A VISIT TO .. DUBUQUE ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

What a stunning dahlia! I never saw one this large!

This past week, my husband and I took an overnight trip to Dubuque, Iowa. I love to go to the Dubque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, so that I can see all the beautiful flowers and gardens, and of course, take photos.

If you'd like to learn more about the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens click on the photo below. This beautiful place is maintained by

all volunteers...some 250 of them.

Gorgeous Hibiscus! One of my favorite flowers!

Since I started creating my new designs of Butterfly Flower Photo Wall Accents, I really couldn't wait to see what wonderful flowers awaited me at the Arboretum this year. We got there just in time, as a lot of the flowers were losing their "perfect bloom". The dahlias and hibiscus blooms were still beautiful and I thought I'd share some of the photos here on my blog. I will be using some of the photos to create my Butterfly Flower Photo wall accents. I love to find the fabric for the butterflies and to match it with the flowers.


I'm not sure what this striking green and white plant was, but loved the contrasts of the green with the white.

This big bee didn't seem to mind that I was that close taking a photo of it. I did notice that a lot of the flowers were being eaten by the Asian Beetles.

There were clusters and clusters of colorful ornamental peppers, so of course they caught my eye!

Since I love color and whimsey I was delighted to find this whimsical gecko in the gardens. It was a fun, beautiful day. One can never get tired of seeing the beauty of nature!

Hope you enjoyed seeing a few of these delightful, flowers.

A COLORFUL VISIT TO BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS - Hales Corners, WI

Metal sculpture among the flowers.

This morning when my husband and I were trying to decide where we could go today, I suggested that we pay a visit to the Boerner Botanical Gardens, so that I could take some "closeups" of flowers. While that isn't as much his idea of fun as it is mine, he agreed to go!

The flowers and plants were so gorgeous, so I've added some of the photos out here for all to enjoy. I took over 95 photos, and will be sharing more of them from time to time. I do hope you enjoy beautiful "mother nature" in all her glory!

This is the biggest hibiscus flower I've ever seen. This was the only bloom on the whole plant.

A stone sculpture entitled "BLOSSOM"

One of several dozens of different tpyes of "lilies"! So exquisite!

I loved the fluffy green plants behind the statue.

Gorgeous white roses with hints of pink!

It is hard to tell from the photo, but a tiny humming bird had landed on the top of this sculpture. It sat there for quite a while.

The little speck up there on the man's hat, is the humming bird!

Praying Mantas iron sculpture

The pale greens of this plant with the flowers surrounding it, really made it stand out!

There were so many varieties of "lilies!!

I hope you enjoyed the photos. All these gorgeous flower photos gave me a new idea, which I hope to have out in my Etsy shop soon. A fairy (in colors to match the flower) and a photo grouping....might even add a tiny fabric butterfly! What do you think!