When the boys were little, we’d pack a sandwich and a backpack full of crayons and paper and head to the Shore Acres Botanical Gardens near our home in Charleston, Oregon. We’d wander the grounds, and I’d challenge the boys to find their favorite flower to draw. Nate was 5 to 7 years old. Spending that time laying in the grass, anticipation would build to see what color would be his favorite, what shape and which size.
We spent so many wonderful afternoons there, that I was surprised, that at 11, Jon has no memory of the gardens. Granted, he was 4 when we moved, but it was sad to me that he didn’t have a picture in his memory of the place. Talking to a friend about it, we agreed that a field trip was in order! So – Sunday afternoon after church, we set to drive straight down and arrive at the lights just before dark, so he could see the gardens, before nature’s dimmer switch turned out the sky lights.
They hydrangeas were still in full bloom, pinks, whites, blues. Amazing. Many of the flowers in the park were blooming, red, purple, green, white. Breathtaking every time.
A beautiful still pond waits at the south end of the garden. Reflection of the lights is indescribable. We would sit on these rocks and watch the pond for an hour when they were little. Volunteers start winding these lights around every bush, over 300,000 lights – until Thanksgiving. The public may walk through until the New Year.
Ok. So this is probably cheating, but the boys and I kept thinking that this was the most awesome way to do a Color Walk in December. Ya Think? That whale on the right is moving, it dives into the water, The whale in the 2/3 line has a spout that gushes.
Whales, Frogs, Puffins, Butterflies, Pelicans, Hummingbirds, Salmon, Dragonflies, Seals, and more are waiting to be discovered around the park. That’s nature? Right? And Color?
Humming Birds were busy at the nectar!
Well, cheating or not, we did enjoy the gardens, Nathan enjoyed seeing them again, Jon has a new memory, we did get to see some amazing plants, and had a wonderful Winter Color Walk.
Join me with my Handbook of Nature Friends as we Color Walk our yards and parks. I’ll work on a leaf rainbow this week – maybe some of the others won’t “cheat”.
+Angie Wright
