Showing posts with label Arkansas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arkansas. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Arkansas Part 2

Little Rock had several fun things to see and do. Here's a few highlights from my brief visit:
The Peabody Hotel's famous marching ducks were a lot of fun to watch. They were very personable and obviously used to people. You could sit on the fountain ledge really close to the stairs and they would walk up the stairs and flirt with you. Though one time this duck [pictured below] filled up with water and I swear I think she briefly considered squirting me before swallowing!
The friendly Duck Master lines the male and 4 females up each day at 11 am and 5 pm.
 The Dr. Seuss banner on the Clinton Library was a surprise considering the location. Good for them having a fun family friendly exhibit.
We headed off to a short side trip to Hot Springs, despite the rain, thunder and lightening. It was a surprise to learn that Arkansas was famous for its hot springs, bath houses and that for years the rich and famous came here to relax and heal. 
Many of the historic, beautiful buildings have been restored.

This building served as a visitor's center and you could go through the various floors and see how men and women used the bath houses in the past. They had separate bathing, message and parlor rooms.
An amazing stained glass ceiling in the building above.
This stone overlook was terraced and gave visitors different views down onto Bath House Row.
Off to the side of the stone steps were some small grottos with steaming water from the hot springs. Apparently the waters used to flow around this area but were capped off at some point.
Okay, can't sightsee without looking out for plants. The magnolias along Bath House Row were beautiful. I miss them. They can grow in West Texas but don't really prosper so well. The Hot Springs ones were obviously very happy and were full of blossoms. Even in the rain their scents were noticeable as you got close to the trees.
On the level of the stone staircase were these wild roses blooming. I started to go over to see if they had a scent then reconsidered, just in case a snake was in the tall grasses.
Have no idea what this plant was but the airy stalks and white popped in the gloomy atmosphere. I thought it might be Queen Anne's Lace but the heads didn't seem wide enough.
It was gray and gloomy, with rain off and on. There was an incredible mist up on the mountains that I had never seen in person before. And then up on the hill was this tall imposing structure. My friend thought it was a rehabilitation hospital. All I saw was insane asylum with a mad doctor in the window crazily laughing. Totally a perfect movie location for a psycho film. [No offense to anyone working at this place or having healed there.]

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Arkansas Part 1

This is a little departure from my garden in West Texas. This week I was attending a conference in Little Rock and was amazed how beautiful this place was. So lush and green... and there were bodies of water nearby! So different from home. I don't know why people knock this place. It's beautiful and the downtown area we were staying at had a river path surrounded by sculptures and gardens.  During a break in the meeting I got to pop down and tour this amazing garden by the river.
 The thing that most intrigued me were the berms around the garden. Patina-ed metal sheets backed the berms and small bushes with flowers in shades of purples added color splashes.
 Grasses also gave height to the landscape.
 Looking closer I realized the plants were herbs and ran my hand lightly over the plants. What a lovely smell. I think these were oregano plants. I just planted one at the front of one of my strolling beds and hope it blooms like these plants.
 Some of the berms were backed by rocks and the herbs seemed to be very happy growing in between the crevices. My friend thought they were lavender plants but I assured her they weren't because I've killed every variety of lavender I've come across. Totally cannot grow those things here no matter how much I try to amend our clay soil.
I loved the dancing rabbits sculpture. They reminded me of the wild jackrabbits running around town.
 If I was a sculpture this is the place I'd want to be placed, right next to a flowing river.
 I did not see labels on the sculptures but then I didn't have a lot of time to look for them.
Now this is a blue bird you wouldn't want to tangle with in the garden!
This deer looked right at home among the grasses.
The startling blue of this scultpure called one over to have a closer look.
 In a set off circular part was a little rose garden with a sculpture in the center. The knockout roses fit so well with the dark sculpture of a woman holding a single stemed red rose.
Little Rock seemed to have a lot going on with the arts and cultural events. Who knew?

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails