Springtime in the Arboretum or (as Cole would say) Doc and Pam by a Tree

The Morton Arboretum is truly magnificent this time of year. We didn't discover the Arboretum until June last year so we missed all the spectacular spring blooms. But not this year! Wow, isn't Heavenly Father's creation amazing!

Last year the Arboretum hosted an artist who assembled a twig house called Xanadu. This year an artist has made wooden sculptures of insects that are lovingly called "Big Bugs". A humongous ant is placed near one edge of the East side that is visible from the tollway. Other "Big Bugs" include a spider, bee, dragonfly, preying mantis, beetle and a series of ants. We'll be taking more pictures of them through the summer. The display was ready last Friday for Arbor Day. Arbor Day is the only free admission day of the 365 days a year the Arboretum is open.

Some of the daffodils are beginning to fade but the tulips and flowering trees are just gorgeous.

We have been using the Arboretum as our training course. It's 4.5 miles to run the full loop on the East side. We haven't measured the distance yet of the West side. The flora and fauna change almost daily. Near the upper edge, the leaves of the hardwood groves are starting to bud.

Illinois is so lush and green right now. It makes me understand just a little of the hardship the Saints encountered when they left all of this and arrived in the desert of Utah.