MULTIPLE MEMES - MEADOWLARK GARDENS IN VIENNA, VIRGINIA

We have had company staying for a while and I am trying to include as many memes as I can this week.  I don't think I will have much time on the computer.  Consequently, some may be days ahead of when the memes actually open.  

It was Gregg's birthday and our son visited that morning. Fortunately he had the day off and spent several hours. The best kind of birthday gift for his Dad, though he came with his own gift also. 

We went out to breakfast. Normally if we know son is coming over, Gregg enjoys putting his chef's hat on and cooks at home, but today the Birthday Boy said he would like to go to the Silver Diner.  We had not been there in over a year.  Car journeys, no matter how short, are wonderful places to have conversations and it is always fun to catch up. 

The weather was lovely and there were all kinds of big, puffy clouds in the sky.  After our son left it was a bit chilly but, only needing a sweater, we had plenty of time for a walk at Meadowlark Gardens.   The painting above is the one I shared in this post.....

and the chameleon I shared in this one.  He was such a cool little guy.  Shedding his skin, a sign that he is getting bigger.

The daffodils were blooming.

and the grass and the trees were still in their winter slumber.... 

but we noticed there were new buds sprouting....

and the geese found new shoots of grass to eat.

I have always liked this bush.  It is called a golden curl willow (salix matsudana erythroflexuosa).

We found rather a large frog.....

and an enormous dragonfly on the branches of a nearby tree.




This is the pathway we take in the summer after we have walked around the lake.  We take the path as it is shaded and noticeably cooler in the height of summer, when the trees are full of leaves.  A wonderful walk full of shade plants which takes us back towards the exit.  By this time we are usually very hot, 'we' being me and the mouse in my pocket!  The Virginia Boy I am married to has no problem with the heat and humidity, the more the better.

In this shot to the right of that normally shaded path, you can just make out the roof of the visitor center (on the right of the picture), where the grass meets the sky.

Another shot looking towards the center.  By this time Gregg is sitting on one of the many benches waiting for me.  I've been taking more photos of spring flowers, and lovely plants.

This is a very interesting plant called the Sawara False Cypress..... 

(Chamaecyparis pisifera) Golden Mops.

I am sharing with the following memes as they become available, with my thanks to all our hosts for bringing them to us.  You can click on their names if you would like to visit other participants.

Eileen at Saturday's Critters
Misty at Camera Critters
Anni at Bird D'Pot
Laura at iHeartMacro
Michelle at Nature Notes

Stewart at Wild Bird Wednesday
Jesh at Seasons 

N.C. Sue at 

Wordless (on Tuesday) at Image-in-ing

Linda Kay at Wednesday Wit and Wisdom

THE CHAMELEON

I found this cute little chameleon in a tank at the visitor center at Meadowlark Gardens.  He seemed to be happy that it was Spring and he was enjoying his exercise!  I found him totally mesmerizing as he moved ever so slowly along the small branch, his eyes swiveling in every direction, independently of each other.  They can rotate almost 360 degrees.  A lot of action!  Amazing little thing.  He is only a few inches long and seemed to be shedding its skin.  I know nothing of chameleons but I really enjoyed watching this one for a while.  

The Chameleon
by Sir Alan Patrick Herbert

The chameleon changes his color,
He can look like a tree or a wall.
He is timid and shy and he hates to be seen,
So he simply sits down on the grass and grows green,
And pretends he is nothing at all.

I wish I could change my complexion
To purple or orange or red.
I wish I could look like the arm of a chair,
So nobody ever would know I was there
When they wanted to put me to bed.

I wish I could be a chameleon
And look like a lily or rose.
I'd lie on the apples and peaches and pears,
But not on Aunt Margaret's yellowy chairs.
I should have to be careful of those.

The chameleon's life is confusing;
He is used to adventure and pain,
But if he ever sat on Aunt Maggie's cretonne
And found what a curious color he'd gone,
I don't think he'd do it again.

~~~~~~~

I am linking with the following memes, with my thanks to Jesh (Seasons), Linda Kay (Wednesday, Wit and Wisdom) and N.C. Sue (Wordless (onTuesday) at Image-in-ing) for hosting such wonderful memes.

To see other participants you can click on the names of each meme below.

Seasons

Wednesday Wit and Wisdom

Wordless (on Tuesday) at Image-in-ing