I took a little trip to the Denver Botanic Gardens yesterday morning. It was a beautiful morning to explore the gardens and to take in the new Dale Chihuly exhibit. Here are some of my pictures from the day.
I really like the color of these. They remind me of snakes.
If I ever have a big garden, I want one of these in it somewhere.
I would eat my breakfast there every morning.
Lucky lily pads.
This is some kind of swamp oak. I think it is a beautiful tree.
These three birds, actually there were four but the other is on a different branch, were making the biggest racket. I don't think they liked people being in their garden.
This little ladybug was kind enough to pose for me.
I really like this flower, but I don't know what it is.
Purple glass stakes in the middle of the rock garden. Strange but also kind of neat at the same time.
I really like this flower too. Its name has something to do with a bear, but I don't remember the rest. I guess I should pay more attention to all those little placards telling what each plant is.
This is my favorite of the Chihuly pieces.
A Chihuly tree. This is the kind of sculpture that first comes to mind when I hear the name Chihuly.
Chihuly lily pads. They're so delicate.
This exhibit will be up through the end of November. If you are in the Denver area, I highly recommend going to see it.
If you've been in my neighborhood lately, you may have noticed that the lilacs are absolutely gorgeous this year. I've been going out of my way to stick my nose in every bunch of flowers on every lilac bush I come across, breathing in as much of that heavenly smell as I possibly can.
The flowers made me think of this song by Rachmaninoff. It was originally a vocal piece based on a poem by Ekaterina Beketova that he then transcribed for solo piano. It is lovely. Happy listening.
In case you are interested, here is the poem, translated from the original Russian.
Lilacs
In the morning, at daybreak,
over the dewy grass,
I will go to breathe the crisp dawn;
and in the fragrant shade,
where the lilac crowds,
I will go to seek my happiness.
In life, only one happiness
it was fated for me to discover,
and that happiness lives in the lilacs;
in the green boughs,
in the fragrant bunches,
my poor happiness blossoms.
