QUARRY HILL BOTANICAL GARDENS

THIS ORIENTAL GARDEN WAS FREE TO THE PUBLIC ON EARTH DAY.  I DECIDED TO GO THERE AS IT WAS A PLACE I ENJOYED BEFORE.  I GOT THERE WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 75 DEGREES.  THEN IT GOT HOTTER.  I BOUGHT SOME FOOD AND WORE SOME SANDALS EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A TOUGH STONY TRAIL.  I  LEARNED THAT TICKS CAN JUMP ON PEOPLE EVEN IN DRY HEAT CONDITIONS!  ONE MAN HAD ALL KINDS OF SNAKES AND SOME WERE RATTLESNAKES WHO ATE OTHER SNAKES.   APPARENTLY THIS PLACE HAS GREAT INSURANCE SINCE NO ONE HAD TO SIGN A LIABILITY WAIVER IF THEY GOT A TICK OR SNAKEBITE!  NO ONE DID APPARENTLY.  THE DISPLAY OF SNAKES SHOWED CORRAL SNAKES THAT ATE OTHER SNAKES.  THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE INTERESTED IN MY HIKES.  I MISSED THE CHINESE LION DANCE.  I HIKED UP AND DOWN THE SMALL PRESERVE OF ORIENTAL GARDEN PATHS.  WE SAW A SMALL TURTLE.  ONE VOLUNTEER SAW A RATTLESNAKE.   I DRANK LOTS OF WATER BUT I WAS BEAT BY THE HEAT ON THIS TRAIL.  MOST PEOPLE WERE SITTING OR STANDING IN THE NICE POOLS THEY HAD CREATED THERE.  CHILDREN CAUGHT SOME TADPOLES AND HAD SOME WATER FUN. 

THEY HAD AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR THE COLUMBINE.  ONE GUIDE SAID SHE SAW A RATTLESNAKE.  THEY HAD A TRAIL GUIDE WITH VARIOUS PLANTS FROM EUROPEAN AND ASIA AND CHINA.  MOST OF THEM ARE LARGE TREES.  THEY HAD AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR THE COLUMBINE.  ONE GUIDE SAID SHE SAW A SNAKE.  THEY HAVE TWO MAN MADE PONDS WITH LOTUS FLOWERS.   MANY PEOPLE WERE SWEATING AND SEVERAL OLDER MEMBERS HAD COME FROM MARIN AND WERE INTERESTED IN MY HIKES.  THE PONDS WERE A RELIEF AND THEY HAD BUILT WATERFALLS.  I MET SOME PHILLIPINO WOMEN WHO SAID THEIR COUNTRY WAS PRETTY MUCH LIKE HAWAII. THE CHILDREN PLAYED AROUND A STONE BRIDGE.   WE MET A STORIE TELLER AT THE END OF THE DAY AND SHE TOLD STORIES FROM ASIA.