Clark Gardens After Action Report

Not a flower

What are these things?

• Clark Gardens in Mineral Wells is perfect. If you knew me and went with me yesterday (05/25/2014) you would have braced for me to beat you down with all the maintenance problems and design flaws I noted. Only thing is I didn't have a thing to say- it is basically perfect. Some of the walking surfaces need to be redone and I would have liked to see more birds but it was so well cared for and designed those are true nitpicking thoughts.
• There were lizards everywhere and we saw one snake. We saw Texas spiny lizards and what I'll identify (possibly incorrectly) as a spotted whiptail. We didn't see the peafowl that were heard screaming but we did see a swan, some ducks and a bunch of guinea fowl.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I have always liked the sound of a peacocks scream although I'm sure a little goes a long way.
• The chapel is gorgeous.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Although I didn't see one in person or on their site the gardens would lend itself very well to webcams and I would be highly curious about the wildlife who call the gardens home.
• The pavilions that overlook the lakes are beautiful.
• The G-scale trains were a surprise treat, although I'll admit when I heard about them I didn't know what G Scale meant so I was pumped at the idea of getting to ride a train through a park! I'm a gooberhead that way.
  
  
  
  
  
• They were advertising for volunteers but the hours posted were for Monday-Friday. Maybe I can burn up some personal time.
• There were plants for sale- decidedly ugly and slightly expensive plants- I would have guessed the expensive part but was surprised at the apparent low-ish quality.
• While not rigidly so, it is a formal garden although thankfully here and there somebody with a sense of humor got to choose accouterments to sitting areas.