Paradise Hanging Gardens

We took a trip over to the Hanging Gardens this weekend.  Vandalism (picking flowers and littering) had closed the park for a few months.  There are about 10 million flowers, and the park holds the Guinness World Record for the most hanging flower baskets (2,968) spread throughout 21,000 square meters. There are uniquely devised irrigation methods that are supposed to enable the flowers to bloom year-round.

You can walk under an arch of three hearts that lead to a portrait of Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE.  Each heart represents a different region of the emirate.

 The first heart is for Abu Dhabi, the second is for Al Ain, and the third is for Liwa.  The picture of the sheikh seen through the hearts shows that he is in our hearts. 

His portrait is on a sailboat, symbolizing that he is the captain of the nation.  The sail is the UAE flag.

There is a 7 meter tall pyramid of flowers that are permanent.  This is up for another record with Guinness.

The 12-meter-tall Eiffel Tower lights up at night with twinkling lights.

Stop and smell the flowers....

Could we put this vase in our entry?

Three Sheikhs

Gnarly old tree...

The landscaping itself is simply sumptuous.  It was fun just to sit and smell the flowers.


We went last weekend to the Wildlife Park and Refuge, where they introduced 2 white tigers donated by the teen-aged Sheikha Latifa of Dubai's ruling family.  They were raised at the royal palace, where they had their own pool, but she decided everybody should be able to enjoy them, so they are now housed in Al Ain.  Here are a few pics from that trip.

Dr. Seuss tree (Doesn't it look like something out of one of his books?!!)

I could eat.....

Just rest, honey, I'll guard the empire

Ouch!  Get off me!!

Smile....They'll wonder what you're up to.....

Push down here to open the other end.....

Ahhh...the White Tiger  (made you wait!)  

Another day at the zoo....Oh, wait, I mean the real zoo.....not school!  :)