Brocach – The Badger Den

Brocach - Gaelic for Badger Den

Brocach – Gaelic for Badger Den © 2008 Bo Mackison

For those of you not intimate with University of Wisconsin sports, the UW-Madison teams are the Badgers. As in “Go, Wisconsin Badgers!”

Brocach is the Gaelic word for Badger Den. What a great name for a Madison pub on the Capitol Square, just across the street from the State Capitol building.

This wonderful bagpiper was playing at Saturday’s Farmers Market.

Reflections of Two Buildings

Reflections of Two Buildings

Reflections of Two Buildings © 2008 Bo Mackison

While walking the square around the State Capitol, I noticed this reflection in the Manchester Place building. I love the lines. My photo-Sherpa thinks I should entitle this photo the “Squiggly Building”, but then he was born and somewhat bred in Chicago and thinks it a suitable rhyme for the Wrigley Building. (The gum guys’ building – and that building is cool, but you probably wouldn’t know how cool unless you roam the Miracle Mile on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.)

Flowers and Veggies

Another trip around the Capitol Square in Madison checking out the stalls at the Farmers’ Market.

Gaillardia in Focus

Gaillardia in Focus © 2008 Bo Mackison

Blanket-flowers (gaillardia) in a variety of colors – yellows, oranges, white and lavender. I picked up 8 of these annuals to fill in a space in my mostly perennial garden.

Onions for Sale

Onions for Sale © 2008 Bo Mackison

Even the onions are attractively displayed. I had to take a photo before I bought a bunch of green onions. A large population of Hmong farm and sell at the Dane County market, and the women vendors at this vegetable stall always have their produce arranged with an eye for an artistic presentation. Always a visit to satisfy many senses.

Plants for Sale

Plants for Sale © 2008 Bo Mackison

No flowers blooming yet, but the purple tags provided the color for this photograph, with lupine plants tucked in the background. More to plant – always.

Every Sunday is Green Thumb Sunday. Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers participate each Sunday; visit Green Thumb Sunday for more information.

Capitol Square

White Capitol © 2008 Bo Mackison

Wisconsin State Capitol Building on the Capitol Square in downtown Madison.

The building is a geographical one-of-a-kind. It’s the only Capitol Building to be built on an isthmus in the world.
Does everyone remember what an isthmus is from 5th grade geography? Hmmm.

Bus Stop Bench

Bench in Winter © 2007

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
A snow plow would be delightful.
But the white is sure pretty, so . . .
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

We love snow in Wisconsin. But if we could dig out just enough to sit on the bench before we board the bus, it would be nice.

Madison, Wisconsin – 25.5 inches of snow in December and counting. More to come 3 out of the next 5 days.

BTW. The city is out of money for plowing and sanding the streets for the rest of the year. Hope it doesn’t snow on December 24th.