Gardens

We have been trying to find more things to do these hot summer days. The beach and the park both sounded too hot and like we have done a million times lately, so the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Our first summer here we were members, we went a ton that summer when E was just a tiny baby and G could run around and cool off in the sprinklers (these were the days of apartment living and not having a yard.) Since those days we have rarely gone, G doesn't even remember our frequent visits! We met up with Gina and S, and started off the day with a friendly Hello to the mermaid (E was too busy throwing rocks into the fountain to bother with a photo.) We rode the tram, and were scolded by the old lady next to me for talking as she was trying to hear the spiel they ramble. We hopped off the tram at the WOW kids garden, and jumped right into the splash pad sprinklers.

they dodged the droplets

observed, perched on a rock like a mermaid

stood in the middle to see how long they could take being sprayed

pumped water, G was mildly obsessed with being a "farm girl"

we rinsed feet in said pumps, numerous times. this guy isn't fond of anything getting in his sandals and bothering his feet- hard to do when we are in bark or sand!

after running in a few mazes (the current attraction they have) we stopped by the butterfly garden. I spotted this dragonfly just outside the Butterfly house.

We only lasted 4 minutes in the butterfly house, not only because we were waiting to catch the tram on it's way past (which only comes once each hour) and also because after being told they could GENTLY touch the caterpillars a little boy who will remain nameless SQUISHED said caterpillar as I turned to get a magnify glass. A young volunteer in the inclosure didn't miss this act! Boy knew it was not nice, as he got very shy and wouldn't look at the volunteer as he murmured "sorry!"