ABC WEDNESDAY-"O is for OUCH"

This morning I checked with J's mother on her progress after surgery (see yesterday's post), and I was told that she "is a little grumpy." After an accident, x-rays, meds, surgery, and recovery, I guess "grumpy" is okay. I thought a photo of her bear, hiding her pain is more appropriate. But, she's going home today already!! Can you believe it!!

Surgery-MN Workers #6

Not everyone is as brave as this young lady who is just about ready to be wheeled into surgery. A friend of my granddaughter's, this child fell on a school playground and broke her elbow. Ouch! The surgery was successful, and she'll return to school this week, after only three days!!

Parrot News

The babies are obviously thriving and growing, thanks to many volunteers! If you go to this site,you will find a wonderful album created by some of the rescuers (many of whom I know) who are caring for the baby parrots in Mazatlán, México. The photos show the babies at various stages of development as well as being fed by a few of the volunteers. In the past, I've posted part of the story on my blog, scroll back to April 8th and 12th for the full story.

MN Worker #5

Being responsible for other peoples' money is a tremendous responsibility, and, in addition, this capable financial planner has lots of paperwork!

Have a good week-end everyone!

Vanity Plates

Love the car and appreciate the humour.

ABC WEDNESDAY-"N"

Rather than moving forward, NWA soon will be disappearing from the skies because of the merger (aka take-over) with Delta Airlines. The familiar red tail will then be defunct. My reaction is mixed since Northwest was never one of my favorite airlines, but the economic ramifications to the Twin Cities will be considerable, which no city can afford during these difficult times. The so-called merged airline will be called Delta (what else?!) and will be headquartered in Atlanta. I predict that jobs will be lost on the former NWA system and fares will rise. Not a happy post for this ABC Wednesday!!

PS. To see more ABC posts, go to MrsNesbittsplace for the list of names.

MN Workers-#4

Now, wouldn't you love to have her wait on your table?! A most efficient and lovely waitperson!!

A Banner Day

At 12:40 noon on April 21, 1970, darlin' daughter, Katherine Kilbane Neher was born. Happy Birthday, Kati!!

New Beginnings #2

On September 7, 2007, I posted a photo of Joanne and Peter, two people who had lost their spouses after long marriages, but who decided to start new beginnings with one another. On Sunday night, April 20th, friends gathered together to celebrate Joanne's and Peter's marriage that had taken place in December. After an extended honeymoon, including a cruise to Hawaii, a trip to Florida as well as other romantic places, they've returned to St. Paul so we could party with them!

Post #500-Minnesota Workers Series (#3)

Blogger and I have not been on good terms the last few days, but I finally got to post again ... and I've made it to my milestone!! What better way to celebrate post #500 for this blog than with smiling faces of happy workers at Lund's Super Market!

If I were also to count my Mazatlán, México blog, it would be 685 posts. Although I may have missed a day or two here and there, I think that I've been pretty faithful and have enjoyed every minute of it. I don't know which I enjoy more--taking photos, reading your comments, or visiting your blogs. Thanks, everyone, for your visits and encouragement!!

MN Workers #2

A typical spring activity after a long hard winter...repairing potholes!

Minnesota Workers Series #1

A year or so ago, I posted a Minnesota Workers Series which was well-received so I decided to try it again. Meet Kara, a barista at my local Starbuck's Cafe on Ford Parkway in Highland Village. She and her colleagues were very busy during this photo session of mine.

Two more days and I will have posted 500 photos on this blog (not counting my Mazatlan, México blog!)

Community Center

 

I've always liked this mural although it's not in an area that gets lots of traffic. It depicts what's athletically important in that particular community center.

Parrot Rescue Update!

Last week I posted a story and some photos of a Mazatlán, México rescue effort for 500 confiscated parrots, 272 of which are babies. Volunteers Nancy and Paul have updated their experience with the 50 baby birds that are receiving their care until the parrots are mature enough to be released. Please visit their blog on Countdown México for the latest news and more photos, one of which I've posted above. Take some time to peruse their blog, too, to learn of their experiences as full-time expats in Paradise!

Amorphophallus titanum

This rare plant had received a great deal of press as an international botanical event so I went to the Conservatory to see and smell it for myself. It began its bloom period on Wednesday, March 9 and lasted approximately 36 hours, according to a guide. By the time I got there on Thursday at approximately 10 a.m., the plant was dying and losing its bloom--the odor that is likened to rotting flesh was gone.

The flower is lime green with a phallic-like stalk and, when blooming, has a leafy purple and green "cape." Its soil temperature is monitored and at the base of the stalk are seedlike structures, which turn out to be the male and female features. The pollen is to be collected and spread around so that other corpses may bloom! The flowering version of the plant is so rare that plant experts know how many times it has happened in conservatories since it was discovered in Sumatra in the late 19th century. Ours was no. 122, one of the smallest on record, topping out at around 29 inches.

Alas I missed the peak blooming and olfactory experience and will now have to wait for 15 more years before it blooms again! I wonder if it's worth it?!

