Hot at Hort Park

Woke up on Saturday feeling a bit out of sorts -- I'd been (and still am!) nursing a cold since Wednesday, no thanks to Noey who passed on his cold/throat infection to me -- but I had my heart set going out that day and I wasn't going to let a cold stop me!

I'd come across ads about Playeum's Big Draw Event happening at Hort Park that day and wanted to check it out. DD was really doubtful about me going out, but he knew better than to badger me about it too much. So off we went.

Noey looking sufficiently pleased about the big open green space. He wasn't too happy when we drove past the Botanic Gardens on the way out here and didn't turn in!

While my intention had been to spend more time at the Big Draw event, Noey clearly had other ideas. With most of the activities happening at the end of the park further away from the carpark, he found plenty to occupy and distract him along the way.

Messing about with the lucky cat at Hort Mart. Noey loves cats, just like his Papa.

"This way!" Noey spots yet another water feature, no doubt. The landscaping displays with little fountains certainly met his approval.

Playground! It would have been fun more fun if it wasn't so hot!

One of the features which we were all rather taken by was the Butterfly Garden. We entered the enclosure and found ourselves surrounded by many fluttering butterflies. It was quite a treat! They swooped in and out resting on the leaves and flowers around, and one even came to rest on our stroller. (Noey made me chase it away. Hah.)

One of the beauties around us.

There was also a smaller cage where there were rows of cocoons lined up, some already dried husks, and a handful still blooming with life within. We pointed these out to Noey -- real-life examples of his very hungry caterpillar book. We were also able to show him butterflies landing on flowers and sticking their probocises ("tongues!" said Noey) into the flowers and feeding. He was very amused!

Tearing ourselves away, we finally made it to the Big Draw Event. Here's where we managed to take a break in the shade and let Noey do some messing around on his own.

Drawing in the big cardboard boxes -- Noey's wall art.

Pointing out some of his artistic squiggles!

Objecting to the ink on his fingers. (Mummy was ordered to wipe it off.)

Noey decides that he'd rather mess up some of the better artwork out the outside of the box.

Argh, foiled by the ink again!

Noey stops to design and plant his own mini garden.

More soil, more!

Tah-dah! Noey's garden with way too many seeds. He was too quick for me and scattered loads of seeds before I could stop him. It'll be a jungle if and when it all grows!

Noey making his way through the spider web. "Where's the spider?" he asked. When we told him this was a spider web play structure, he insisted that "Mummy show you a real spider on a spider web." (He means to say "show me" -- he still can't get his pronouns straight) Err, right. Didn't really want to go look for one right there myself.

It was a fun morning but we were certainly all hot and hungry by the time we were done. And admittedly I was a little worse for wear. DD commented that Hort Park wasn't really a park per se but more a horticulture/gardening facility and I tend to agree. Still, it was nice and much bigger than we had anticipated. Maybe we'll come back for some of the free guided tours and take more of a look around some other time.