I LOVE member mornings! Just that one item contributes to my joy in renewing memberships to several spots around town. To be able to get in early and pretty much have the place to ourselves is such a treat. Today -- it's a member morning at the Dallas Arboretum and we are there just as the sun is coming up and the lights on the trees are still on. It's almost a magical entrance.
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere. Each year we are astounded by sheer number of them. Oh, and the variety. It seems as though I see new ones all each time they do their displays.
Size plays a role too. This walkway is lined with really big (can't say huge here cos I know there are bigger) but still . . they dwarf my cup of coffee.
The first rays of sunlight on the dew still left on Elephant Ears.
Not to be overlooked are the wonderful gold mums.
In the distance, the pumpkins are glowing down in the village. Yep, we are headed there.
Each year at this time, I look forward to seeing the ornamental millet.
When the sun catches it with morning dew, it's even better yet.
The great lawn with the morning sun.
Bugtopia is this year's theme --- this is looking towards the kids shopping area.
First up is a spider heading towards a pumpkin house and a small hut that I love the way they've used pumpkins and corn to cover it. It also has a featured insect --
Bumblebees --
As we approach the next building, both of us stop to wonder just how much these must weigh. Each side is covered with hundreds of pounds of amazing pumpkins/squash/gourds.
This one has an ant infestation.
Below --- check out the brown pumpkins. Crazy, right?
Lady bugs are off in the garden area.
Next up is a cool caterpillar home
And the backside has the results --- butterflies!
This praying mantis is very cool.
In fact, he's so cool, he's selfie worthy. Not sure where I'm looking.
Next up is a dragonfly over a pond of pumpkins. Even his eyes are little pumpkins.
One of the area trees is a Bois D'arc tree (or also known as an Osage Orange) and we laugh because the base of it has been ringed with pumpkins/squash but it's doing some decorating of it's own to go along with the other.
Variety, variety, variety - that's a mound of squash. Yes, technically, pumpkin is a squash and although I differentiate them above, I can really just say squash and cover all the bases. Well, perhaps squash and gourds does it better. Do YOU know the difference? Gourds are squash that are decorative only so a pumpkin can actually be both.
Speaking of gourds - a close up.
Beautiful light - love the stacking pumpkins, a take on rock stacking.
More millet in gorgeous light.
My sweetie doing his thing.
Lily pad pond - from below
From beside - great reflection from above.
My lesson learned today. I did not know that the seeds to magnolia trees were this bright red. Cool.
More elephant ears. These are seriously large -- I could easily hide my upper body behind one.
Ahhhhh --- early light and waterfalls. Perfect. The tree lights are still on too.
Again, one of the benefits of membership is the sheer number of times to visit. It gives the chance to find hidden paths (of which there are many and all are legitimate) and beautiful photo moments.
Mister is being generous today, even suggesting the selfies moments. Love him forever.
More koi - different pond. Larger here and the sun is rising so more light too.
So, so peaceful. See why we like these early entries ---- just grounds. No noise, no crazy humans.
A stop at the Tasting Place to see what is growing. Ornamental peppers.
AND Pineapple. So, so fun. This just makes me smile.
Our time has come to an end. The gates are opening and people are starting to flood in. As we begin to exit, I spot these near the gift shop and think they are so fun. They have lots of other animals also, but the turkeys made me smile. If I was hosting Thanksgiving for a crew, I might consider purchasing a kit. Super cute.
Out the gate we go and as we climb the stairs to the parking lot, this pampas grass makes me smile.
The next stop I'm treated to is full of color. Do you know what we are doing?
Yep, removing the last bits of the beach on the car and giving the undercarriage a nice cleaning too. Mister usually does this by hand but with beach still attached, it's a fun ride today.
Another stop at Lowe's for some Christmas lights we've been looking for and then Mister picked up an air compressor for himself too. Vector for pizza and beer before home, where I went in the house and he played for a bit. Well, that's it for our vacation and it's back to work tomorrow. I have loved these days with my sweetheart and look forward to the next time we can sneak away for a bit. Until then --- enjoy life y'all.
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