St. Louis, June 2010

[Roanoker]

If pictures are missing, see them at http://www.flickr.com/photos/115393943@ ... 433188876/

In June, 2010, my two sons and I drove to St. Louis to attend an event. Along the way, we stopped at a "winegarden" on I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis, with pretty views of the Missouri River.


We walked from the parking lot to the "Winegarden & Bistro." My sons are way ahead.


One son is already inside. My other son and I checked the surroundings.


Always a sucker for flowers, even if they are in pots.


Pansies look like little lion faces.


Now we are on the path to the "A-frame" picnic area.


Caught a glimpse of the vineyard and some building.


Flowers next to the A-frame.


My sons have arrived at the picnic and wine-tasting area.


We're toasting something.


I did nothing to this portrait-oriented picture except to put it on a dark-green background. That's the Missouri River in the background.


More flowers, in barrels. It was a peaceful, enjoyable afternoon.

[grovester]

That is a nice place to spend an afternoon.

[Highlander]

Looks pretty cool.  I have fond memories of visiting vinyards and wineries along the German Wine Road southwest of Frankfurt and the terrain and vegetation looks pretty similar. 

[Roanoker]

The St. Louis Zoo is a beautiful place.


Really pretty flowers.


Even the walkways were a pleasant experience.


An old inhabitant contemplating a young interloper.


Nice architecture.


Lizard with prehistoric demeanor.


Frog, trying to blend in.


Nap time.


The flora was as good as the fauna.


Let me outa here!


These are two pictures combined into one. It is the same critter on either side of a glass wall. He likes that surface.


Big lizard.


More of the zoo next time.

[Roanoker]

We're still in the reptile house. Two snakes here.


And two turtles.


Little frog.


Ominous, steely eyed snake.


Daydreaming monkey.


Another monkey.


Still another.


Outside now, we find flowers!


Flower attack.


And more.


In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.


Back to flowers.

[Roanoker]

The St. Louis zoo has wonderful landscaping. Beautiful flowers were everywhere, much to my delight. Here are a few.








I did take this picture. But it is of a zoo sign in the big cat area. I wish I could get close enough for a picture like that, without incurring their mom's disapproval.


Same deal here. I added a fake background.


Back to flowers.






Well, it is a zoo.


I guess they think they are visitors.


Notice the ostrich.

[Roanoker]

Walking through the St. Louis zoo.

What can they possibly be eating?


The sun works its magic.


Nice place to rest.


Like an enchanted forest.


Well, I like it.


Flowers dipped in jelly. (Not really.)


Continuing on the forest path.


Another zoo visitor, nicely dressed.


Bird house. Not on a pole.


I guess they ran out of real bears.


This bird was not allowed in the house.


This zoo even has a geyser.

[Roanoker]

Still at the zoo. Getting ready to visit the excellent penguin site.

Sons, wearing shirts picked up during earlier trips.


Fake penguins.


Real penguins with real people.


The place to be on a hot summer day.


Cool characters.


A penguin chorus line.


A baby non-penguin.


This thing is real, but it looks like a stuffed pillow.


An array of truly odd birds.


Another strange one.


These are stuffed, not real, and available for sale. Who can tell the difference?


See what happens when you take a picture in the hot outside after emerging from the cold inside? Misty son.

[Roanoker]

Continuing our stroll through the zoo environs.


Bear quest.








This elephant is made of copper, but the elements have had their way with him.












Getting ready to enter the insect house.

[Highlander]

Good pictures of a great zoo.  Shows what you can do with a little funding. 

[Roanoker]

We went through the "Insectarium" and I do have pictures, but they are creepy, ugly, and disgusting, so I'm not posting them. However, the butterfly exhibit was marvelous. Visitors are allowed to walk through the beautiful, closed atrium, filled with lush plants and flowers and see butterflies in flight and at rest all over. Here are a few of the shots I got.


You can get an idea of the atrium construction in this pic.
















Moving on...

[IraGlacialis]

Great pictures.
There are a lot of albums I plan on putting up here... when I get around to it.

[Roanoker]

Thank you, Highlander and Ira. Looking forward to your pictures.

I got carried away with flowers for a while. Notice the bee on this one.




I call this a "floral reef."


Didn't want to do another oval, but I don't care for the way this portrait-oriented picture within itself turned out. Nobody pays me, so what the heck.












These leaves think they are flowers.

Well, this is a zoo.


Looks like a wedding bouquet.

[Roanoker]

The St. Louis Zoo has a wonderful hippo exhibit. People can look at the animals both above and below water.


You can see the enclosure better here.


Back to flowers.


Close up.


Fauna. Can't get close enough.


Including this shot to show how marvelous are the pathways in this zoo. It's as if you are alone in the forest.


You can almost see that this is an elephant, way off in the distance.


I can get closer to the flowers. Here's another bouquet.


Everybody likes falls.


What's water without fish?


Take your pick.


Lastly, a seal fountain.

[Roanoker]

These are the last pictures from our St. Louis Zoo visit in June, 2010.

[kman]

Great photos of a wonderful place

[Roanoker]

Gosh, thanks. I just noticed your nice post.

Anyway, I took two online Photoshop courses and just finished the last one. I was supposed to put together a composite of five zoo animals and use a stained-glass style provided in the course. Each animal picture was to be accompanied by a picture of flowers and one of trees, for a total number of fifteen pictures. Since I had taken a lot of pictures that day at the St. Louis Zoo, I spent a bunch of time finding just the right pictures. Here is the happy result.