Nature's Jungle Gyms - SaturdaySnapshot

Children enjoy playing on jungle gyms, swinging on swings, and spinning on merry-go-rounds. But these kids at Volunteer Park had plenty of fun on "equipment" built by Mother Nature.

Looks like fun, doesn't it?

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Volunteer Park Conservatory, #Seattle - Saturday Snapshot, Jo's Monday Walk, & Our World Tuesday

There's nothing quite like a cool, sunny day to enjoy the beauty of Seattle's spring. After walking from the Arboretum to Volunteer Park, I visited the Conservatory for the first time. Here are a few photos from that excursion.

According to the conservatory website, the original structure was constructed in the 1920s but had fallen into disrepair and been condemned. After twenty years of work, the restored Victorian-inspired greenhouse was completed in 2014. 

Here are a few of the many plants inside. Some of these seem to be Christmas cactus, or at least relatives of that plant.

A room full of hydrangeas, ferns, lilies, and more.

A few of the many plants in the orchid collection.

I'm not sure what this is, but it reminds me of an anthurium. 

More info about the Volunteer Park Conservatory HERE.

NOTE: I also took this hike in 2016. The link to photos from that outing is HERE.

Here's a map of our walk. This isn't the exact route we took from the Arboretum to Volunteer Park, because we detoured through more green space. We had a picnic at Volunteer Park, then walked back to the Arboretum. Our route covered about six miles round trip. As you can see from the map, there are miles of trails to explore within the Arboretum. The springtime blooms of azaleas, rhododendrons, bulbs, and trees are spectacular.

I'm linked with:

Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE

Our World Tuesday - Link HERE

Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE 

Saturday Snapshots - #Hiking Around the Montlake & Capitol Hill Neighborhoods, #Seattle

I've been on another hike with the Auburn Senior Center group! This time we ventured to the Washington Park Arboretum and then hiked to Volunteer Park (and back to the Arboretum) in the Montlake and Capitol Hill neighborhoods of Seattle. Both are beautiful urban parks, and the neighborhoods in between are charming. According to my FitBit, we walked over eight miles; and although my legs agree, I think it may have been exaggerating a little bit.
[Click on photos to enlarge.]

I know what goes up, must come down. But this hike seemed like it was all UP.

And UP some more!

And even UP a staircase between streets - one of many staircases in Seattle. This one has 100+ steps.

Some of us even climbed UP to the observation deck of the water tower in Volunteer Park - 107 steps to the top - and we were rewarded with amazing views of the city and surrounding areas.

Downtown Seattle

Next weekend I'll post photos of the beautiful azaleas and rhododendrons we saw at the Washington Arboretum. What a fun day we had!

Volunteer Park Info and History HERE.

[Click on map to zoom in or out.]

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

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