Origami Bird and Gourd © 2010 Bo Mackison
A trip to my local Botanical Gardens brought a sense of delight. Perched in tree after tree were paper birds – doves, cardinals, blue jays, even a bald eagle. First in a series.
‘Golden Shadow’
September 30, 2010 by 10 Comments
'Golden Shadow' © 2010 Bo Mackison
I took this photograph of a most unusual plant a few weeks ago at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. I took it before we had had our first frost. I took it when we’d had an abundance of rain. I took it when the mosquitoes were each the size of a dive-bombing hornet, and each mosquito had targeted me as dinner. Therefore, I grabbed a quick look at the tag on the plant, and noted its name was ‘Golden Shadow.’ And I took cover in the car in an attempt to escape the mosquitoes.
Weeks later, I wanted to find out a little more about these lovely golden shadow leaves and so I started Googling “Golen Shadow’. I found a dogwood with the name of ‘Golden Shadow’ – no resemblance. Then I found a Paper Mulberry ‘Golden Shadow’, but it looked nothing like this plant either.
So though I love the unusual look of this plant, and it has the most wonderful deep butterscotch color, and the texture was a velvety nub, I have no identity for it other than “Golden Shadow’.
Crossing the Footbridge
May 14, 2010 by 5 Comments
Crossing the Footbridge © 2010 Bo Mackison
We strolled through much of Olbrich Botanical Gardens on Mothers Day morning, and it was a good thing we got an early start. The sunny morning disappeared into cloud cover that lasted for the next five days.
Olbrich was a sensorium of beauty on Sunday, though, and filled with families celebrating the big day. What a great place to take Mom and the kids on Mothers Day –no fussing with the kids to be quiet in a fancy restaurant, just great spaces for running and laughing out loud and exploring.
What a great place to take Mom or the kids or anyone, anytime at all!
Trio of Orchids
March 4, 2010 by 22 Comments
Phalaenopsis Orchids
The sun is shining more, and the snow is melting, though I still have over a foot of snow in my yard. It will be awhile before I see flowers popping out of the ground in my neighborhood.
The next best thing is taking a drive across town to Olbrich Botanical Gardens and spending a couple of hours in the Bolz Conservatory which is Madison’s answer to tropical paradise. Yes, even in the snowy northern climes, we know how to grow hot house orchids!
Moth Orchids
January 23, 2010 by 4 Comments
Looks like Flurry of Purple Moths © 2008 Bo Mackison
Another visit to my stash of photographs from the Olbrich Botanical Garden.
There’s something about this row of orchid flowers that makes me feel like I’m in a flurry of purple moths.
