It’s a beautiful time of the year at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (affectionately known as fmg.) Granddaughter has been more interested in the play area with the raised runways and winding paths as there are always kids there that can run together, play hide and seek, etc. This week, though, she said yes to feeding the koi fish at the waterfalls and pond. The sky was overcast and a certain % of rain was predicted, and it was sprinkling as we arrived — see video at the end of this post — but we headed out towards the pond. The big grass bowl that The American Horse (created in DaVinci design by Nina Akamu) is along the way, and she loves to climb to the top and roll down. She was at a steeper area this time, and her rolling in a straight line has improved, so when she rolled down it was fast; so fast, her uncle and I served as blocks to the sidewalk and a light post so she didn’t roll into/onto them. She climbed and rolled 3 times before we walked on. Her energy and stamina impress every time.
We finally made it to the pond. Alas all things must come to an end. A new sign was posted not to feed the fish. Of course she was prepared to feed the fish and I was prepared to feed them and ooh and ah over my favorite fish; so yes, Grammalisa pulled out the fish food and we fed them. It will be the last time to feed but not to visit them.
The pumpkins are back! 
pic taken over lake mi on 092225 white mottles on blue / spotlight shining bright through / summer not ready to go 
Illinois bundle flower per pl@ntnet 
plaque for the Rodin 
Rodin in a section of the park we hadn’t walked in before (our friend behind sculpture) 
looking out on rooftop garden 
looking out on rooftop garden 2 
what a stunning pond pastoral 
one “box pond” left on rooftop garden 
amphitheater where all of the summer concerts are held 
On the drive home, there were strange portents in the sky. I swear there were eyes looking at me, and the clouds looked like dragons.
Tao Talk 
A fun day, rain or shine! Great photos. Love the clouds.!
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❤️
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I like the Box Pond flowers and the Illinois bundle flower a lot… I could go to sleep listening to that rain!
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I know what you mean about the flowers. That water lily was simply perfect. The camera actually gave it color that it didn’t have, which is weird but nice. The Illinois bundle grows into big trees, which we also saw later along the path. I had to put a rain track in because fam was talking in the background and didn’t want their voices captured. My sound machine is set on rain at night. It helps me sleep better.
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Those flowers just caught my attention in the pond box…so pretty…different colors or not.
My dad (sorry if I repeat myself), in the seventies, would put tin foil outside of a window and tape storms on reel to reel or cassette…
I never saw the Illinois bundle before…they were really interesting.
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No I don’t remember you talking about your dad doing that. What a cool idea and a happy memory you have of him.
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p.s. Happy Friday! Glad to see you. Been missing you.
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Happy Friday! Thank you Lisa! Same here! It’s great to be back!
I have to go to a funeral today in about an hour…my aunt…but she did make it to 93…but still is sad.
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Condolences on your aunt’s passing. 93! That’s a good age.
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Thanks Lisa…yea it’s hard to complain when you make it that long. She was always good to me.
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{{{HUGS}}}
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This looks like a wonderful place to visit! I was watching the Detroit Tigers play yesterday and noticed a Meijer patch on their uniforms, is there a relation?
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Dana, Meijer has a chain of grocery-department stores in MI (and some other states, I think.) They have donated a lot of $$ here and there, for bike paths and yes, they started this place. I’m guessing there is an almost certain connection with that patch.
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So generous! Thanks for sharing that, Lisa!
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It is great fun being with young children but their energy is exhausting. Perhaps the fish are being over fed.
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Robbie, her energy has the opposite effect on me. Yes, I understand why they posted the sign. Still disappointing.
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Yes, of course
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Amazing skies! That is such a wonderful place. (K)
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:)
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We have a park close by that has ducks. They have (or had) duck food dispensers. I can understand though why the park would rather you not feed the fish. Maybe they could put up some koi food dispensers?
Glad you had a lovely time even with some rain.
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It’s all good. Thanks, Jules <3
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