Juno

A statue of Juno stands in a back corner of the botanical garden behind Henry Shaw's house. She always seems to be hitchhiking, even on a brilliant summer day, as in this old post. Perhaps due to the stories of scary people thumbing rides these days, she hasn't made much progress.

We made it to Marysville, Kansas, yesterday, driving from Kansas City in a cold rain. Wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with Mrs. C's mother, who will be 97 on Saturday, and her youngest sister. There is steady freezing rain and dropping temperatures as I write this Thursday evening, which might interfere with the big annual party out on the family farm today. Hoping for rural pix on Saturday.                  

La ville vue du cimetière des Gonards

Gonards cemetery offers a pretty cool panorama over the city... though not the palace, but rather Chantiers neighbourhood! The rounded glass building in the foreground of the second photo is the private hospital of Versailles-Franciscan Clinic.

Ce n'est pas toute la ville, mais plutôt le quartier de Chantiers. Le bâtiment arrondi en verre au premier plan est l'hôpital privé de Versailles-clinique des Franciscaines.

The Wishing Tree

A conceptual wishing tree greets you as you enter the Victoria and Albert Museum.  Kalpataru is an Indian mythical wish fulfilling tree.  This one was made in Delhi by a group of artists.  Inspiration for the piece comes from nature with trees and plants used in Indian rituals being represented, including the mayo tree, banana plant, champ flower, jack fruit and lotus plant.  The parrot and bright yellow and orange make me think of sunshine.

Henry Shaw's House

Henry Shaw was born is Sheffield, England, in 1800. He made a bunch of money in the hardware and steel products trade in St. Louis, enough to retire at the age of 40. He was an avid botanist and his estate became the Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the finest in the country. His home is open on special occasions. This was the first time we had actually been in it. 

The photo below is of the next building over. Not Shaw's house but a nice 19th Century structure.              

Lyautey rue d'Anjou

This lovely house in Saint-Louis neighbourhood was once the home of General Lyautey...

C'est dans ce bel hôtel du quartier Saint-Louis que le jeune Hubert Lyautey, bien avant de devenir maréchal, a préparé l'école militaire de Saint-Cyr et vécu ses premières années d'officier...