Blooming Pond

The Monet Pond in the Denver Botanic Garden has definitely become one of my favorite places this year. There are so many water lilies! Just look at these leaves... they're almost as colorful as the flowers themselves.

 

What do we do...

What do we do with the drunken sailor?
What do we do with the drunken sailor?
What do we do with the drunken sailor?

Early in the morning!

Way hay and up she rises, 

Way hay and up she rises, 

Way hay and up she rises, 

Early in the morning!

Oops, wrong start! Let's try it again... 

What do we do when we have a day off and it happens to be a Tuesday? Obviously... we wake up early, have a quick breakfast, and drive forty minutes through the morning traffic to reach a trailhead. Not just any trailhead, but the Morrison trailhead of Mount Falcon Park. I hiked this trail a couple of years ago and decided it was time to do it again. Right from the start, the views were stunning, and I had a really good feeling about the day ahead.

 

Water Lilies' Kingdom

I'm not sure I've ever seen so many water lilies in the ponds of the Denver Botanic Garden. There are always plenty of them, but this year feels truly special. And I know, I know... this yellow columbine isn't exactly a water lily :) But let's be honest, there are plenty of other flowers around, and it's hard to walk past them without stopping to snap a photo or two...

 

Bright morning on Barr Lake

What happens when you arrive somewhere before sunrise? Well... you wait... because without light, there is no photography :) But sometimes you can find something else to do while waiting. Perhaps have a bite to eat and fuel yourself for the hike ahead...

 

Sunday morning in Hudson Gardens

Hudson Gardens & Event Center is one of those places where you immediately feel at home. Flowers, ponds, and winding paths give it a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.

 

Quiet morning...

Well, there is nothing better than wandering through the Denver Botanic Garden before it is open to the general public...