Adventure Day: Part 2 of 4, The Plant Sale [Nature]

Welcome to part two of my amazing adventure day. I didn't exactly explore the grand canyon, but it was an awesome day.

Let pick up from exactly where we left off in my last post.

All photos in this post are original works.

In the above cover photo, you can see that I finally arrived at my intended destination. On the blacktop at the high school, I found the plant sale.

#Plants were grouped together on different tables. Some plants I recognized, and others I didn't so it was fun to look around. It is amazing how much I have learned about flowering plants just in one year, since the last sale they had.

Not many of the tables caught my eye, until I reached the table selling small trees and shrubs.

This one definitely tempted me.

That's a #Western-Red-Cedar on the left, and Norway #Spruce on the right.

Currently I don't have either of these, yet. So native, so ready for bonsai, so tempting!

No! Won't buy it.

I have plenty of other trees at home that need my time and attention, more learning to do with the species I own, and I am already having some cashflow problems because my job has cut back my hours. Going to have to listen to my inner willpower and walk away. Walk away...

Another table that caught my eye was filled with succulents and jade plants.

They were all marked with bright yellow tags labled "Indoor only". With the short roots on these, they can't survive our winters, but they can probably tolerate being outside a little bit in the summer. Many new gardeners don't understand that some plants are only meant to be grown indoors, because they are not native to our climate zone.

The one in the glass sphere looked really decorative to me. It probably helps hold some of the humidity. Many of these #jade plants and #succulents prefer lots of dry air, and do not like wet #soil. I know many experienced gardeners who water their jade plants as often as their other plants, only to discover that they have inadvertently caused it to rot.

This one was also very attractively designed. Many of the plants here looked like they have already been trained to have some petite branches and leaves. They even used lava rocks, which is a good #bonsai soil for developing fine root spread.

There wasn't anything I wanted or needed at the plant sale after all, so I decided to resume my journey home. I found this old historical house. I looks a lot like a colonial style home.

On the right, they even built a gazebo to house an antique cannon. I could not find any signs explaining any historical information. It looked to me like it has been converted into a multi-family rental house.

Then I passed this stunning fir tree. I really enjoy looking at #conifers when their tips are bearing new needles and open buds.

#Forest #green is the color that definitely defines the #fir tree.

Not far off, I found several #blue #spruce trees. They were especially blue today, reflecting the light from the blue sky.

Branch detail on the blue spruce.

I was getting a bit hot and hungry, and my jacket was just dead weight on me, so I rounded the corner and headed to the shopping center.

Red rhododendrons, closely related to azaleas, but larger flowers and leaves.

Close up of #red #rhododendron. A very low maintenance plant.

Inside, I finally got my fix.

The #Blizzard is a Dairy Queen ice cream treat. They mix the soft serve ice cream with candy and cookie toppings.

So thick, you can turn it upside down. The Blizzard of the month is flavored with chunks of peanut butter cookie dough and chocolate flakes. Has to be eaten with a spoon.

Back outside, I found some more fresh #flowers. These sort of looked like they had a candy coating on the outside, with white petals coming out like a delicate cake frosting.

Any cupcake bakers out there seeing this? This is the flower you should be aiming to create with frosting. Looks good enough to eat.

I chased down this fly, and it landed on the curb. #Dragonfly? #Damsel-fly? Not so common in the suburbs. There must be a wetlands area nearby.

This #shrub really reminds me of the little farmhouse my grandparents lived in for some reason. It looks like it has been growing there for generations.

Another giant tree, and a large flowering #rhoddie beside it.

You can see the hundreds of #chestnut shells that have fallen from the tree. Up close, they look spiky like a sea urchin.

#Pine-cones all over! These ones were always fun to throw. They sail through the air as easily as a wiffle ball. Along the wall, the pine-cones made me think of a baseball team sitting on the bench in the dugout, waiting for their turn at bat.

Through the secret #pathway, I take the shortcut leading home.

I thought this was the end of my journey today.

I thought wrong.

Next time, I'll take you on the third part of my #adventure, as I join the family to explore the #labyrinth of an old school converted into a modern attraction.

Stay tuned...

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Follow the links below to continue reading this four part story:

• Adventure Day: Part 1 of 4, The Neighborhood Walk
• Adventure Day: Part 3 of 4, The Elementary School for Odd People
• Adventure Day: Part 4 of 4, The Super Park

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