Tucson Botanical Gardens, March 27, 2013

Last year, it was very cold the day we visited the Botanical Gardens. Today was 82 degrees, a touch overcast with a light breeze to keep us cool.   In case you are worried about seeing to many butterflies, flowers or cactus, hang in there. The large, thoroughly complete Thorneville Village model train layout is up and running this year.

Lovely garden entrance that smelled wonderful - jasmine flowered archway

Medicinal plants.  Next year I'll get to the native Indian medicine lecture and practice recognizing these 

Spectacular butterflies

 These guys really wanted out through the window.

The hot house rain forest flowers are as beautiful as the butterflies. 

Small stream with tiny fish

Thorneville has an incredibly complete village with 2 tunnels and a "mountain resort."  The buildings area all built to scale.  Watch for the sign about the wrong side of the tracks. 

It is hard to get a picture of this whole layout.

Notice the vintage cars

 This is Black Bear Mountain Lodge, One of the tunnels goes under this mountain.

This is the other tunnel on the other side of the layout.

 What creative miniature buildings, complete with fire engines, and people.  This was someone true passion.

Leaving the train layout, there were many more interesting gardens. I loved the purples flowers on these trees.

 

A lizard and dinosaur say good bye on you way out and........

Must have a javelina represented.  This by far, the cutest JAVELINA I've ever seen.