SOLO TRIP TO MEADOWLARK

I was able to go to Meadowlark Gardens on my own a few weeks ago, before learning of this awful health scare that we are all going through.  It is closed now and may not open again for a very long time. We had no idea what was coming.

  Gregg was out of town for the week and I thought it might be a good opportunity to do a bit of birding.  I went in the middle of the week, and early in the day.  There weren't too many people around and I was hopeful.

The tiny homes were still under glass in the Fairy Garden. 

As it turned out, I wasn't too successful with my birding expedition, but I enjoyed all the crocus and the pansies, plus the pretty surroundings.  

I made my way along the path that goes by the children's garden. 

The frog was patiently waiting for birdlife as he looked through his binoculars staring up at the sky.    You can just make him out as he sits atop the framework, just off center near the top right of the above photo.  The unstuffed lady rabbit topiary was patiently waiting to be stuffed again so that she could get her girlish figure back. I found another frog not in its usual spot, but lying down between two seats, reading its book looking slightly uncomfortable.  It normally sits near the lake.

As for me I found a quiet, out-of-the-way spot on one of the benches. Behind me I saw a few birds in the meadow which had been planted and left to go wild. Anticipating success I prepared my camera, patiently settling down to wait. 

I was looking for birdlife when I heard a lady's voice. I had noticed her walking at a fast pace earlier in another area, and when she saw me she started a conversation.

She was a very nice lady, very pleasant and I didn't want to be churlish as I enjoy a conversation as much as anyone else.  She started telling me about the garden, that she lived nearby and had visited often.  It was obvious she knew a lot about the birds and flowers, and also mentioned that she belonged to a garden club.  

She asked me if I had seen any of the Bluebirds in the area.  I replied I had not but was told to look out for them as they were still around.  She sat down and showed me photos on her cell phone of the flowers she had taken.  Also she told me about another wonderful garden I had never heard of.  It was somewhere in the Luray area.  I'm glad I wrote it down as I certainly can't remember it now.  It's somewhere and I will have to go on a search!  

As she told me how much she enjoyed visiting various places, I asked if she had been to Huntley Meadows.  She had not and after I described it to her she seemed very interested in my description of the park and said she would go. Another half an hour went by with her telling me all about the area, before she said she had better head for home.  She said goodbye and how much she had enjoyed our chat.  

I found this lovely American Robin not long afterwards, which you may remember if you saw it in a post I shared in early March. 

There was also a goose and mallard pair swimming in the lake...

I never tire of seeing them.

So, not too many birds but I now know of a new place to explore thanks to the unexpected conversation.  We are looking forward to going there one day, whenever that may be now.   But it will be something to look forward to.  

I strolled around the lake, past the gazebo and found another bench to wait patiently for the birds.  However, two other ladies walked by and started chatting, so I silently said to myself that today won't be my birding day, put my camera down, turned towards them and smiled.  

It was a day for conversations not birding, and this time I decided to call it a day as it was time to go home.  I admired many plants, one of which was the Witch Hazel. 

At the visitor center, I said goodbye to Sunshine...

 and walked back to the car.  Another lovely trip to the garden, not exactly the one I intended but one I enjoyed all the same.  When I left I had no idea that it would probably be a long time before I visited again. 

I hope you're all doing okay out there.