Pictures of the Week 2008-41
Hello All,
We found the St Louis Zoo to be refreshing. They apply a number of innovative concepts. Probably the most outstanding was the open air exhibits of the animals. Even the penguin exhibit was open air. It was housed in a large refrigerated building with pools of water you could stand beside and observe the birds up close and personal--so close that swimming birds splashed Dave’s camera with water!! It hasn’t worked quite right since!
Another innovative concept was the price of admission--it is free!! What a wonderful place for locals to drop in occasionally to relax and recharge their mental batteries. We did find that food and drink on the property to be quite expensive. There are special shows within the zoo that they also charge for, but you don’t have to see these shows to appreciate the animals. For example one show was called “Dinoroarus.” It consisted of sixteen life-size animatronic dinosaurs that move, roar and spit. Trust us when we say we didn’t pay to go see this extravaganza!!
We thoroughly enjoyed the butterfly exhibit. They had a number of butterflies and moths we had never seen before. One was the Burmese Moon Moth shown below. It was about six inches from wing tip to wing tip and about seven inches long from nose to tail. Also shown below are a Clipper and a Lacewing.
We found the St Louis Zoo to be refreshing. They apply a number of innovative concepts. Probably the most outstanding was the open air exhibits of the animals. Even the penguin exhibit was open air. It was housed in a large refrigerated building with pools of water you could stand beside and observe the birds up close and personal--so close that swimming birds splashed Dave’s camera with water!! It hasn’t worked quite right since!
Another innovative concept was the price of admission--it is free!! What a wonderful place for locals to drop in occasionally to relax and recharge their mental batteries. We did find that food and drink on the property to be quite expensive. There are special shows within the zoo that they also charge for, but you don’t have to see these shows to appreciate the animals. For example one show was called “Dinoroarus.” It consisted of sixteen life-size animatronic dinosaurs that move, roar and spit. Trust us when we say we didn’t pay to go see this extravaganza!!
We thoroughly enjoyed the butterfly exhibit. They had a number of butterflies and moths we had never seen before. One was the Burmese Moon Moth shown below. It was about six inches from wing tip to wing tip and about seven inches long from nose to tail. Also shown below are a Clipper and a Lacewing.
By mid-day the temperature was
in the low 90’s with high humidity. To
say we were leaking a bit would be an understatement!! Any small piece of shade was a very welcome
respite. This leopard found a comfortable place under a shade tree and he
wasn’t moving!
The St Louis Zoo is a place we
would highly recommend visiting if you happen to be in this part of the
country. The community should be very
proud of their zoo.
Bright and early the next morning we were off to the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. This is where the home called “White Haven” is located. It is where Grant met his wife Julia in the 1840’s. They purchased White Haven from her father and raised a family and farmed the land. The couple lived in many other places due to Grant’s military career, but White Haven served as home base in their life together. They returned to it many times. One thing that really stands out when you first visit White Haven is that the house is painted “Paris Green”--go figure!!
Many sites commemorate Grant or lay claim to his legacy On the hallowed ground of Civil War battlefields like Shiloh and Vicksburg, at the magnificent statue in front of the U.S. Capitol, or in the tranquil eminence of his New York tomb, Grant’s mark on the nation is remembered in profound ways. He was one of the most famous Americans of his era--the savior of the Union and two-term President of the United States.
Bright and early the next morning we were off to the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. This is where the home called “White Haven” is located. It is where Grant met his wife Julia in the 1840’s. They purchased White Haven from her father and raised a family and farmed the land. The couple lived in many other places due to Grant’s military career, but White Haven served as home base in their life together. They returned to it many times. One thing that really stands out when you first visit White Haven is that the house is painted “Paris Green”--go figure!!
Many sites commemorate Grant or lay claim to his legacy On the hallowed ground of Civil War battlefields like Shiloh and Vicksburg, at the magnificent statue in front of the U.S. Capitol, or in the tranquil eminence of his New York tomb, Grant’s mark on the nation is remembered in profound ways. He was one of the most famous Americans of his era--the savior of the Union and two-term President of the United States.
After a bite of lunch our next
stop was the Missouri Botanical Garden.
It is hailed as one of the top three botanical gardens in the
world. Wow, did it ever live up to the
hype--it was OUTSTANDING!! Founded in 1859, it is the country’s oldest
botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark. The garden is also an international center
for botanical research, education, and horticultural display, with a mission
“…to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order
to preserve and enrich life.”
One of the most recognizable icons of the garden is the Climatron Conservatory. Built in 1960, it is the world’s first geodesic dome greenhouse. Inside was a lush lowland rain forest, complete with waterfalls, tropical birds, and 1,500 rare, fragrant, and interesting plants.
One of the most recognizable icons of the garden is the Climatron Conservatory. Built in 1960, it is the world’s first geodesic dome greenhouse. Inside was a lush lowland rain forest, complete with waterfalls, tropical birds, and 1,500 rare, fragrant, and interesting plants.
There are a number of pools
throughout the garden that contain many different species of water lily. We always enjoy shooting photos of them
because of their brilliant colors. Throw
in a dragonfly or a spider and they become even more interesting.
From April 27 through October
31, the garden was exhibiting for the first time works of artist Niki de Saint
Phalle. Forty monumental mosaic
sculptures made in a rainbow of colors and materials from fiberglass, stones,
glass, and mirrors where placed throughout the gardens. The sculptures range up to 18 feet tall and
some weigh up to a ton or more.
Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) was a citizen of the world: born near Paris, raised in New York, traveled in Europe, and later worked in Switzerland, France, Israel, Italy, and finally California. A prolific self-taught artist, Niki first earned renown for her “shooting paintings,” created by firing a 22-caliber rifle at containers of paint mounted onto canvas. Later in the 1960s, the “nanas” made their creator famous. Made of wire and fabric, these brightly painted, oversized female figures became a symbol of female empowerment. She devoted 20 years to creating the monumental sculpture park, Tarot Garden, located in Tuscany, Italy. The largest collection of her works in the U.S. is found around San Diego, California. Today, she is remembered as the creator of playful, larger-than-life creations celebrating diversity, women, children, love and joy.
The garden was featuring four themes of Niki’s artistic work. They were Animals, Black Heroes, Totems, and Nanas. We found them to be quite interesting and we always like bright colors.
Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) was a citizen of the world: born near Paris, raised in New York, traveled in Europe, and later worked in Switzerland, France, Israel, Italy, and finally California. A prolific self-taught artist, Niki first earned renown for her “shooting paintings,” created by firing a 22-caliber rifle at containers of paint mounted onto canvas. Later in the 1960s, the “nanas” made their creator famous. Made of wire and fabric, these brightly painted, oversized female figures became a symbol of female empowerment. She devoted 20 years to creating the monumental sculpture park, Tarot Garden, located in Tuscany, Italy. The largest collection of her works in the U.S. is found around San Diego, California. Today, she is remembered as the creator of playful, larger-than-life creations celebrating diversity, women, children, love and joy.
The garden was featuring four themes of Niki’s artistic work. They were Animals, Black Heroes, Totems, and Nanas. We found them to be quite interesting and we always like bright colors.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns