Ohio: Part 2 (Krohn Conservatory Cont.)

A few parting shots of the conservatory.

 

One of the fairy houses just before exiting...

Ohio: Part 1 (Krohn Conservatory)

Yeah, so, I'm incredibly behind. These are from about a month ago when I was working briefly in the Cincinnati area. My sister (that's her up there) and I went to the Krohn Conservatory for their Japanese Butterfly exhibit. We started out in the desert room - actually it was called something about bugs, but the desert plants are beautiful.

Next up, the orchids! Gorgeous!

Then, finally, the butterflies!

They had cocoons set up (on the other side of a very dirty window) so patrons could watch the butterflies emerge. Further on, a room full of butterflies flitting around (mostly dodging unruly little kids chasing them with fake flowers). Not the most-photo-friendly atmosphere, but I did mange to fend off kids (and some overzealous parents) long enough to get a few shots.

I love butterflies, but this exhibit was a bit on the disappointing side due to the set-up and lack of number and variety of butterflies. I had a much better time shooting at The Butterfly House in St. Louis a couple years ago. It's not a shock that their area was set up better though, since butterflies are what they're all about. Being more "in" the exhibit lended itself to better photographic opportunities. I recommend anyone in/near St. Louis in the summer to check them out!

Playin' in the dirt

Yep, it's garden time!

Time to play in the dirt and (hopefully) end up with lots of yummy, organic produce. =)

We had someone come and till up the garden for us (bigger than last year) and then we headed out to one of the garden shops for some plants and seeds. 

It's not huge, but it'll do.

Red and yellow peppers,

three types of tomatoes,

and zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash, snow peas and sugar snap peas! Yum!

Out of the garden, rhubarb!

And a pot of mint. =)

There are also a couple of small pots with leaf lettuce and the garden has a border of sunflowers... or will, anyway. =) Just wishing I was planting all of this in a little yard in WA/OR rather than IN...

First position, second position

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time for the kiddos to show off what they've learned this year.

I happened to be home the weekend of her debut last year, so it was even nicer to get to see this year's show! For those who cannot spot her in the mass of little girls, Angela is the one in the back (to the right of the leader once they line up) with the mass of dark curls and giggling her way through the dance. =)

All too soon, I have another nephew graduating as well! It remains to be seen if I'll be home for that weekend or not. Things are still really slow with work, but they're promising work will be picking up soon and I'm guessing we'll all be back on the road by then (June). My nephew who graduated last year has since gone through boot camp for the Air Force in TX and is now in CA for training. Sadly, this training has nothing to do with cooking - what my nephew has planned as his career for at least half a dozen years. All in due time...

I do have photos to share fom my mini-trip to Cincinnati too... first, I have to do some editing and uploading. heh