Tiny Tots Time at Leslie

continued

and carefully places it on the scarecrow's head. "Now he's dressed."

The gardens are impressive by my standards — big colorful signs, and well-tended lots that Mary Contrary would be proud of. Gabriel discovers a long orange-and-white cat who happily allows himself to be carried around. As I get closer I see why: he's been rolling in a patch of catnip.

We're alone, having missed one of the tours given by staff through the woods. But that's okay; we've hiked through the beautiful park woods before, leaning over the sides of the wondrous floating boardwalk to see who lives in Black Pond, happy to breathe in the sweet, pure air.

Soon enough the tour group emerges from the woods and fills the garden with toddling children and their parents. The cat, totally blissed out, lopes and runs, with my boy and many others in tow.

There are three activity areas set up near the nature house: chalk drawings, an art project, and a place to tell stories and sing songs. Gabriel shoves pretty dried flowers into homemade play dough before running into a building to explore.