Ian and I reconvened our hiking club, and this year Miles is joining us. We started with an easy hike inside of Red Butte Garden, it was just over 2 miles with an easy 387 foot ascent. Here's the route we took:
For many years we maintained a family membership to Red Butte Garden. We haven't had one for the last two or three years, but Monday night we joined up again.
We read that the Salt Lake Scots Pipe Band were playing for family night, so we thought we'd check it out.
They were great! We enjoyed the stirring rendition of Amazing Grace. They talked about the history of bagpipes and tartans and they took audience questions. They were very personable.
Melinda saw one of her home school friends there. Their family makes kettle corn for events. It was excellent, salty, sweet and very tasty!
Saffy and Nigel had fun marching in the fountain to the sound of bagpipes.
The kids loved playing on these lizards when they were small. It's funny how things don't seem as big as they once did as you grow up.
We had forgotten how much we loved to walk the paths and enjoy the foliage and flowers. Nigel discovered the children's garden and was in heaven running around among the plants. Saffy and Nigel had fun hiding under this tree.
We enjoyed seeing how much the garden has grown since we started going many years ago. The trees are more mature, there is more plant diversity, and they have developed new areas. We will definitely be going back again soon.
Here is the schedule for their family nights in July:
MONDAY, JULY 9 - Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial art)
Today was a beautiful day, and an especially beautiful day for gardening. The sun was out, but it was still cool. It had rained in the last couple of days so the soil was moist and perfect for plucking weeds. I was very content to have a few hours to weed, spread compost, transplant, and enjoy the day.
This afternoon we all went to Red Butte Garden. All of Melinda's siblings are in town visiting so our kids have their cousins to play with. Two of their cousins live in Texas and four of them live in Minnesota, so they don't get to see each other too often. They've really had fun playing together this last week.
Here's Grandma and Grandpa relaxing near the pond, enjoying watching their 10 grandchildren.
This bee is enjoying the nectar from this allium.
Miles took this picture of a stand of Golden Peas, Thermopsis montana.
Here are the cousins riding the moose. Only Asher and Miriam are missing, they were in the stroller.
The ducklings and goldfish are glad to be fed.
The kids loved feeding the ducks and the fish. Scott make sure that Saffron and Lili didn't fall in.
Red Butte Garden was beautiful and even more fun with family.
