A visit to Meijer Gardens ~ 5/27/16

Being a member, I come here often and sometimes just for a place to walk. This spring has been particularly beautiful with the cherry blossoms blooming in the Japanese Garden. The cherry blossoms are now finished but there's always something else making an appearance. This afternoon I carried an umbrella as I was greeted by this sky.

But the gray clouds moved along and before I left the sun returned to really steam things up. First thing out of the building I was greeted by this row of rhododendrons, and how splendid they are.

The trees in the Japanese Garden have greened up and everywhere you look the view is spectacular,

 and reflections mirror the beauty of nature including the passing, gray skies.

Check out these two photos from 3/25/16:

And two from 4/29:

 Today rhododendrons and azaleas are starring.

Vivid color is everywhere.

How could anyone resist walking down this inviting path?

The earlier rain had driven most people away so I was lucky enough to enjoy these moments in solitude.

Iris are also taking their turn throughout the gardens.

You'll see a variety of different things in bloom each time you visit,

but the Iron Tree and American Horse will always be there for you.

  12 seconds of this cool water feature

Butterflies & More at Meijer Gardens ~ 4/14/15

The butterflies have been in full display at the Gardens and I was tempted to stop in last week, until I remembered it was spring break. Today it was beautifully in the 60s and sunny so I ventured forth. The parking lot was crowded and school buses are never a good sign for anyone who wants a tranquil visit.

But it wasn't bad by lunch time. School groups were present but were outside and easily avoided by changing my route :-) As always, the Garden routes people through the cacti and other indoor garden rooms before you can visit the butterflies.

Visitors are challenged to find the Monarch Butterfly caterpillars.

In the same room, goofing around with mirrors, just because :-)

After finally arriving in the steamy hot butterfly exhibit, I found a few butterflies still enough to get a shot but was more annoyed by people than butterflies on the move.

There was a beautiful Common Morpho posing on a nearby wall and I waited my turn to get a photo but this particular photographer was not budging. So I walked away and went through the rest of the exhibit. Twenty minutes later I went back and he was still there. Photo hog. And just then, another Morpho came by and the two of them flew away. And the photographer had the nerve to whine about it. But by that time I was done. On to the outdoors, where the tram is back.

Crocus, Daffodils, and Helleborus were wonderful to see.

A walk around the Groves is always lovely and today was no exception.

Here's the view from Male/Female.

The wetlands walk is always a favorite and is still a bit arid, winter moving into spring.

There are always people hanging out at the horse, because it's awesome.

Kids like to run down the hill, and play in fountains.

Getting a sneak peak at a new exhibit gave me these photos but no information, until today.

Mlive disclosed today that this was "Iron Tree" by the famous artist, Ai Weiwei, under house arrest in China, an artist who was made known to many Americans by the 2012 documentary "Never Sorry." Just wow. The exhibit opened today, 4/20, and I can't wait to go back for a closer look. In the meantime, we are all still waiting for brown to turn green.

And we're also waiting for the grand opening of the Japanese Garden, which is getting close now. Lots of work is going on.

The stage is empty right now and tickets sales open for members this Saturday. You know the routine. Wait for hours in person at the Gardens, or sweat it out online or by phone to get the hottest selling tickets that will be gone in 15 minutes. For non-members? More than half of the concerts will be sold out before you even have a chance. Good luck to you all ~ I'm already breaking out in a sweat.

Butterflies & Geese Video