This seems to be the year for Ward and me to take small trips. This time we went north to central Pennsylvania to the area around State College upon the recommendation from a friend.
The first day started out bumpy with a forgotten wallet and heavy traffic from a big accident. Even with these annoyances, the 3 1/2 hour drive went well. After checking into the hotel, we found our first destination - The Penn State Arboretum. You know me, I love gardens and this one did not disappoint. It was beautiful with winding paths throughout. And while exploring the arboretum, we heard something that excites me almost as much as gardens--the drum cadence of a marching band. We followed the sound and ended up watching marching band practice for a while. Even with the starts and stops, it was still a fun thing to view. After that, we explored a nearby town where we had dinner. I'll tell you more about the town on another day when we had a return visit.
I had battery problems, so I only got pictures at the arboretum, but I got plenty of those. Below are a few, she says using the word "few" very loosely.
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| The thing I noticed the most about the landscaping was all of the plantings were layered. I knew the concept but had never seen it so beautifully executed in so many ways. |
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| Datura metel |
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The gardens emphasized the importance of bees.
This bee house was one of many bee habitats we saw. |
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| We were lucky to hear this impromptu lecture about how a beehive works. The beekeeper, who was visiting with his mother-in-law, was quite knowledgeable. |
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| This was the only rose still blooming in the fragrance garden. |
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| This was a new-to-me black-eyed Susan. |
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| Also, a different kind of sunflower that I had not seen before. |
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| This garden telescope was part of the Children's Garden, perhaps, my favorite part of the arboretum. |
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| Model of coral in children's area. |
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| Simulated cave environment in children's area. |
Next time, I'll tell you about day two when we went indoors to explore local history.
