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Canada: Toronto, Ontario – Ocean Garbage

Though it first looks kind of like a crystal chandelier, you soon learn that this hanging sculpture is the awful garbage killing the fish in the ocean. It’s in the Ripley’s Aquarium of Toronto.

Canada: Toronto, Ontario – Pinky Fish

The colors of the fish in the ocean are the colors of the rainbow. Love this pink-looking jellyfish in the Ripley’s Aquarium of Toronto. 

Canada: Toronto, Ontario – Colorful Fish at Ripley’s Aquarium of Toronto

Exotic fish are easy to find all over the tanks in the Ripley’s Aquarium of Toronto, ON.

US: Richmond, VA – Mother’s Day Fun or Just Stop and Smell the Roses at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an oasis on a driving trip – 82 magnificent acres which started life as Powhatanhuntinggrounds and was at one time owned by patriot Patrick Henry.

In 1884, Lewis Ginter, who was orphaned at 17 and later became a millionaire from tobacco and real estate, developed a Wheel Club House here for Richmond bicyclists (now Bloemendaal House). His niece, Grace Arents, developed the gardens, and her original design is still here.

There are more kinds of gardens than we ever knew existed: four seasons, healing, Asian, rose, wetland, azalea and a community kitchen one where they grow food for the hungry. The children’s garden offers up a tree house and an activity center; there’s sidewalk chalk, hula hooping, digging and watering opportunities.  They love the Kids Quest treasure hunt. For walkers, there’s a “walk on the wild side” and a bird trail, and as if all that wasn’t enough, there’s a lush indoor conservatory with exotic plants from around the world.

Featured Events:

A Million Blooms

Until Thursday, June 1, 2017 A Million Bllooms - Flowers -3-28-2017 2-47-04 PM
A Million Blooms is included with Garden admission. A parade of blooms unfurls as the weather warms: daffodils, tulips, peonies, roses and  more.

Butterflies LIVE!

Butterflys @ Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - Stephanie Gross 434.962.2019

Until  Sunday, October 15, 2017
Experience the wonderful world of butterflies! Butterflies LIVE! is an indoor exhibit in the Conservatory and is geared for all ages. Get up close and personal as hundreds of tropical butterflies feed, flutter and take flight all around you. Explore their origins, preferred habitats and life cycles.

Butterflys @ Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - Stephanie Gross 434.962.2019

Mother’s Day Weekend
May 12, 13 & 14, 2017
Regular Garden admission
A three-day weekend with many opportunities to honor and spend time with mom. Enjoy the popular Butterflies LIVE! exhibit, shopping and dining:

  • The long weekend kicks off Friday, May 12 with National Public Gardens Day.
  • On Saturday, May 13, create the experience your mom would like. Stretch out on quilts in the Louise Cochrane Rose Garden and read favorite books. Explore woodland walks searching for fairies. Get down and dirty with digging activities. Help weave a Maypole, try the hula hoop and chase bubbles! (10 am – 4 pm)
  • Sunday, May 14 is the popular Mother’s Day concert with Glenroy Bailey & Co. (1 – 4pm). Food available for purchase in front of Bloemendaal House. Guests are also welcome to bring blankets or lawn chairs but no outside food or beverage. Activities in the Children’s Garden include “make-and-takes” for mom (10am – 4pm)

Location: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave, Richmond, VA 23228
Hours: Daily 9am – 5pm
Tel: 804-262-9887
lewisginter.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitrichmondva.com

US: Richmond, VA – Enjoy Rock, Tarantata, Gospel, Fiddling, Bluegrass Music and Food in Richmond

The Richmond Folk Festival carry’s forward the 12-year tradition established by the hugely successful National Folk Festival celebrating the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance traditional crafts, storytelling and food. The event takes place at downtown Richmond’s  historic riverfront from 2nd to 7th streets and from Byrd Street to the river – including Brown’s Island, The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar, portions of Federal Reserve parking lots, and Tredegar Street. richmond-folf-fest

Richmond Folk Festival is where over 200,000 festival goers gather for three FREE days of music, dance, food and fun. Drawing in visitors from across the country with an eclectic mix of 40 artists performing on seven different stages with continuous music and dance performances, along with a Virginia Folk-life demonstration area, children’s activities, a folk arts marketplace, regional and ethnic foods. richmond-folk-fest2

Among the artists to be featured at the 2016 Richmond Folk Festival are: Gary U.S. Bonds and Gene “Daddy G” Barge, (Norfolk Sound), Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Southern Italian pizzica tarantata), The Fairfield Four (African-American gospel singing quartet), Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie (zydeco), Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy (Cape Breton and Ontario fiddling), Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers (bluegrass), Homayoun Sakhi and Salar Nader (Afghan rubâb and tabla), Sheila Kay Adams (Appalachian songs, stories and ballads). Check the website for complete list of performers/schedule.richmondfolkfestival.org/docs/event_schedule

Expect lots of great food: ethnic, regional and traditional foods to delight guests and showcasing a wide variety of tempting foods to compliment the spirit of the festival. From classic festival fare to exotic flavors from around the globe, there’s definitely something to tickle your tastebuds.

Location: Downtown Richmond’s Riverfront, Brown’s Island Park,Richmond, VA 23219
Date: Fri, Oct 07  – Sun, Oct 09, 2016
Time: Fri 6 – 10PM, Sat 12 – 9:30PM, Sun 12 – 6PM
Tel: 804-788-6466
richmondfolkfestival.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitrichmondva.com