Return Trip

We arrived home several days ago and have been busy unpacking and settling in. It was certainly easier moving in than moving out. The college had provided lots of volunteers back in August, which came in handy as my daughter was on the fourth floor of a dorm with no elevator. Move out was another story, 42 steps up and 42 steps down, not to mention the walk to the car. But it's done and here's the empty closet room.

This is a 12 foot bronze statue on Washington University in St Louis' campus, Thinker on Rock. I always visit it when I'm on the campus.

After 2 days of packing, sorting, and meeting professors, it was off to the Missouri Botanical Garden. We had beautiful weather and the gardens did not disappoint.

When I lived in Memphis in the mid to late 90s a friend introduced me to the work of Dale Chihuly. He is a art glass sculptor extraordinaire. As you enter the Gardens, there is a huge glass sculpture hanging in the lobby. It's just spectacular.

Little did we know we'd encounter more of his art later.

Here's the greenhouse.

A fountain in the Asian gardens.

And just flowers everywhere.

The iris garden was just breathtaking. There were over 1,000 different types and almost all were in bloom.

This is one of my favorites.



The Japanese Maples were witness to that gardening adage, If you have room for only one tree, make it a Japanese Maple. The foliage was something to see.

More Chihuly glass showed up in the Climatron. The Climatron is a geodesic dome with a tropical rainforest recreated within complete with birds and waterfalls.
More pictures and Chihuly glass next time~ thanks for stopping by!