Tulsa Woodward Park and Conservatory

Back in August, Tyler and I visited Tulsa while he had a work conference.  So it was more like I visited Tulsa by myself and then ate dinner with Tyler after he worked.  I made a draft for this blog post in August and forgot about it (we've been really busy these past few months), so it is going to be posted in November.  Lucky for you me hubby is working this Saturday, so I have some time to do some things for myself and with the blog!

Although I've lived in Oklahoma all my life, Tulsa was usually a bit far for my family to travel since we've always been in the central part, so I haven't been there many times.  I went to the renowned venue Cain's Ballroom for my first concert when I was 15, another concert at the BOK Center in college (do you get my drift that Tulsa has all the good venues, OKC is trying to catch up but not quite there yet).  I went to the art museums while in high school, but otherwise I have not been there besides trips that were for very specific purposes or that were under close supervision.  

This trip I discovered that Tulsa has some very amazing recreational areas and parks - Woodward Park reminded me much of some of the large parks I saw when I visited the U.K.  This particular post I'm going to focus on this beautiful conservatory.

Near the historical society there is the Lord & Burnham Conservatory with some very beautiful cacti, ferns, orchids, and other exotic plants.  It has separate rooms, all with their own climate to accommodate certain species of plants.

From the Cactus Room:

I really can't get over the webbing on these.  I think they are so beautiful. 

The gardener there said he had just watched this flower open up about 45 minutes before I came there.  The flower emits a smell to draw the flies, which in turn pollinate it.  

The Tropical Room - has palms, ferns, etc.  

I just love the white infrastructure - it was built in 1924.

I enjoyed at least a good hour walking through the conservatory observing the different plants.  The gardener was also happy to walk me around and show me some plants that were particularly special or difficult to care for.  There's just something about this old structure that is also pleasant.

Hopefully I'll have some time now to share a little more often on the blog what we've been up to and maybe some projects here and there.

Totem Pole Park - OKLA Route 66

Last Saturday, Tyler and I did something that we haven't done in a long time.

We haven't gone somewhere fun on a whim in so long, that I don't remember the last time it happened.

We woke up Saturday morning to a day with a beautiful forecast and didn't have plans.  I couldn't sleep past 6 am, so I got up and decided that we needed to take a roadtrip.  Tyler was down with the idea, so we started brainstorming where we'd go.  

Our options came down to going hiking somewhere or visiting the other part of Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66.  You see, in 2011 we went on much of Oklahoma's western part of Route 66, but it didn't have very many famous attractions.  It was still a fun road trip, but I've still wanted to visit the other sites.  

TOTEM POLE PARK

The furthest site we visited was Totem Pole Park near Foyil, OK.  We actually drove to the furthest site we planned to make into our day trip and worked our way backwards toward home again.  

This park is just off Highway 28, on a corner cinched between a private residence and a brightly painted gift shop.

Above is by far the tallest totem pole, but there were a few smaller ones as well.

The totem poles are constructed of concrete, and painted bright colors with amazing details.

Above is just one of many paintings that are just details of the large totem pole.

I made Tyler stand in front of the totem pole for scale.

Unfortunately, the fiddle house was closed until February, but it we peered through the windows to see all sorts of hanging fiddles and other interesting objects.

Adjacent to the fiddle house is this smaller totem pole, also near several picnic tables also constructed of concrete and painted bright colors.

Tyler found an old creaky crank drill in the park to play with!

TOTEM PARK NATURE TRAIL

(BSA Eagle Project)

Located just behind Totem Park, there is a small nature trail that Tyler noticed immediately when we entered the parking area.

After visiting the totem poles, we headed off to check this part out, only to find out that it was done as an Eagle Scout project.  Since Tyler was an Eagle Scout and is also now a scoutmaster for a new troop, we were even more interested in the trail!

The boys who participated in this project would have done some extensive planning to organize the trail, gather resources and funding, and carry out the project themselves.  We thought their project was a really nice idea that benefits those in their area, and tourists alike.

 The trail is quite short, but the foliage is none-the-less beautiful.  

I love how foliage in winter is still so pretty.

Keep checking in for more posts about the sites we visited on our Route 66 road trip!  

When was the last time you did something spontaneous?

Catching Every Oklahoma Sunrise

As a natural night owl, for most of my life I did not see many sunrises.   In college, I pretty much only met a sunrise if I was staying awake all night. Now, being a night owl still holds true...and good thing since I get off work at 5:30 in the morning, and I often see sunrises now due to my schedule.  Sometimes if I have to work late, or if I go grocery shopping after work, I am still out and about when the sun is rising.  Over the past month, I have seen some of the most beautiful sunrises, and a few wonderful sunsets, and I thought I'd share some of them with you! As a side note:  why don't we in the English language have ONE word that can describe a sunrise and a sunset sky in the same word?  It would be a word that would change my life. Sunrise and Thunderstorm in Midwest City, Oklahoma This sunrise is my favorite I've seen in 2014.  When I came outside after purchasing some groceries after work, I noticed the clouds were beginning to turn into what appeared to be a very vibrant and unique sunrise.

I found the nearest parking lot with the least inhibited view to sit and watch.  

On the left side of this cloud were deep blue tones and a lot of lightning.  On the right side of this cloud, pinks and purples gradually infiltrated the sky.

Oklahoma.  This is where thunderstorms and sunrises meet.

The way the colors fade together is just perfect.  It looks like an artistic exercise in blending perfectly from one color to another with all the perfect gradual shades in between.

Sunset in Norman, Oklahoma 

Since I travel to work at different locations, I get to see sunrises and sunsets in many areas near Oklahoma City.  These pictures are from a field of wild sunflowers growing behind a business in Norman.

Various Sunrises and Sunsets in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Downtown Skyline

On our way to visit Tyler's parents, we saw this beauty.  I just can't help but to stare at these kinds of sunsets that look like dancing fire in the sky.

Are you ever just so enamored by the sunset or sunrise sky that you have to just stop and stare for a little while?  Maybe even watch it in its entirety and transitions?