Foellinger & Freimann Botanical Conservatory

Our adventure crew took a recent trip to the Foellinger & Freimann Botanical Conservatory in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Rooster found this location online when searching for interesting activities and sites to explore on a cold winter day. They advertised circus activities would take place in the Botanical Conservatory. While there was a circus theme in place, we were disappointed with the overall event. It seemed like the cardboard circus lacking in originality. The theme offered served as a hook to draw people into the facility. We didn’t see a single clown except the one made out of cardboard. We didn’t find any jugglers, and the trapeze artists made of cutouts didn’t perform a single trick.

The Foellinger & Freimann Botanical Conservatory is located at 100 South Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, Indiana. In keeping with my 2022 challenge, I will write the details of our adventure in Mock Epic poetic verse. Therefore, we had a good time at the Foellinger & Freimann Botanical Conservatory.

We must have all woke up on the wrong side of the bed,
The Bossy Posse showed up looking like two sleepyheads.
After some significant and wordy deliberation, 
The city of Fort Wayne became our destination.
And a visit to the Foellinger & Freimann Botanical Conservatory,

And thus, we begin our adventure story
Which took more guts than glory.
We all climbed into our Chevy Spark
And traveled roads wet and dark
Two miles out of town, Baby Bird asked, “are we there yet?”

No, Rooster says with an ounce of regret
“We’ll be there soon. Please don’t fret.”
Two hours later, we are still on the road.
My head feels like it is about to explode.
A sacrifice I make for circus and plants

Baby Bird and Chicken Little are restless as two ants.
By the time we park, they are wiggling in their pants.
The first sight we encounter is a tree wearing a mask.
Placing it on his face must have been a complicated task. 
Tiny doors on the trunk reveal treasures inside.

We walked through a second door wild-eyed.
And discovered the area where the circus did reside
Chicken little climbed up on the tiny stage,
And she swung the hoops with fits of rage.
“Cardboard lions, tigers, and bears, oh my,”

 I said with a hard, jovial sigh
A clown in a corner acted shy.
We moved into a jungle with a waterfall
Plants crowded the greenhouse’s wall
There was greenery like you’d find in lagoons

With splashes of color and circus balloons
The place was as humid as the month of June
Baby Bird planned to steal people's wishes
Or take a swim with the orange Koi fishes
On to the prairie dog hole where the kids could play

Saw turnips and potatoes in a ceiling display.
Onward toward the desert to end our day
Move into the dry arid region blazing heat
The variety of cactus was a special treat.
Step into the snowy Indiana world, l
Leaving the warm conservatory behind. 

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

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