Memory Lane

I always love walking on the beautiful Michigan State University campus in the spring. But when you can walk the paths you walked as a student fortysomething years ago, step inside your old dorm, eat where you used to dine in the residence hall complex and do it all with one of your old college roommates, it's even better!

 

LeAnne came over for an afternoon that included all those things. And all these photos are from our walk because I didn't take pictures in the dining hall -- which now resembles a food court with lots of different stations. It wasn't like going through the line where they slapped salisbury steak and mashed potatoes on your plate and offered unlimited soft serve. (Actually, they still offer unlimited soft serve -- with toppings and dozens of other desserts!) I was thinking today's college kids don't have it nearly so tough as we did!

Brody Complex's main communal area never looked like this when we were at MSU!

 Then it was off on our walk. Over the river...

...accompanied by an array of white bud and redbud trees. The redbud is a candidate for America's national tree and I'd vote for it in a heartbeat. I'd never seen the white-bud trees before.

Past the baseball stadium, much improved since our college days!

Down the road by the stadium, where we ran into a friend who took our photo! Then over another bridge.

Then back to the Beal Garden, where flowers were beginning to bloom...

                

Trillium!

Cheery daisies, dogwood...

 

Colorful tulips...

And more redbuds!

                

Even the ducks were enjoying the warm humid day!



(And yes, I played with a few of my camera settings!)

Squirrels were everywhere but few paused long enough for a photo!

We passed a full-bloom lilac bush and LeAnne (and I) couldn't resist going in for good sniffs!

The music building looked lovely -- more redbuds! I'd never seen this before -- apparently this is what happens when you trim a red bud tree -- more buds appear!

                 

And of course the statuary on the campus is a real treat. This one is title The Three Musicians by Samuel Cashwan.

We crossed over to the older dorms. Don't you think that anyone who saw dormitories like these would want to move in today?



I stayed in one of these during a high school journalism camp. The rooms are actually pretty small. But they are so charming!

Between the lilacs, apple blossoms and some other unidentified but equally sweet fragrances, it was a multisensory experience!

After we finished walking through the older part of campus we moved on to the horticulture and children's gardens. The horticulture garden really hadn't kicked in yet, but the children's garden is always delightful.

 

There's a certain charm to it, with its pizza garden, salad garden, maze and the arched bridge inspired by the one at Giverny.

Just being on that bridge brought back some special memories of its original counterpart! Time for a  couple of mystical special camera settings!

 

Pansies are my favorites, so I couldn't leave without a few photos!

Like I said, I can't resist!

I leave you with a look at two happy friends, who shared a flood of memories -- two years in the dorm, two years off campus, weddings and football games and getting to class in the winter! And, we enjoyed a far better lunch than any we experienced decades ago.

And with an invitation to those within easy driving distance of MSU -- the trees are fabulous and the flowers looking good. It won't last forever so if the weather is good, pop on over...

And bring your camera!

This post is linked to Beverly's Pink Saturday collection! Get in the pink right HERE.