A Friday on the Road: Gardens, Tulips, and Small Town Stops - Before More Tulips in Michigan
Last Friday I got up early, packed up my laptop and camera, and headed out. I’ve been trying to incorporate these kinds of mornings lately—drive somewhere new, find a quiet spot to work for a bit, then spend the some of the day exploring, finding another spot to work more, and just change up my environment. When you work from home, it gets stagnant and you need variety and new scenery.
My first stop was Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford. It was so calm there. Soft greens everywhere, water moving through the garden, and just a really peaceful feel the whole time. I grabbed a spot in the café for a little while, got a cup of coffee and worked, which honestly felt like the best kind of setup. Then I closed my laptop and just wandered.
I took my time walking the paths, crossing the bridges, stopping here and there to take photos. It’s one of those places where nothing feels rushed. I think I will go back and do this again even if just for the day. It is easy to get up really early, drive somewhere and be ready to work and then have a new environment.
From there I went to Kuipers Tulip Farm, and I loved it. Going on a Friday made a big difference—way less crowded and much easier to just walk around and take it all in. The skies were cloudy, which I actually prefer for photos. The colors felt deeper, a little moodier, and the tulips really stood out.
There were rows and rows of them in every color, plus all the little farm details—old trucks, swings, little setups tucked throughout. It made it fun to just wander and shoot without a plan.
Next I went to the Sunken Garden in Aurora, and that made me realize I need to come back and spend more time in Aurora sometime. I liked what I saw and feel like there is probably more there to explore. I drove by some of the downtown area and feel like I could spend part of day there exploring, finding a neat restaurant, bringing my bike - I recall biking on the Fox Trail by this city last year.
After taking photos of a neat church in Aurora, I drove to Buchanan, Michigan where I stayed at my Airbnb - which was absolutely adorable. Paige, the guard dog was so much fun to get to know. I had dinner in town at Thistledown and Row which was amazing, and then walked around the little downtown area. I really liked Buchanan. Small town, relaxed feel, and a nice way to end the day.
This always reminds me how much I enjoy getting out, seeing new places, taking photos, and not rushing through life.
