We make good use of our botanic garden membership. I am one of those strange people who thinks the garden is beautiful even in December. Ezra and I made a visit today and were two of the ten (or less) patrons in the entire place. I let the little guy walk the whole garden, and we took a rather serpentine route with Ezra in the lead. We had quite the sensory experience, touching any interesting looking plant, rock, or structure within reach. We found (among others) rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme, and about six different grass seed heads good for tickling noses. In the tropical conservatory he made contact with about twenty genera of plants and was fascinated by the poison dart frogs in the display case.
Bear was also along for the adventure; the two of them are inseparable lately. I think Bear enjoyed his day too, though he was dropped half a dozen times and came home with a dirty nose.
Ezra was rather giddy at the garden with all the freedom and options for exploring--not to mention the joy of being
outside for more than an hour. His new word is "happy" and his rosy cheeks and toothy grin were all happiness today.