The Rapplings were pretty excited to go see the scarecrows at the Botanicals this weekend. The actual Fall Festival is on Sunday in the afternoon...since we are on the afternoon church schedule right now we went over on Saturday. I have two very silly little and one silly but not so little girls. Much chasing of squirrels and each other was accomplished while I was "shopping". Olga showed me the false cypress she had her eye on. Josh, greenhouse manager at the gardens, realized that he used to work for my husband at Best Buy. I did hear more about how fun the warehouse was and less about working...sounds about right.
Sydney up to no good.
Front porch of visitor's center at TBG.
These are from the pot on the far right of the porch, love the colors.My girls love anything heart shaped so this is for them.
I went home with a Beautyberry Bush var. Early Amethyst (my photo definitely not my plant, at least not yet.)
and a beautiful Flame Grass -
and a beautiful Flame Grass -Miscanthus sinesis var. purpurascens
which will someday look like this (borrowed photo.) 
I hope this little bit of fallish happiness will tide you over. I love the gourd mushrooms... Martha Stewart has the most creative staff. Really I wonder what I could do with a staff? Well maybe I don't want to go there again I just want creative time...without the angel of destruction, i.e. Miss Paige.
Much fun was had by all. We had some delicious Caprese salad upon arriving. The grown up girls stayed up late watching a movie. Don't know what it was because we were having too much fun talking. The Rapplings enjoyed Melly's yard, other living room, and all of her dogs. 
We spent the next morning eating a delicious breakfast. Played in Melly's yard and garden. Then visited Traderspoint Creamery where they make their own, cheese, yogurt, and most important Ice Cream. We saw cows, Paige chased chickens, and all the girls played on the beautiful deck. Then we were off to Archiver's for a quick scrapbook supply fix. I seem to make people want to collect paper and embellishments. Beautiful new lines out for fall and Christmas. Yes, in September. Melly took the girls out to play in the grass embankment so that I could shop for a minute. Thanks for keeping them busy and safe. Another big thanks to Melly for having us. Melly's house always feels like home. 
On the way to Archiver's I had spotted Penzey's Spices and had to stop in before leaving town. Really yummy stuff. I bought Chili 3000 an amazing chili powder but forgot to get more Vietnamese Cinnamon. Did you know that cinnamon from different places tastes different. I think Jennifer was pretty excited to discover all of the deliciousness in the store. Before our ride home we had dinner at Five Guys Burgers. Delicious! The potatoes they used were from a city in Idaho where my college roommates packed potatoes. Love coincedences. Excellent time had by all.
Miss Paige loves to go to the "Botanicals". Rain or shine, or preferably misty with puddles. Two umbrellas, snacks, and waterbottles later we were ready to go. Paige is an outside kind of girl...she must play and play hard or she will become an agent of distruction in short order. We chased geese, floated leaves down the stream, played hide and seek in the arches, taught her to jump into my arms from a "scary" height, and I taught her how to take photos. Every Rappling can do it. It's important to start the photography bug early right?
