Fireworks & Fountains at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Sq, PA 9/19/09

Here we are, back at Kennett Sq, PA, six days after the Mushroom Festival. Kennett Sq. is a happening place. I've wanted to attend Fireworks and Fountains for several years since my first visit to it was fogged by damp air. I picked Sept. to go due to the fact that we had so much rain this past summer. I hoped for better weather in Sept. We weren't disappointed. I won't bore everyone with too many fireworks pictures. We do have video on the Flip which we haven't downloaded yet. A highlight to this fireworks display is that it was played to music by ABBA, my favorite group. I will probably include a video with the ABBA music playing after we download it from the Flip. In retrospect, I realized that this post is backwards. Whatever. All in all it was a wonderful day, the beauty of Longwood Gardens never gets old. Each time we go we discover new plants and there's always a new exhibit. The children's garden is fun every time we go. It's as much fun for grownups as children. After you read this post, imagine it in reverse. That's how we experienced it. The fireworks being the highlight for me, of course.

I love this picture. Antonio loves shrimp, soooooo, here he is posing with the shrimp plant. Cool!!!

Bumble bee mobile in the atrium.

Antonio likes the old man cactus.

These flowers were part of a show and competition.

We're in the cactus garden.

In the greenhouses there were banana trees. It's very interesting, I learned that, after the bananas are harvested, the tree trunk is cut down, sawed at the base. New shoots grow to become new trees that will grow new bananas. We always enjoy the cactus garden. Antonio especially likes the old man cactus. There was a flower show and competition that had hundreds of beautiful and very colorful flowers that we enjoyed viewing. The exact name of the flowers escapes me at the moment. They might be dahlias????? Or camelias????? Not sure! The tropical garden is always lush and full of huge plants. Out in the atrium there were mobiles of plants shaped like bumble bees. They were large and plentiful. Very decorative and creative.

I almost used this picture on my Christmas card. This photo was taken with Anita's phone camera. We seem to have great luck at getting spiritual looking pictures with our cameras.

I am totally fascinated by these water platters. Hence so many pictures. Like the mushrooms in my previous post, they grow at an incredibly fast rate. The white flower is the first stage with the eventual platter being the end stage. I was happy that we went to Longwood Gardens in Sept. which made it possible to see them. Usually we go in Dec. when they have died off for the winter. The children had to pull me away from these water gardens because I enjoy them so much.

Here are some images from the grounds at Longwood Gardens. I took a walking tour outside before viewing the indoor gardens and prior to us eating dinner at the restaurant on site. The children only walked part of the way with me, choosing to hang out at the outdoor fountain display where there was a water show with music and the fountains. This was my first time touring the gardens in September.

Mushroom Festival, Kennett Sq, PA 9/13/09

Here are painted mushrooms we saw at the Mushroom Festival on 9/13/09. In previous posts I've put pictures of painted bears and painted horses. I also have in my photo collection pictures of painted panda bears from Washington, DC that were taken before I started my blog. I may post them at a later date. Sooooo, we went to the mushroom capital of the world to find out how mushrooms are grown. I personally have been to the garlic capital of the world in Gilroy, CA; the blueberry capital of the world in Hammonton, NJ and now have added the mushroom capital to my list. This was the most fascinating and informative adventure for us. I truly did not know how mushrooms were grown. I kept thinking that they don't have bulbs or seeds or whatever to make them grow. I now know the method and besides learning that, I was amazed at how quickly the mushrooms grow once they are seeded and planted in the special soil. The entire history of the mushroom is fascinating. The farms have been in same families for generations. I tasted some yummy mushroom treats as well.

We were given an introduction and history about mushroom farming at the beginning of the tour. As you can see, all visitors were required to wear hair nets. It occurred to me that face masks might be more appropriate, given the swine flu outbreak that was hitting the USA at that time.

Anita and Antonio smiling at me from the other side of a mushroom bed. These mushrooms are a few days growth in size. Their growth is quite progressive. As we passed through each row, we observed the stages of growth from seed to picking size.

The mushrooms are on shelves and grown in a special mix of which we were fascinated to learn about. The whole process is very intersting. Here's one of the workers who "dressed up" for the festival, not his usual work garb as we were told by our tour guide. The mushroom farms have been in the owners families for generations.

Portabello mushrooms before and after picking to go to market. This was the most fascinating event. We had always wondered how mushrooms were grown. The Mushroom Festival was the perfect opportunity to learn. And, the mushroom recipes we tasted were scrumptious too!

First Day of School 9/8/09

Back to school 9/8/09 at JW. A new school and a new grade for Antonio (6th), a new grade for Anita (7th). Stacy came along for the drop off. The children were both excited to get back to school. They now both attend the same school. Makes life much easier when they need pickup in nasty weather.

Last Day at the Pool. Closing for the season 9/7/09.

End of the season at the Broadmead Swim Club. It was freezing, both the air and the water. We brought grandson Brandon along with us for this last splash. Besides the life guard, we were the only members at the pool. Anita chose to sunbathe and avoid the cold water altogether. She spent her time taking photos of herself and even made a short video too. The pump at the pool had broken a week earlier so the life guards shocked the water, much to my dismay; I broke out in a rash from the chemicals. I'm such a die hard. I just had to get in the last day at the pool.

Labor Day Picnic, 9/6/09. A fun time had by all!

Views from Greg's property. The Labor Day picnic is my favorite end-of-summer event. I especailly love the woods, with trails that Greg built, the flower gardens which, have been lovingly attended to by Greg, and his family helpers and, the views all around when standing in the middle of the yard or sitting on the patio. Family and friends gather for a very fun time, lots of laughs, great food, relaxing and, some serious quoits game competition among the adults. Thanks Greg and Laurel for hosting this great event, enjoyed by all. I look forward to next year's picnic already.

Son, Greg, and his faithful friend, Buster. Buster is getting along in years; he's ever the faithful companion. I remember when he was a puppy and the kids lived on Genesee St. in Trenton.

Joyce, my other daughter, Roxy and Jess, granddaughters, daughter Donna, with head turned, and always happy daughter-in-law Laurel. Much fun was had at the picnic.

Anita and Antonio enjoying themselves at the picnic.

A respite in the woods along a trail in Greg's back yard. The pagoda was brought from CA when I moved back to NJ. It belonged to a dear lady, now deceased, who meant a lot to me.

My son Greg and his sister Diane, daughter number 1, enjoying the day.