Monday, October 9, 2017

Botanica. the Botanical Gardens, Part 2


It's now time to complete this tour of Botanica, even though I only saw about 1/3 of the gardens.


Today's photos begin in the Butterfly House.  From June through September, it's a haven for butterflies.  From October through May, it's a Pansy House.  

This photo I took looks very similar to the one shown on their web site.  I hope you check out the links to these sites as I show them.  Each link opens in a new window.


I can only imagine how beautiful it is when all the butterflies are fluttering around in the spring and summer.

 But, as I was taking the last of the photos, it got really crowded in the Butterfly House, so I departed and continued my journey.

This is the beautiful Evergreen Garden.

Although the photos on the web site are in winter and spring, 

I still enjoyed the beauty of this area.  It's something I would like to recreate in my front garden.

Unfortunately, I never saw the sculpture of the Coyote that is supposed to be here and I didn't see it in their photos, either.

I'm already trying to do my share raising pines, because there are no pines native to Kansas.  I have four pines (three varieties), in my yard.

As I moved from the Evergreen Garden, I was surprised to see a Banana Tree mixed in with the pines.  I can't figure out who does their plantings, but I have advice for them.  Tropical plants don't belong in a pine forest.

OK, I have a love of Palm trees and Banana trees are close to Palms, so I got a bit carried away.


This used to be a creek bed,

but it's dried up, now.

Many people love this next area.

It was designed especially to attract butterflies.

I was sure I had seen a couple fluttering around as I took this photo, but it may have just been my overworked imagination.

This is the Butterfly Garden, but there are no photos on the web site.



I only found one of the sculptures, too.


Now it was time to leave the Butterfly Garden and head back to the beginning.

Once again, I passed the Rose Garden

I actually like the photo on their site better than the ones I took of the overgrown area with the tall plants with yellow flowers in the background.


I had finally arrived at one of my favorite areas, the Sensory Garden.  I encourage you to check out their photos against mine.


Lots of edible herbs and plants reside here.


Wouldn't it be great to own property large enough to install one of these?

Here we are inside the Sensory Garden.  I shot my photo much closer than the web site's, but it was because there were SO many people there by that time.   There are two kaleidoscopes from which you can view the plants.

I remember how Johanna took photos of a kaleidoscope from her camera, so I tried it, too.

After taking two shots, I was sure I had wasted the effort, at least until I got these off my camera.  Wow!  I was surprised and quite pleased with the results I got.

I decided since the kaleidescope photos were probably a bust, I would take a final shot of the actual flowers.

Nearby was the Railroad Garden.   I encourage you to click the link, because their photos are far superior to mine.

When I was there, only one train was running.  Note the "wild" animals in the background.


A Wichita Area Garden Railway Society volunteer was repairing one of the trains.  I watched awhile as he worked to get it going again.


Can someone explain what that "angel" is doing on the platform near the oil tanker car?  And why is the butterfly in the background so large?

Are those supposed to be animals sitting or tipped over on the rocks?



I really loved that bridge behind the yellow house.

I know I was supposed to be there to see the plants, but I was simply fascinated by the miniatures.



I hoped the volunteer had fixed the train.


One final close-up as tried to focus in time.  All you can see in this blurry photo is a small part of the yellow caboose.

By now I had been there three hours, even though it seemed like less than an hour.  It was time to cool off inside and take a look at the carousel horses that were being restored.

It was difficult to get a good photo because I couldn't get back far enough to get them all in at once.

Plans for their future are shown on the wall in the background.  You can read about the project here and see the book they are selling here.  The book contains several local places of interest and is geared for children.  However, if you have an extra $250,000.00 (USD) in your pocket, you can donate the Grand Lawn.  For a mere $200,000.00 (also USD, not yen), your name will go on the Party Room next to the pavilion.

It's too bad they placed this sign behind the horses that had already been restored.

These are the ones I showed yesterday. 

Here is a map to the Gardens.  It's in PDF form, so I had to copy, scan, and print it.  It is in full color on their site, so I hope this link works.

