I was looking around on Groupon the other day when I came across a deal on a one-year family membership to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. We've only been out there one other time, but we really enjoyed it. It's one of those places I've thought about going a few times, but always passed on because it's a little expensive for a one time visit. This Groupon made it totally worth it. We got an entire year of visits for under $50, plus some passes for guests. Even if we only go twice in the year, it's worth it. We may not go much now that it's starting to heat up, but once fall rolls around (and my mom comes back again after the summer), I think we'll go more. It's only about a 40 minute drive from our house, and it's an oasis in the desert.
Poor Tyler. Within only a few minutes of arriving, his allergies started bothering him because of all the spring blossoms. He said "I can't breathe very well here," and he was pretty miserable the entire time. He was a trooper though.
We'll always remember this trip to BTA as the time that a big truck backed in to the front of Grandma's new VW. We were just getting there and pulling in to the parking lot when a big pick-up truck from Iowa decided he passed a parking spot that he wanted. I saw the reverse lights come on and assumed he'd stop, but once I realized he wasn't (and mom wasn't reacting quickly enough to get into reverse), I blared on the horn. No luck though, he rolled his pick up hitch right into her bumper. It turned out--surprise, surprise--to be a old man, who according to his wife, is hard of hearing and didn't hear us honking. There wasn't much damage luckily, but there was a perfectly square indention from his hitch right in the center of her bumper. Luckily, the rest of the trip was uneventful.
The trees out here are amazing! These are Australian gum trees, and they give great shade in the heat of a spring day.
This human sun dial is super cool, and perfectly accurate. It was 11:30 am! You stand on the tile for the month of year that it is and put your arms up in the air.
I have a picture of Ava in this rainbow garden from
last time we were here.
I thought this would be such a great picture of Ava stopping to smell the flowers. Unfortunately, she didn't like the smell of the flowers and was
One of my favorite pictures of the kids is of them eating scorpion suckers last time we were here. Grandpa Jon bought them these disgusting suckers, and Ava ate it down to the body of the bug, legs and all! She didn't get quite as far this time.
Whenever you go out to BTA, you have to look for the cardinals. Both times we've been there, it's been in these same trees by the picnic area.
Look at these two good looking kids!
We didn't plan it, but mom and I matched each other, and the foliage!
Look at this little model. She knows how to pose for a picture!
This place is so pretty. I look forward to more trips out there to explore once it cools down again.
