Linder Farms

On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, I had the pleasure of going to Linder Farms with the boy and his two different preschools.  To be honest, I didn't have a great time on Wednesday because it was super crowded and it felt like we were being herded like cattle.  It was also freezing cold and the wind was blowing.  On Thursday, however, we had a really fun time.  It was more organized and less crowded.  It was also a lot warmer.  My favorite experience at Linder Farms was the hay ride.  

I also liked the straw maze.

After the straw maze we walked out to the pumpkin patch (more like a gigantic field) and got a pumpkin.  The boy picked an all green pumpkin because that's what he wanted.  It actually made a cute addition to our decor.

****Highly Recommended.  A good place for preschool field trips.  (Not nearly as cool as Wagner Farms, but I guess if you've never been to Wagner Farms you wouldn't know what you're missing.)  Also, if you wondering which one to go to between the Mazie or Linder Farms, I personally think the Maize is more fun and has more to do, although it is more expensive.  If anyone has anything to add about Linder Farms or anything else, please make a comment.  They are always greatly appreciated.  Also, add yourself as a follower and make my day!

Spyglass Gardens

If you're looking for a pumpkin patch with a small town feel, look no further than Spyglass Gardens.  Spyglass Gardens started as one couple's dream.   Steven and Wendy have a home and some land--not a lot, but enough.  On their land they grow fruits and vegetables without pesticides.  They harvest their crops and sell them right from the gardens next to their home. They stay busy all summer long, but things don't slow down in the fall.  People return to buy straw bales, corn stalks, and cinderella pumpkins.  Children return to run through the straw maze and pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.  (No hay rides unfortunately.)

We've been to Spyglass twice already this year and both times have been really fun and uncrowded.  The boy and I played in the straw maze by ourselves for fifteen minutes.  We played I'm Gonna Get Cha and Can't Catch Me and I'm Going To Beat You (as in beat you to the other side).  

Then I pulled him and the baby in the wagon (provided by Spyglass, they have plenty on site) and we went over and found some more pumpkins.  I say more because we already have 10 from our last trip.  

Then we bought some straw bales and some corn stalks and wished we could afford the ghost pumpkins and the cinderella pumpkins but we couldn't.  So Wendy helped me load up the van and this is what we did when we got home.

****We highly recommend Spyglass Gardens.  They are located on 3445 S. Linder Rd between Victory and Amity.  Their October hours are Monday - Saturday 10:00am to 6:30 pm and Sundays between 12:30 to 5:30 pm.  See their website for more info.

Scarecrow Stroll

Introducing the bride of crow. Also known as Mrs. Scarecrow.

That's the name we gave her when we met her for the first time at the Scarecrow Stroll in the Idaho Botanical Garden.

I always want to say gardens with an s.

If you're like me and you don't like crowds-- go to places you want to go on game day. Unless you're going to the game. Then by all means have a great time and go broncos. If you're not going to the football game, go somewhere you've been wanting to go. Trust me, you'll have the whole place to yourself.

This is what happened to us on Friday evening when we ventured out to the Idaho Botanical Garden and the rest of Boise ventured to the BSU/Hawaii game. It was 70 degrees that day and the weather was perfect. The fall colors were beautiful and there were still many flowers in bloom. The kids had a great time running around. The boy liked to throw rocks into various streams, ponds, waterfalls, and fountains.

And run and run and run and run.

The girl liked taking pictures of the decorated scarecrows.

And the baby liked sticking her hands into the streams.

I quite enjoyed the peace and quiet and the beautiful fall foliage.

We were the only, only, only, people there. Except for the family that was there for like 10 minutes. So that doesn't really count. We saw lots of birds and quail and squirrels. There we many flowers still in bloom. And even though we have been there before, we still spent almost two hours there. What did you do for two hours?

We just walked around and explored nature. Snapped a few pictures.

And it was fun. And quiet.

And not crowded. And not hot. And really fun.

We went between the hours of 5 and 7 pm and toward the end of the evening the sun was setting and I was able to get a cool picture of the girl.

I am by no means a photographer, but I thought it turned out cool.

The cost to get in was so cheap I had to ask the lady, "Did you charge for me?" Yes. Four dollars for an adult, two dollars for kids four and older. So it cost us six dollars to get in. Six dollars for two hours of family entertainment. Think Mastercard commercial. Priceless.

****Four out of four stars. Click here for the The Idaho Botanical Garden website.