Tues., April 14 — A Visit to Fairchild Gardens

Fairchild Gardens are worth a trip if you even get half way close to Coral Gables. A serendipitous treat for us on this visit was a full-scale Chihuly exhibit throughout the gardens. Pictures don’t do these multifaceted glass sculptures and installations justice, but I am sharing some with you any way. The butterfly house here is magical. Apparently, today’s temperature and amount of sunlight were just right to send the thousands of butterflies into fluttering ecstasy. Tried to capture the thrill of seeing dozens of butterflies flying around us all at once, but really couldn’t. As we walked through the tropical paths, butterflies were everywhere — most flying and gliding, some resting with their wings open on broad leaf landing pads and others resting dangerously on the pathways (watch your step!) Cliff and I started the day with a hike to the post office to get our tax payments postmarked before tomorrow. I believe we have enough money left to pay for fuel for the trip to Marathon tomorrow!

Here's our happy group at Fairchild Garden. The guard at this Chihuly installation turned out to be a retired Chicago cop who insisted on taking a picture of "all four of youse."
Here’s our happy group at Fairchild Garden. The guard at this Chihuly installation turned out to be a retired Chicago cop who insisted on taking a picture of “all four of youse.”
Cliff, Gary and Carolyn get up close to a rowboat filled with blown glass shapes.
Cliff, Gary and Carolyn get up close to a rowboat filled with blown glass shapes.
Carolyn got this photo of Ann taking a photo of a large Chihuly assemblage. It really shows the scale of these works.
Carolyn got this photo of Ann taking a photo of a large Chihuly assemblage. It really shows the scale of these works.
These black and white spears placed amongst white orchids give you an idea of how coordinated the art is to the gardens.
These black and white spears placed amongst white orchids give you an idea of how coordinated the art is to the gardens.
A stunning blue butterfly alit long enough for a quick shot. The number of butterflies in the air was amazing.
A stunning blue butterfly alit long enough for a quick shot. The number of butterflies in the air was amazing.
Here a collection of blue glass spheres is placed just above a pond filled with brilliant blue fish.
Here a collection of blue glass spheres is placed just above a pond filled with brilliant blue fish.
A close up of the blue fish with a huge white koi.
A close up of the blue fish with a huge white koi.
Gary and Carolyn doing their tree hugger thing.
Gary and Carolyn doing their tree hugger thing.
Whew! Tax payments in with a day to spare.
Whew! Tax payments in with a day to spare.

4 thoughts on “Tues., April 14 — A Visit to Fairchild Gardens”

  1. I once saw a Chihuly exhibit at one of the Chicago botanic gardens on the South Side near the U. of Chicago; although many years ago, I still remember how beautiful it was. Did the electronics on Dot Calm get fixed before the final leg of your journey? Judging from my recent Am X statement, I must have had a GREAT time and ate extraordinarily well while on Dot Calm!

    We are preparing for the Roy family visit on Saturday; Will booked us into a Hilton near Cape Canaveral on Tues. night and we’ll spend both Tues. and Wed. there. I get to celebrate my birthday with my family near me for the 1st time in many many years.

    Reply

    1. The problem with your AMEX statement isn’t that you ate well on Dot.Calm…..you ate well at all the amazing restaurants we discovered along the way (and treated us, perhaps, too often!) Alas, electronics still on the blink, but we were quite adept with paper charts plus a $9.95 download Cliff got that showed our location via satellite relative to a “line” that depicted the ICW. Worked like a charm.

      I know you will have a wonderful time at Kennedy Space Center and with your family around you for your birthday. Happy Birthday from us. If you can eat at the Asian restaurant I mentioned in my email (can’t remember the name) you should. Gets rave reviews.

      Reply

    1. Thanks Nancy! R&R in Marathon has been very relaxing. Still waiting on dock work and electronics repairs. Ugh! Welcome to the work ethic of the Keys.

      Reply

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