Slothful

A sleepy sloth or a sloth sleeping? I want back to the Como Conservatory to photograph the much publicized "corpse plant" (more tomorrow), and couldn't resist a visit to my favorite friend in the tropical area of the building. Don't malign sloths; they have the right idea, especially during these gray, rainy days!

Can't go to Italy?

Can't go to Italy? Don't fret; just follow me to my neighborhood supermarket that is having a sale on olive oil, tomatoes, pasta, and cheeses. Together we'll buy all the ingredients we need to make a memorable meal while we dream of Tuscany, Umbria, and the Italian Riviera. Perhaps Fabrizio in Torino can give us a few of his favorite recipes!!

Look What I'm Missing!!

[Photos were taken by Nancy and Paul on their Mazatlán, México blog, Countdown to México. Some of you know that Jaime and I spent the winter months in Mazatlán, and while there we got involved with different activities, one of which included helping to care for animals. We returned to Minnesota on March 30th. A few days after we got home, close to 500 illegally-captured parrots were confiscated by authorities, and close to 300 baby parrots are now being fed and nurtured by volunteer expats and Mexican citizens in their own homes. Visit Nancy and Paul's blog to read a fuller narrative, view two short videos and see some more photos. What a kick, and I'm so jealous that I'm not involved!!

Rain! Rain! Go Away!

No chance to take photos today because it's raining and very gray outdoors. The forecast includes rain off and on all week. So...I'll have to be alert for breaks in the weather when I can look for some good subjects to photograph. In the meantime, I'll have to search for some archive snapshots to post here, such as this one which I took in the Sunken Garden last week.

Latte Anyone?

Come join me for breakfast!

The Fern Room

Fern Room
A Palette of Delicate Greens
Experience the ambiance of dappled light, a gentle waterfall and floating mist. Walk among green lacey foliage and step back in time through a garden of living fossils. Ferns are one of the most ancient groups of plant surviving today. The Fern Room at Marjorie McNeely Conservatory contains over 100 species of ferns and fern allies. (From the Como Conservatory website)

The light from the conservatory windows adversely affected the exposure, and my Canon point-and-shoot camera didn't seem to be able to compensate. I think you can visualize the beauty of the place from these photos, however.

Sunken Garden-Statue

Yesterday I showed you the exterior of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. Today I have a photo taken in the Sunken Garden, one of the most delightful gardens in the building. Tomorrow I will bring you to an equally delightful part of the Conservatory, the Fern Room.

The Conservatory hosts more than 300 wedding ceremonies each year! Couples can choose to have their ceremony inside the Conservatory in either the Sunken Garden or North Garden. The two outdoor locations, the Japanese Garden and The Excedra, are available seasonally.

Sunken Garden: A Visual Symphony of Color For a Virtual Tour of the Garden, click on this site for a great view.

The Sunken Garden in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park presents a seasonal potpourri of fantastic floral shows, with five popular themes each year. Enjoy amazing azaleas and festive poinsettias in winter, multicolored tulips in spring, prized roses and geraniums in summer and cheery chrysanthemums in autumn.

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory-Como Park

Editorial

Review for Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park
by Citysearch Staff

The glittering dome of Palm House is a promise of elegance (and year-round warmth) within.

In Short
Half an acre under glass, the elegant conservatory is a celebration of the living earth. Plentiful collections of orchids, bromeliads, palms, ferns and bonsai overflow from the six indoor garden rooms into two outdoor gardens. In winter, its steamy glass dome is a perfect escape from Minnesota's rigorous climate. May through September, enjoy the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden.

Know Before You Go
Photography is allowed, but tripods and lengthy photo shoots are not permitted. Special shutterbug days are held five times a year.

The Extras
Sign up for an art class in the garden, using the most exotic live models you'll find in these northern climes.

When To Go
The tea house in the Japanese Garden offers a traditional Chanoyu tea ceremony several times throughout the summer. Call ahead to find out the times and to get a reservation.
*******************
The Como Park Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (or just Como Zoo and Conservatory) are located in Como Park at 1225 Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul, Minnesota. The park, zoo and conservatory are owned by the City of Saint Paul and are a division of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation. The attractions located there include the zoo, the conservatory, an amusement park, a carousel, Lake Como, a golf course, a pool and more. The park receives more than 2.5 million visitors annually. Como Park is a free park and while no admission fee is charged for the zoo or conservatory, voluntary donations of $2 per adult and $1 child are suggested.

April Fool The Joke's on Us

The day after we returned from 3 months in sunny Mazatlán, México the Midwest played its special brand of April Fool on us--a snowfall! These are scenes in my neighborhood. I miss México!!

Kellogg Fountain

We arrived back in Minnesota after 3 months in Mazatlan, Mexico, and we have been treated to a snowfall for our arrival. This photo obviously was not taken within the last 24 hours, but it reminds me of summer so I decided to post it for April Theme Day...Mexico!...Sigh!!

When you visit the 178 theme day posts, don't forget to go to my Mazatlán blog for my last contribution there for the season.

theme day id=13

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