This shows the only areas I visited

including the Sensory Garden and Railroad Garden.  It looks a LOT smaller on the map.  I swear, I don't know how many steps I took, but I know I was tired when it was over.  I only wish it had not been so hot and I had lasted longer.

Thanks for taking this voyage to Botanica with me.  I always appreciate your comments and visit.


14 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

The botanica is a really lovely place to wander around. I think I liked the butterfly and sensory gardens best. The kaleidoscope photos are great. Glad you enjoyed your visit. Have a great week,hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

This looks like it would be a beautiful coloured haven in summer. I like the railway garden, and the photos through the kaeidoscope.

Barbara said...

Thank you so much for sharing your Botanica trip with us, I feel as if I was there with you, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wonderful photographs and although you only found one sculpture, it’s a beauty as are the carousel horses. Have a lovely week, Barbara

CJ Kennedy said...

This place is really beautiful. Looking through your photos all I could think of was how many people were needed to weed the flower beds? Puzzling about the banana tree planted with the pines. I wonder if the pine trees benefit from the potassium in bananas? I think my favorite part of today's outing was the carousel horses. Those are real beauties.Pouring buckets here today so I enjoyed the stroll through the sunny gardens.

sheila 77 said...

What a great botanical trip. My favourite was the Sensory Garden - until I came next to the Railroad Garden - I think I want one, it looks fun with the houses and bridges and all the little people. The angel is maybe protecting the oil tanker? The kaleidoscope photos turned out well.
It must have taken you ages to process the photos at home.

My name is Erika. said...

I love seeing different gardening ideas and then I wish I had a load of cash to do some myself. And time of course. :) The carousel horses are cool. I bet you loved them.:) I enjoyed my visit and hope you go back on a cooler day sometime so we can see some more. happy Monday. It's raining here-left overs from the latest hurricane/tropical storm (Nate) to move through). Making it a lazy day for me. Hugs-Erika

RO said...

This place looks so HUGE and lovely! I can see how you got caught up for 3 hours before you knew it. I never paid attention to butterflies until years ago, one landed on my hand, and I've been fascinated ever since. Can you imagine all the work it takes to maintain something like this? Wow! Thanks for making us feel as if we were right there with you! Hugs...and Happy Monday!

Darla said...

I enjoyed wandering the botanical garden with you this morning as I sipped my coffee. Each time you entered a different area I thought "Oh that's my favorite". I guess the whole place is my favorite because I couldn't find an area I would have skipped over. Thanks for the lovely tour.

Divers and Sundry said...

Gorgeous garden! Such variety! I've never heard of a railroad garden, but I think that angel is why the tanker didn't go over that edge.

froebelsternchen said...

What a fantastic botanical garden - so many to see and explore. I really enjoyed to make this visit with you! Thank you for taking me with you.
The kaleidoscope photos turned out really well and all the special gardens are so well designed. The pine garden reminds me of my travels to Ex-Yugoslavia many years ago. They have such beautiful pinewoods there.
I nearly got the smell in my nose looking on your photos!
You must visit this garden again in spring !

oxo Susi

Sandra Cox said...

I love botanical gardens. I could wander in them for days.

Meggymay said...

More amazing photos Elizabeth. I loved the Railway garden, that would be interesting to the children as well as adults and sensory gardens are so well thought out and accessible for everyone. There seemed to be so many flowers still in bloom. It was a shame there weren't so many butterflies for you to see.
Yvonne xx

Jeanie said...

This is beautiful -- and enormous! Wonderful photos and so many different areas. I haven't been to a butterfly garden in several years and it was such a treasure, I'll never forget it. Seeing them so close and so many. The railroad garden is cool, too. Oh, they all are!

Nancy said...

Oh my, so beautiful! You could spend hours and hours here. The Pansy House, The Butterfly House, Sensory Garden- wow. I'm sure you come away with tons of ideas for your gardening. You've reminded me that I need to visit the Butterfly Rainforest near us again soon. So tranquil. Lovely visit, thanks for sharing.