The Grand Old Flag... and a visit!

Happy Fourth of July to our American friends! I lived in America as a small girl and enormously enjoyed the Bincentenial celebrations, although it was a little bit difficult being the only English child in a class of American 6 year-olds who all thought they might still be at war with the redcoats!As our home is increasingly decorated in red, white and blue (it all started with the Royal Wedding), I decided to make this week properly American, at least as much as I can. The excellent vintage history of the USA (in French, of course), is a good start. And I'll be posting more red, white and blue each day this week. If you'd like to join me, let me know in the comments and I'll put a link to your red, white and blue post in my sidebar for the week.
In other news, we celebrated my birthday yesterday, with a visit to a very special Festival at the Jardin des Martels - we went to the gardens last September for Ben's birthday and when I heard about this festival I decided there and then to hold off my birthday celebrations until July!
We travelled there in style, parking and picnicking near a little station which runs a miniature railway to the gardens. This meant that Son 1, still on crutches following a successful operation on his knee, got some entertainment even though he wasn't able to walk much round the gardens. Above you can see the two boys listening to the conductor giving a highly personalised history of the little railway!
The festival spirit was in evidence at the gardens...
But Son 2 and I still spotted some undisturbed wildlife...
Although it spotted us, too!
Son 1 found a shady place to sit and enjoy a view, and the rest of us wended our way down through winding paths to the focus of the festival...
... the lotus lake!
And here is a lotus, the star of the festival.
It was a beautiful day, and we're hoping to go again next year - and perhaps get a taste of the lotus cuisine next time!