I spent this weekend in Connecticut, visiting friends, as well as some of my favorite places. This was the second annual trip to a wonderful craft fair in Massachusetts and dinner at a favorite restaurant in Amherst. The craft fair is primarily photography-free and I even took a vacation from taking pictures. I stayed on that vacation until this afternoon when I arrived at Elizabeth Park in Hartford.
Kite flying on a perfect spring afternoon in Elizabeth Park, Hartford.
I could have -- and probably did -- spend the same afternoon with my parents any year of my growing up. My friend, Lonni, and I had lunch at Peterson's, a classic ice cream parlor in West Hartford and then we went to Elizabeth Park. Elizabeth Park, founded in 1897, is the oldest Rose Garden in America. When I was growing up my family made frequent trips to the park. We saw the roses, the American flag made of flowers, fed the ducks, ate pretzels and had a hot dog lunch. They were simple pleasures and still so sweet. The Park went through a period of disrepair in the 1970s, but thanks to a fabulous group of volunteers it is lovely again.
It was much too soon for the great majority of the roses and the floral American flag, but there were still beautiful flowers. We spent a lot of time looking at the iris beds.
Special effects, thanks to Google+
I was happy to find this goose family enjoying the pond. Now there are signs telling visitors not to feed the ducks and geese, but few things were more fun decades ago than feeding the ducks. I remember bringing plastic bread bags with the ends of the loaf on our excursions.
There were lovely plantings everywhere and I enjoyed the frame provided to capture the scene.
Google supplied the animation to this scene of iris.
The first roses of the season.
Very soon every arch and bed will be filled with roses of all colors.
I hope you've enjoyed our visit to Elizabeth Park, and I hope your weekend gave you time to stop and smell the roses.
As ever, thanks for visiting and have a wonderful week.
13 comments
I did enjoyed the visit to the park.
Google pictures effect seems interestin. have to try it sometimes:)
Looks like a wonderful afternoon. Everything so picturesque. I especially loved the frame placed there to capture the scene.
What a beautiful place Carol! I have very fond memories of visiting family in Connecticut when I was a girl!
What's with not being able to feed the ducks and geese? Are they too fat?
I love the Google enhancements. I will have to check them out.
Beautiful, thank you Buttercup. Blessings
Glad you had such a nice weekend. We too have a park not far away that has a rose garden and it's something to see. I've also got a rose bush right by my back door to enjoy. No buds on it yet, but is wonderful to stop and smell the roses. Hope you have a terrific Tuesday !
Looks like a lovely park!
Deanna
I am smelling the roses in my garden and loving it! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!
Gorgeous pictures - iris and roses were two of Bill's favorites! Can't believe it's been two years since we visited with you in NYC. So much has happened - who would've ever thought? I'm slowly returning to BlogLand as the words are starting to come back. Hoping one of these days we can get together again. Thanks so much for your support these last few months. You truly are a friend!
Buttercup, I love your photos. Those flowers are so pretty. My girls always wanted kites. So did all of my siblings and I growing up. My brothers would take us to a vacant lot and fly their kites and we would watch. Those are find memories. Blessings to you, xoxo,Susie
Your pictures are so cheerful and added a happy note to my day. Thanks!!
The photos are lovely. I like simple pleasures too. Thank you for sharing your beautiful weekend.
It sounds as if you enjoyed the perfect holiday weekend! A good friend, comfort food and beautiful surroundings ... who might ask for more? Happy to see these lovely photos!
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