My friend and I had been waiting for a cool morning to take a trip to the UT Botanical Gardens. Well, that wasn't going to happen during this hot summer. So Thursday morning we met bright and early, and headed to an unappreciated part of Neyland Drive. I say that because most of friends rush by these beautiful gardens on their way to other parts of Knoxville.

The UT Gardens are an educational site, but they are not meant for just the students. All are welcome, and there is much to be learnt.  There are areas that teach sustainable gardens, drought resistance gardens, natural planting, roses, and proper installation of trees and shrubs.

But I didn't go to the garden on Thursday to learn. I went to find some quality time and to take in the beauty. My friend Elizabeth and I used the garden as a way to decompress. We are both on the go constantly and forget to take time for ourselves. It only took a short walk through this urban oasis to take in the beauty and forget about our busy day ahead.

After enjoying the gardens we headed to the McClung Museum, where there is a special exhibit, Through The Lens. This exhibit is Botanical Photography of Alan S. Heilman.

"Through the Lens Explores the art and science of sixty-plus years of botanical photography by retired University of Tennessee botanist Alan S. Heilman. A selection of more than fifty photographs highlight his fascination with color, texture, and plant structure."

This was a beautiful exhibit of Mr. Heilman's photographs of plants in both their natural setting and in a laboratory. The photos were hung in groupings of their botanical part. Description plaques by each picture gave an abundance of information. While the majority of people walked through the exhibit quickly; stopping to look only at photos that are familiar, such as a sunflower or tulip, they missed the opportunity to discover fascinating details about the plants around us. Don't let this discourage you from attending. I promise if you only read two or three plaques but step back and take the time to enjoy the photography it will be worth your time.

This exhibit ends August 30th. And did I mention it was Free!

This outing was such a success for Elizabeth and I that we pledged to do something once a month to bring some calm to our lives. I am looking for any suggestions for short getaways that you have done. Bonus points if you can think of something our husbands would also enjoy.