Put together with the understanding that none of us really WANTS to see every photo your Uncle Harold put together while vacationing in Rome. So, just keep in mind there could have been about 100 more!
I loaded up the camera bag: 3 lenses, some filters, extra batteries, flash-which-I-do-not-yet-know-how-sync-with-any-lens-larger-than-50mm, food, camera, and off I went. Halfway to the Gardens, I realized that my tripod bag sitting in the passenger's seat looked potentially like a bagged rifle, and so it went into the second seat.
I was able to find some plants that were still mostly in bloom, though many things look to be pretty much done for the year.
I don't know what any of these flowers are, but I really liked the looks of that one.
And here, this one looks as though it has decorated itself with ornaments for a festival. If I were a bee, I would certainly find that impressive, and well worth investigating:
Alas, the bees had a different work order in place for this morning:
Up close, the natural world shows that it's layered and textured for many differently-sized creatures--not just for our benefit.
Look closely at how many different layers of color there are on this fellow:
All praise to mottled, spotted, dappled things!
Here the goose instigates an attempted shakedown. Yes, they are indeed all running towards me, hoping for food and loose change. Notice the one to the side, making certain that he can outflank me if I make a run for it....
In the Children's Garden, I encountered this caretaker:
He was quite nervous, at first, with the noisy shutter and autofocus motor.
Eventually, though, he consented to model for a bit:
"Oh man! I think I left a twenty in that other suit of fur!"
"Maybe I just need a new perspective on things....a new career perhaps. Something involving mice, maybe......"
I took the walk back to the car....
But I had my revenge on the instigator of the line charge:
Yeah, buddy! Try explaining THAT to the wife. And just so you know, this is going on Daily Kos, so there's every chance it could go viral!! In many ways I'm a petty person, I know....