Olbrich Gardens

As I flipped back through the pictures I just uploaded to our new computer, I realized I never posted anything about our Labor Day trip to Olbrich Gardens.

Olbrich is on the East Side of Madison and has a large free outdoor and inexpensive ($1) tropical indoor area to tour.  We'll have to plan another trip for June when flower are really blooming, but there was still plenty to see at the end of the summer.

First we saw roses with this crazy pomegranate-looking fruit.  Turns out that's what a rose hip is.  I had no idea!

Giant hibiscus.  I didn't know these even grew in Wisconsin.

I have no idea what this thing is.  It looks like a giant spice drop from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

In the tropical garden there were cute little quail running around:

This one is "taking a bath" in some sand.

Koi and goldfish pond.

Pitcher plant.

If you're in town and have never been to Olbrich Gardens, I definitely recommend a trip on a pretty day.  It's kind of like the zoo.  Is it the biggest and best?  No, but it's a nice way to spend a few hours and the price is certainly right.

As a side note only relevant because I wrote this while snacking on an apple pear, what do you think about all the crazy hybrid fruits around?

There's pluots

  and plumcots

and apple pears

I admit, I'm a total sucker for this kind of thing.  I love any weirdo fruit that shows up at The Joe.  Have you tried any of these?  Or do you like your fruit to be just one kind at a time, thanks?