eventually closed. Several years ago Mr. Miller passed away, and the second “Miller’s Garage” fell into ruins.
But the observant freeway traveler can still spot the rock-lined path near the original site, and the rare few who stop to hike it can still find the remains of rusty car seat springs at the top of the hill.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Plants%20on%20the%20RGS/plant001.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Plants%20on%20the%20RGS/plant003.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Plants%20on%20the%20RGS/plant002.jpg)
Ken,
Looks great.
What are the plants with the little blue flowers? They look familiar and I should know what they are but I’m having a brain lapse this morning.
Ralph
Is it Periwinkle ?
Ralph
Ralph, I wish I knew what the name of them was. I usually plant the tag along with the plant so I know what’s what, but sometime over the winter the tag blew away so I’m not sure what they are. When I find out I’ll let you know.
Beautiful, Ken!
The garden railroad at the Chicago Botanic opened yesterday. It was mostly a pile of mulch Tuesday, but the horticulturalists were ready and all was in bloom yesterday. Rainy today.
Wow. You have lots of colors - very nice! The blues - Forget me nots?
Thanx for the comments guys.
I was checking through a garden center yesterday and the closest plant I could see that resembled it was an annual and I know I didn’t plant an annual there, so further investigation is needed. During the winter I had thought whatever I had planted there had died and it surprised me when when the blue plants started coming up. Any way, they contrast nicely against the green Alberta Spruces behind them.
As for the rest. the yellow flowers are Walters Tickseed, the white and purple in front of that are Phlox, in the middle picture, the purple flowers are Creeping Mazus. Theres track running between the Tickseed and Phlox, but right now it is completely covered over. The Phlox I’ll trim back, the yellow Tickseed I’ll have to separate and move. The wife wants some for out front. Directly behind the Tickseed are miniature boxwoods and Scotch Broom.
Looks great Ken. Must be nice to have lots of sun. I’m pretty limited in what I can plant because at best I have sun for about 1/3 of the day. I did get to Twombly’s yesterday - what a great place - thanks for the recommendations. I picked up several shade annuals and a few miniature conifers. Now to decide where to plant them 
That area of the layout doesn’t get much sun, about 4-5 hours during the summer months, mostly late afternoon. And where those are barely get rain because of the roof overhang. So I have to be picky about what gets planted there.
I came down through there Sat morning about 9:30 and thought about Twombley’s, but just as quickly forgot about it as they don’t have much parking for semi’s there… Wish it was closer…hehe
And if you’ll forgive me I thought about calling you, but I was anxious to get home…
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Plants%20on%20the%20RGS/plant004.jpg)
Forget-me-nots…Myosotis sylvatica “Victoria Blue”…how could I forget that?..