“It’s not too often you get all of this neatness in one location. That’s called nature.” This is a line from the popular YouTube video Nature Walk.  And you can experience some very neat nature at the Foellinger-Freiman Botanical Conservatory.

The Foellinger-Freiman Botanical Conservatory offers Soothing Summer Gardens as a way to get away and relax.

The Botanical Conservatory is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and everyday life. There is no better time to visit the Botanical Conservatory because now through September 15, you can experience Soothing Summer Gardens. The Showcase Garden has been transformed into the center for relaxation. It has been divided into smaller “rooms”. Each room has its own unique character and piece of art for visitors to enjoy. Extra seating has been scattered around the garden to allow for more seating for those who wish to linger and relax a little longer. A water feature has been added to the garden to help visitors relax with the sound of splashing water.

So go ahead. Take some time for yourself, or bring the family, for this relaxing walk through some great gardens at the Botanical Conservatory.

The Botanical Conservatory is located Downtown next to the Embassy Theatre. Hours: Tuesday- Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Thursday 10 am – 8 pm, Sunday Noon – 4 pm. Closed Mondays, New Years Day, and Christmas Day. Admission is $5 for Adults, $3 for children (age 3-17), and FREE for Children 2 and under.

For more information, visit their website.

I was born on Mother’s Day and my mom always used to tell me that she got the best present in the world on that special day. Now that I’m a mom, I wonder if she was gritting her teeth every time she said that to me. A baby is one of those “presents” that keeps giving, and not always in a good way. Okay, I’ll quit beating around the bush. Being a mother is hard work! So, every year I look forward to that wonderful second weekend in May that is mine, all mine. Yes, I celebrate the entire weekend. All mothers should!

One lucky lady stocks up at the Mothers Day Plant Sale.

This year my family is taking me to the Mother’s Day Plant Sale on Saturday. It’s located at the roomy McMillen Ice Arena, 3901 Abbott Street. I buy all of my vegetable starters, my herbs, my annuals, my perennials and my hanging baskets at this sale because the prices are amazing and the plants are extremely hardy. There’s a plant list at www.botanicalconservatory.com. The sale is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but on Saturday there will be local gardeners on hand answering questions and talking about how to grow your own fresh food at home, starting with soil care, choosing plants, watering, and fertilizing.

Spend time with Mom at the Botanical Conservatory

Then, on Sunday, after the whole family helps me plant my trunk-load of goodies, they’re taking me to Mothers Day in the Garden at the Botanical Conservatory on Calhoun Street. Mother’s get in free! The Butterflies of Malaysia exhibit is in town and they’re hatching like crazy. I don’t know what’s more beautiful—the Cethosia cyane butterfly or the endless array of flowers growing inside and outside the Conservatory. There are fragrant blue petunias, hot pink cockscomb, yellow lantana, green and burgundy coleus and every color impatient you can imagine. I’ll wonder through the Desert and Tropical Gardens as well that day. Admission for the rest of the family is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 – 7, and children 2 and under are free.

Doesn’t that sound like the perfect weekend for a tired, greatly appreciated mom?

For more information about both of these events, visit www.botanicalconservatory.org

I’ve always admired the beauty and grace of butterflies. Who doesn’t? But until I did a little research for this blog, I didn’t spend much time thinking about what those butterflies are doing as they flutter about their business, besides providing me with a flash of nature’s charm. I discovered those graceful movements are keeping them alive. Butterflies are very near-sighted like most insects, so they need to rely on their other senses for food, to mate and to avoid their enemies. Did you know that butterflies have a great sense of smell even though they don’t have a nose? They have sense receptors in their antennae, their feet and other parts of their body. They hear sounds through their wings, and they taste with their feet. Isn’t that crazy? I’ll never look at a butterfly the same way again.

See butterflies up close this summer.

With all this new knowledge, I can’t wait to visit the Butterflies of Malaysia Exhibit coming to Fort Wayne’s Botanical Conservatory. This butterfly display, from April 14 – July 8, will feature butterflies from Southeast and Central Asia, along with the Asian countries of Australia, Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Asian butterflies are well known for their magnificent wingspans ranging from 3 to 6 inches and sometimes up to 8 inches!

The butterflies will be under an enclosed canopy in the Conservatory. You can go inside and stroke their wings and let them land gently on your finger. Or, just have a seat on a bench and observe the habits and the movements of these amazing insects. You can even watch them hatch at the Emergence Laboratory as they come out from the chrysalises to begin their lives as adult butterflies.

Get up close - and hands on - with these beauties

After you carefully leave the tent with the help of an attendant, who will make sure you don’t take any butterflies home with you on your clothes, you and the kids can enjoy hands-on activities that will help you learn more about the natural world experienced by a butterfly. And don’t forget to explore the gardens before you leave. In the demonstration beds outside the tent, visitors will be able to observe horticultural plantings and techniques for late spring and summer flowers such as ageratum, begonias, butterfly bush, caladium, coleus, croton, dianthus, gerbera daisies, kalanchoe, petunias, primula, oxalis, salvia, sabiosia, stock, verbena, and many other plants for our Midwestern climate. W0w – it’s time for me to do some more research because I have no idea what most of those flowers are!

