X is for an 'Xceptional Afternoon

Recently, Ward and I visited the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. The weather was warm and the spring flowers were in full bloom.  We had a great time both looking at the flowers and plants, and people watching. Here are some pictures from our eXceptional afternoon.

Tulips provided the major color in the gardens. Notice that daffodils were intermixed with the tulips.

A closer view

There were total white beds, also.

Ward liked the angles on this arbor and thought he might want to build one like it.

There were both paved paths and mulch paths through gardens and woods. The grass there hadn't greened up yet.

I think these are Jack-in-the-Pulpits, but Jack has a rounder, whiter head than I've seen before.

The trees were providing shade for the plants along the path in this hosta garden.

I really liked these dark red tulips.

The yellow tree is a yellow leafed Japanese maple.
 I had never seen one before and was totally fascinated by it. Now I want one.

This is the entrance to the Korean Bell Garden which is part of the park.
 (Next 5 pictures are from the Korean Garden.)

 Ponds provide water for the plants in the gardens.

These statues, representing grandfathers, are used to guard villages.

This is the 3 ton bell that the Korean gardens were designed around. The bell represents peace and harmony.

These totem poles were also used to guard villages among other things.