Featured Garden - Butterfly Garden, Assiniboine Park Zoo

May these butterflies

 bring magic, wonder and joy into your life.

We kept trying to get a picture of the blue butterflies, 

but they didn't stay in one place long!

The entire area is covered in a mesh material to keep the butterflies from escaping. This netting isn't the prettiest backdrop, but that seemed to be where most of the butterflies liked to be...probably to stay out of reach of some kids trying to catch them!

This seemed to be the favorite spot for some of the butterflies....

.....mmmm yummy!

Danica in front of the Chrysalis cabinet
This was one of her favorite parts of the zoo.

The butterflies were nice to see, but I was there for the Flowers!

It was a busy day, with lots of others touring the garden.

Found these two relaxing on a bench!

..........and being silly!

Danica's favorite- Cherry Pie Plant

We hope you enjoyed our tour of the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden!
Our next tour will be the Formal Garden in the Assiniboine Park.

  The seasonal exhibit is stocked in early summer with a variety of butterfly species. The garden is landscaped with flowering plants to support the butterflies through their entire life cycle. You can read more Here.

Where I Am From

  Memories are wonderful, and they are made up of so many different things that come together and leave an imprint in the mind. Sometimes they are as clear as if they happened yesterday, and sometimes they are just bits and fragments...a sound, a scent, a taste, a feeling. 

  Many years ago, I came across a blog that had a little picture with the words, "Where are you from?" I clicked on it and found that it was based on a poem, and that many people had written their own version, based on their own life. I loved the one I read, so I decided to write my own.

   Some of my childhood memories will sound familiar to my kids and grandkids, but many of them will be things that they may never experience. I believe that taking the time to jot down some of these memories is a nice memoir to pass down to future generations. I'd love to have one written by each of my siblings, and my children!

  

Where I Am From

I am from the prairies, from the crocus and the cowslips, 

and the pussy willows in springtime.

 I am from walking barefoot on hot sandy roads.

I am from swimming in Jackson Lake, dugouts and swamps in the summer; 

from climbing trees, and swinging from ropes tied around branches.

I am from skating on ponds, and playing in the snow after dark in the winter;

 building snow forts and making homemade snow shoes from spruce bows; 

from sliding down hills with cardboard for a sled.

I am from walking with my brothers around a four mile country block, 

and walking along the railway tracks collecting shiny stones; 

from exploring the Collie Hills and old vacant houses.

I am from a one room school house; 

from playing games in the basement in winter, 

and playing Johnny Can’t Cross the River 

and Pump, Pump, Pull Away in the spring and fall. 

I am from practicing for the Christmas Concert at Arizona Hall, 

and going to Field day in Austin.

I am from Spruce Woods Park, 

the Assiniboine River,

and the Carberry Desert.

     

                             I am from strawberry fields and picking cucumbers; 

from bouquets of glads for the farmer’s market, 

and from strolling through Mom and Dad’s garden.

I am from Sunday supper, roast beef and potatoes;

and from fiddle diddles and spice cake,

and I am from Sunday drives to tour the gardens at Morden, 

and climbing Mount Nebo in Miami.

 I am from Manitoba.

I am from putting one foot in front of the other,

and what goes around comes around; 

I am from befriending the friendless and rooting for the underdog.

I am from Gerald and Ede Blair.

That's where I am from. Where are you from?

   This is an updated version of that old post that I wrote back in 2008.

Read the original Where I Am From, by George Ella Lyon.