The Desert Garden and Tropical Garden will also be open for your enjoyment as well, and admission to the entire building is the regular Conservatory fee of $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 – 7, and children 2 and under are free.

For more information about the Botanical Conservatory visit www.botanicalconservatory.org. For much more information and pictures of butterflies, take a look at this fascinating site: www.learnaboutbutterflies.com.

When you find yourself in downtown Fort Wayne for either work or play, there are definitely a variety of things to do and places to go.

However, if you find you need a moment of peace while you’re here, there are plenty of options open to you for taking a well-deserved break. My top five favorites are:

1. The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory: Situated in the heart of downtown, the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory provides visitors with a chance to stop and let the world go by, while taking in the sights and scents of natural, floral beauty. Wander casually through their Showcase Garden with featured seasonal displays, take in the beautiful Tropical Garden with gorgeous orchids and a soothing waterfall, or enjoy the serenity of the Desert Garden. Visit the Botanical Conservatory Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Conservatory is closed on Mondays, New Year’s Day and Christmas Day. Admission is $5 adults, children (age 3-17) $3; children age 2 and under admitted free.

The Allen County Public Library offers a peaceful stop - and a Dunkin' Donuts on site!

2. The Fort Wayne Museum of Art also offers a quiet respite in the middle of the city. Walk the whisper-quiet galleries at your own pace, taking in exhibitions and collections designed to provoke thought, insight or amusement. The museum is located at 311 Main Street, and is open Tuesday – Saturday, 11a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Art Museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $5 adults, $3 for students Kindergarten through college and $10 for families. The museum offers free admission on Sundays and Thursdays.

3. If you’re looking for a different kind of quiet, check out the Allen County Public Library. Make a quick stop at Dunkin’ Donuts (conveniently located adjacent to the southeast entrance) to pick up a treat and your favorite hot or icy beverage. The library’s main hall alone is worth the time to walk and explore. The two-story open area is home to a larger-than-life wall mural featuring inspirational quotes from some of the world’s most profound thinkers. Wander the departments, peruse a book or two or check out the featured exhibits on display. The main library is open Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Please note the main library is closed on Sundays from May 27, 2012 to September 1, 2012. You can find the library at 900 Library Plaza (bordered by Wayne St., Ewing St. and Washington Blvd.)

Beautiful Freimann Square offers downtown serenity, despite being only steps away from busy Main Street

4. We’ve all heard jokes about the fickle tendencies of Indiana weather: “If you don’t like it, wait a minute and it’ll change,” and the weather in Fort Wayne is no exception. However, if you’re lucky enough to have a little bit of time on a pleasant day, visit Freimann Square. This fountain-adorned park offers a surprising amount of serenity despite being only steps away from busy Main Street. Pick a bench and enjoy cool shade or the full-on warmth of the sun, bring your lunch or enjoy a book. Freimann Square is located on the west side of the Arts United Center/Fort Wayne Civic Theatre. (Parking entrance accessible from South Clinton St.)

5. Finally, tucked into former firehouse number 3 – located at 226 W. Washington Blvd. – is the Fort Wayne Firefighter’s Museum. Station 3 was closed in 1972, and within a couple of years, plans were being made to turn the building into a museum full of local history. Years of work ensued, and the museum opened on a limited basis in 1981. In 2001 a staff was hired and regular hours took effect. The equipment and memorabilia in the museum were all once used by the Fort Wayne Fire Department, and were generously donated by the firefighters and their families. The museum is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum is closed Wednesdays, Sundays and most holidays. Admission is $4 adults, seniors and students (K-12) $3. Children 5 and under are free.

What about you? Are there any downtown quiet spots that you’d recommend?

What better embodies the spirit of the 1960′s than an original Volkswagen bus? Surround that iconic image with bold, beautiful blooms, and you’ve got yourself a gateway to the past. Such is the case with the “Flower Power: Summer of Love” exhibit currently running at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory.

Get a feel for the 60's when you step into the Showcase Garden at the Botanical Conservatory.

Individuals who wanted to make a difference in the 60′s were part of an entire generation who genuinely believed in their power to create a better world for everyone. Their ideas were hopeful, and were symbolized by flowers, which were representative of their peaceful nature.

From the brightly-colored beaded curtain to the rainbow of kites overhead, you will instantly get a genuine feel for the era as you step into the Botanical Conservatory’s Showcase Garden. An original Volkswagen Microbus sits in the middle of the room, open and waiting for its “flower children” owners to hop back in and drive to the next sit-in or music festival.

In addition to the classic VW, the exhibit also features a large display of the highly-recognizable “LOVE” sculpture. Originally commissioned to appear on a 1965 holiday card for the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the four-letter block has been recycled in various forms through the years.

Adding to the experience are explanatory placards dotted throughout the exhibit, providing snippets of information about the 60′s, related to the history-changing events that took place during the decade.

Step back in time and experience the essence of the 60s with “Flower Power: Summer of Love” running through November 13 at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory.