Coral or fungus?

Looking under a bush, my husband said, "Look, there's a piece of coral."  Hmmm, under a bush in the park?  Well it turned out to be a fungus.  I think it is a Cauliflower Mushroom.  Supposedly, they are edible, but I wouldn't try it.

American Beautyberry

I have been trying to get a good picture of these purple berry bushes for weeks.  They almost glow with their purple color.  The camera just won't pick up the same color as my eye.  This picture is OK, but still doesn't do justice to the vibrant color.  Their common name is American Beautyberry, and indeed they are! Here's a link to information.

Water garden

I read that there was a water garden at Fred Fletcher Park.  I had a picture in my head of pools of water with water lilies floating peacefully.  The garden brings storm water through a waterway that cleans the water through a series of pools before it joins the Pigeon House Branch, a poor forgotten little creek that runs through downtown Raleigh.

Red Bird

You're supposed to be able to see a cardinal in the red sections of this statue.  I think I can see it, and then I'm not sure.  Here's a link to the artist's page. 

Have a seat

Fred Fletcher Park is a beautifully kept up park.  It is the former home of the Methodist Orphanage from 1889-1981.  It has soccer fields, baseball diamond, football field, tennis courts and a water garden.  It's a peaceful place to walk on a weekday, even though it is very close to downtown.

Methodist Home for Children

When I hear the word Orphanage I think of Oliver Twist's work house.  But the Methodist Orphanage, today's Methodist home for children, was very different.  Hearing stories of people who grew up there they had nothing but gratitude for the kindness they were given.  Today the Methodist Home for Children is still active, although they work with inhome situations and sold their orphanage to the city.  It is now the Fred Fletcher park (Link).  The house above is the Garriss building, built as a dormitory around 1950.  The building below is the Borden building, built in 1900, first a home for the superintendent and later a dormitory.  The Borden building can be rented for weddings. dormitory