Getting ready for Christmas

It was early November and they were already decorating the Atlanta Botanical Gardens for the Christmas light show.

It was putting me in the holiday spirit even though it was warm while we were there.

Walking through the wooded path, the colors were popping. It felt very different from the color in central Florida (which was still the usual green).

SkyWatch Friday

Red, pink and orange in November

The Atlanta Botanical Gardens still had a lot of color blooming when I was there in early November. Atlanta hadn’t gotten a lot of cold weather yet and it was warm the morning I was there. We were hoping we would get to wear our jackets on this trip but that wasn’t the case.

Beauty in the gardens including the blooming lady statue behind the waterfall.

The trees also had a lot of color. I took a ton of pictures with my phone so more to come on this visit.

Inspire Me Monday

Magical plants at the Botanical Gardens

When I was in Atlanta in mid-August visiting friends, I spent some time at the Botanical Gardens. It’s one of my favorite places to take pictures.  They were having an exhibit of “Mythical Creatures” topiaries that was really cool to see.

Above are just a few of the growing “creatures” that come to life.

Lots of fun things to see at these gardens which were full of butterflies.

Linking to Wednesday Around the World. 

Birds at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

This young Carolina wren was hopping all over the place.

Usual birds: a sparrow, robin and baby mockingbird.

 

A rare bird for me, one that I don’t see in my area of Florida is the American Goldfinch. There were several in the back of the gardens eating the flowers.

I saw several hummingbirds buzzing around but I could only catch this one.

Lots of little critters at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens during my trip in August.

Our World Tuesday Graphicimage-in-ing: weekly photo linkup

Flappers and jumpers at the botanical gardens

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This bluebird was singing pretty loud on a light post.

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I don’t know what this is. It flew onto the same post as the bluebird above. At first I thought it was a juvenile bluebird but that beak looks different. Any ideas? Cobb?

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My first “male” goldfinch.

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Wet robin with a berry in his beak.

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Catbird on a chain.

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House sparrows hanging out on a nest box.

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Upclose with a frog.

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Cool frog in one of the fountains.

Just a few critters I saw on my walk around the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The bluebird was a plus since I rarely see them in central Florida.

Check out more pictures at Our World Tuesday Our World Tuesday Graphic

Also, check out more birds at Paying Ready Attention for

Tweeters and croakers at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

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Not a tweeter or croaker but still cute. I think he thought I couldn’t see him behind that branch.

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Blue jay in the winter.

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Sparrows landing on the feeder at the gardens.

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The feeders were busy but mostly sparrows and blue jays.

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Inside one of the buildings was a tropical frog exhibit. These were all in indoor enclosures.

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Blue frog posing.

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This was an exotic frog inside. We did not see any of the outside frogs in the frog pond that morning. I think the air was too cold for them and they were hiding in the water until the sun came out.

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Mockingbird posing on an empty rose bush.

Just a few of the animals we saw on our pre-Christmas walk around the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

Camera Critters