This weekend we also took the kids to Olbrich Garden so that Dan and MM could see the holiday toy train exhibit. It was actually the first time either of them have been to Olbrich at all, but I am certain it won’t be the last. The whole family has kind of fallen in love with this place.

Watching for the trains

They have a few different trains running through the room. The more you look at each train car, the more fun details you’ll see.

Above the train tracks are lots of pretty flowers and some gorgeous bird houses. Some of the coolest I’ve ever seen.

This was my favorite one. I showed you some other pretty ones last week.

And one of the pretty flowers displayed in the holiday express area.

After both kids (and Dan) had had their fill of trains, I took them to the indoor conservatory which BB and I have become very well acquainted with by now.

Dan’s first comment was on how warm and steamy the indoor garden is – it feels like you are stepping into a rain forest.

A few feet in of course and I was lost to the world, busy taking pictures of some of the amazing plants they have. I cannot get over how just taking pictures of leaves here can be fun for hours (if I only had that much time there) with so many different shapes, sizes, colors, textures to see.

I took over a hundred pictures that morning, giving myself time to wander the indoor gardens to my hearts content since I had Dan with me to help chase children and came home with some pictures I’m frankly pretty proud of.

I think I discover new things to love every time I go to Olbrich. I’d like to move in. Seriously, I’m planning to visit these gardens regularly in 2012. Brace yourself for an onslaught of nature photography next year!

Here’s my favorite picture from the day, saving the best for last: