Flowers and Family

For Christmas,  Maria gave us some money to use on an experience as a family. We decided to pick a pass of 4 places all around Edmonton, so we could enjoy the gift throughout the year. Well, corona virus cancelled one of our events (we should be able to transfer the pass to next year) and one of our places still isn't open fully, but... in August, we went to our first Edmonton Attraction: The University of Alberta Botanical Gardens. 

It was a hot day, so we started as early in the morning as the Garden would allow.

It was still hot, but more manageable.

And the garden made it worth it, for sure.

The kids loved any water feature, like the stream at the Japanese Garden.

Everyone had to have their chance to pose while playing on the rocks.

I really do enjoy the feel of a Japanese Garden.

Everything is ordered and organized, but in a more natural feeling way than some other types of gardens.
After the Japanese Garden, Calista begged to take the camera, and took a ton of photos.

I am only including a very small number of them here.

Strangely, we don't have any really good photos of the expansive Aga Khan Garden, just pictures of flowers and things.

She had a lot of fun. Calista does love color, and the gardens were a perfect place for that.

After a while, I reclaimed the camera and we explored the Collections, including the Indigenous garden,

The Desert Garden, The Alpine Garden, John's Folly,

and the Rose Garden.

Much to Craig's dismay, the maze was closed.

By the end, we were all hot and tired and ready to go home. Still, it was a lovely morning and outing together. Just what summer is all about.