On the Thursday before we left Canada Tamara, Pippa, Audrey, Jan and I went to the Royal Botanical Gardens of Ontario. This was Jan’s birthday present from the Hans and the family. When we are together we try to have a birthday day because Jan and I can’t be there for every birthday. This year we were not there for anyone’s actual birthday but did attend Hans’ birthday party.
These gardens are quite large and there were only parts that had spring flowers growing. We spent most of our time in the Rock Garden. The tulips were beautiful even though many of them were beginning to fade.
The Rock Garden is terraced with a waterfall. At the bottom of the waterfalls there is a pool. There is a very old tree in which a “Mama” raccoon had built her nest. I was able to get a picture of her peering out at us.
Waterfall at Rock Garden
Mother Raccoon in the Rock Garden
Our granddaughter Pippa enjoyed taking pictures. Audrey, our youngest granddaughter, always enjoys roaming and finding new and interesting things.
Pippa and Audrey at the Pool
Tree in Bloom
The Cherry Trees were in full bloom and some of the flowers were ready to fall. Our daughter-in-law Tamara helped the girls shake the tree to see the petals fall like snow.
Shaking the Cherry Tree
We walked and smelled our way through the many different kinds and colors of Lilacs in the Lilac Dell. The Lilacs are arranged to tell the story of how the Lilacs were developed from wild plants to the beautiful bushes we see in people’s gardens today.
In the woods up the hill from the Lilac Dell there is a place to feed the squirrels and chipmunks. If you are lucky a bird or two will land on your arm or hand to get some of the food. Here is the family settling in to wait for the chipmunks or birds to come. They fed the squirrels by throwing the food to them as they can and may bite your hand. I think everyone but me got the feel the chipmunks running up their hand to get the peanuts and pumpkin seeds Tamara had brought along.
Serving the Chipmunks
Jan and his Friend
We felt very blessed to see this garden with our family on this beautiful Spring day.