By Jan Bradford
On Saturday, July 12, Sierra Club Outings leader Jan Bradford
headed out to Rockford guiding a hike to the Nicolas Conservatory and Anderson
Gardens. It rained the night before, so all were hoping there would be no rain
on Saturday. The day started out bright and sunny with a light breeze and
warmth from the sun.
Jan arrived at the Conservatory first, with her group gathering
soon thereafter. The small group was looking forward to seeing each other and
the gardens. To the delight of the participants, it was Dinosaur Day at the Conservatory,
which added a whole new dimension in the lush gardens. The group enjoyed the
ancient plants such as Ginkgo trees and colorful orchids. They also learned
about black pepper plants that make colors of peppers from an era long ago.
It looked as though a fella was taking pictures in the gardens
outside the conservatory, but as they approached, the group realized it was yet
another statue. Red-winged black birds darted about, threatening people in the
gardens because they were protecting their babies. Once through the nesting
area, the group observed swans, geese, fish, and other birds in the outside
gardens.
The group headed to the bike trail leading to the nearby Anderson
Gardens. There they saw many flowering plants and artwork, including a green
dragon in the Rock River that someone put there for laughs.
The next stop was the lovely Japanese gardens, also in the
Rockford area. This sculpture garden was definitely worth the drive. There were
lots of waterfalls, Japanese art, and garden design ideas. The group enjoyed
the fish, turtles, ducks, and geese before heading back to their cars. This is
a trip to repeat!
Jan Bradford, Sierra Club leader since 2003
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