October 24th, 2009
The indoor garden featured trees and plants from around the world.
Neem Tree - India
"Often called the 'village pharmacy,' this tree is used in hundreds of products, including toothpaste and shampoo. Neem oil is an environmentally safe insecticide."
Arabian (Arabica) Coffee - Ethiopia and Sudan
Black Pepper - India and Malaysia
"Spices could be used to pay fines and mortgages and to buy land or pay taxes."
Brush Cherry - Australia
Brush Cherry - Australia
Blood Banana - Southeast Asia and North Queensland
Cacao - Central and South America
"Food of the Gods - Seeds from the cacao pod are used to make chocolate. The seeds were so valuable to Aztecs that they were used as money."
Allspice - Tropical Americas
"Allspice has the taste and aroma of clove, cinnamon and nutmeg in one plant!"
Tamarind - "The Tree of Life" - India
"Flowers: honey and salads. Leaves: browse for animals, slikworm fodder, soup. Fruit Pulp: juice, Lemur and Bat food, sauces and candy. Wood: furniture, charcoal, tools. Medicine: cardiac, fever reducer, indigestion. Seeds: fabric sizing, varnish, flour."
Sugar Cane - Tropical Southeast Asia and South America
"Some of this plant's useful byproducts include molasses and bagasse - a source of alternative fuel."
Manila Hemp, Fiberous Banana - Philippines
"The leaf from the Manila hemp is used to make rope"
The Japanese Garden is a design of diligent detail, each stone precisely placed, each tree and shrub meticulously manicured, creating balanced energy and making it esthetically pleasing.
There was a profusion of banzai trees.
Left to right: Hinoki Cypress, 55 yrs; Japanese Garden Juniper, 27 yrs; Chinese Juniper, 20 yrs.
Left to right: Hinoki Cypress, 55 yrs; Japanese Garden Juniper, 27 yrs; Chinese Juniper, 20 yrs.
Near the garden, in the park, there was a zoo.
There were gorillas: "Zoo Visitors: Be aware of flying objects! We throw grass and dirt to let you know this is our territory. -The Gorillas"
Seals:
American Bison:
African Lions: "Lions are the only truly social cats. They live in families called prides."
Leopards:
Reindeer:
Giraffe:
Giraffe:
and Zebra:
After the gardens and the zoo, Steven took me to the quaint river village of Stillwater. It was a quintessential Midwest town with old brick buildings housing cafes, bars, antique galleries, junk shops and even a candy shop that had more flavors of saltwater taffy than I have seen anywhere in all my travels.
Downtown Stillwater:
The Waterfront:
The Waterfront:
The Thrift Store - Something for everyone: row after row, shelf after shelf and multiple levels of needless junk.
Everything from creepy lady heads to a deer head:
An old "Snoopy and Woodstock" phone for me, which I didn't buy - not like I have anywhere to plug it in!
A crucifix for the preacher:
Being a Unitarian minister, Steven left Christ on the cross back at the junk shop.
Unitarian Universalist Joke - "On the east coast, Jesus is optional. In the midwest, God is optional. On the west coast, clothing is optional."
Upon our return to from Stillwater, Steven took me to the Walker, Minneapolis' Modern and contemporary art museum. The structure itself is a work of architectural art.
This is the view from the top floor:
Before I was informed that photography was not allowed, I captured images of two paintings by Mark Rothko who is one of my most-loved artists. Although his style has often been imitated, it is never reproduced. His use of color is simultaneously brilliant and muted, captivating the eye without being officious. His delicately precise brush strokes create a soft, yet bold canvas that is never harsh or clumsy, drawing the viewer in, giving a sense of warmth you would expect from a cashmere blanket. His sense of balance between color, hue and texture induce subtle nuances that only exist in a Rothko.
Later that evening, Steven treated me to dinner at French Meadow, the most wonderful bakery and restaurant.
Steven, thanks for inviting me to be your guest in Minneapolis. You helped me see your city in a truly special way.
Profile
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
trailtrek1975- trailtrek1975