Phoenix Botanical Garden

I'm back!!!  I took a bit of a hiatus from blogging (hopefully you noticed!).  Life got really busy and as more time passed blogging was pushed to the backburner, but I really missed it an I'm back with some updates!  Today you just get a lot of pictures with minimal rambling :)

 

Once upon a time there were days that existed in Phoenix that weren't incredibly hot.  Although it seems years away, a little over a month ago we enjoyed one of these days at the Botanical Gardens.  It was a cloudy day and we had a cold-front in Phoenix which meant I could wear a light sweater outside which was just amazing.  That seems like an eternity ago.  If only I could have bottled up this weather!

 

We went to the Botanical Gardens once in February to check out the location as a possible wedding venue.  We got in free that time and were relieved because we were both super not impressed and were mad enough we gave up our time to go.  The "garden" was full of bland plants a whole bunch of cacti (imagine that in Arizona).  We hightailed it out of there pretty quickly.  I was later told that the gardens were really beautiful in spring.  A few years ago I saw (or noticed) my very first cactus flower.  I didn't even know they existed until I moved here (I must have lived under a rock or something) and even then it took a couple years.  Anyhow, this made me realize that cacti can actually be pretty instead of just scary pokey green things and I decided to give the Botanical Gardens one more shot in spring and I'm so glad I did. 

 

I got a groupon deal (first one ever!) while the butterflies were still out at the gardens.  It was so pretty, such a nice day, and a great date!  We took a TON of photos once we finally figured out a few new-to-us settings on the camera.  Here are a few of my favorites....I have problems limiting myself so when I say "a few" I really mean a lot :)  Enjoy!