Here in Janesville the weather has been way too warm for this time of year. My daffodils are blooming a good month early, and we've already seen mosquitoes. But today I couldn't resist returning to Rotary Botanical Gardens to see how their flowers are coming along. All week I'd had a nagging impression that I wanted to either verify or prove incorrect, that along with trees, bushes and flowers, a whole lot of signage has been popping up.
As may be seen in this photo, their daffodils are also in full bloom. I also spotted wood anemones, and purple crocus. In the Japanese garden a tulip tree was opening its buds.
The gardens are not funded by or run by the city; the entire place is privately financed and run by a small army of volunteers. I understand that they want visitors to stay safe, and want the gardens to stay beautiful, and that people don't always use great judgement. But my reaction to the many signs was to feel a little like a small child who has done something bad, and is being warned against any further misdeeds.
I took all these photos from the path, I promise. The gazebo in the background here has a new roof since my last visit.
The woodland path is covered with gravel, and is steep and uneven. I wondered who had tried to take in on wheels.
There are just a lot of things that I had not really considered doing on a day amid the flowers and trees, and I guess it's lucky for me I didn't want to roll in on a bike, smoke, or drink while I was there.
The koi made it through the winter, though it looks like their pond could use some weeds removed. I imagine that will happen when the water lilies are replanted.
I like the zigzag bridge, nicely repaired after flooding a couple years ago damaged the structure. Supposedly the zigzag design keeps evil spirits away. The sign keeps the kids with cane poles away.
Bronze cranes in the Japanese garden, nicely reflected in their pool. It looks like the moss is starting to green up.
My conclusion after looking at both the scenery and the signage, is that the scenery is pretty and the signage is plentiful. I didn't take a picture of every sign (the warning against climbing on rocks, for example), but there are multiples of most of them. I suppose the place must post safety warnings and rules, but I wish there were not so many, and not so prominently displayed. Sigh. So, you may walk on the paths, so long as you enter through the visitor center, but don't smoke, drink, bring your pet, try the woodland path in a wheelchair, bike, rollerblade, swim, fish or climb in the rocks.
The gardens continue to be free until April 15th through October, when admission is charged.
