Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

Every spring Dow Gardens play host to a wonderful assortment of colorful butterflies in an on site greenhouse.  A tropical environment is created in our not-so-tropical Mid-Michigan town, and butterflies and moths of all colors and varieties can be observed and even handled with care if you happen to be a Butterfly Whisperer .  (Surely there is such a thing.)  This year my two year old enjoyed chatting with each butterfly that she met, and despite the fact that they didn't answer back, she enjoyed herself immensely. "Say, 'Cheese,' Butterfly!!"

Jamie Oliver would be so pleased if he traveled up here to Midland and paid a visit to Dow Gardens .  I have found my self in a bit of a "cleaning and sorting" frenzy at home lately, and my very tolerant children have been caught up in it all.  Today when a friend called  and invited us out to have a picnic and enjoy the Children's Garden at Dow Gardens, I knew these kids (and their mom) needed a break.  So... after they finished painting the house and re-grouting the bathroom, we climbed in the mommy mobile and met our friends for a really nice afternoon out. Having never been to Dow Gardens before, I was impressed with its sprawling beauty.  We bypassed the stream walk and the color and rose gardens (which will have to be explored on another day), and we spent most of our time in the children's garden.  Scads of happy children frolicked about, and there wasn't a swing set or a climbing frame... or a video game in sight.  What we did find ...