Rain cancelled our hike, so Plan 2 happened. Off to the exhibit of medicinal plants found in the ruins of Pompei and surrounding towns after the volcanic eruption of 79 AD. Having been with dear dear college friend at the Pompei site in 1962, this was especially wonderful for me. First photo is a recreation of one of the wall murals, of which we saw only remnants when we wandered around in Pompeii in our youth. The Smith exhibit was set up with exquisite line drawings of plants that were documented to have been grown there via research into pollen and carbonized roots. Information on medicinal use of the plants gave us much to think about compared to how we treat maladies today. If any of this starts to interest you, it might be possible to read the information written below “The House of the Golden Bracelet” photo. Then on to the “Plant Life Tnrough the Ages” mural exhibit (which we’d seen on another rained out hike day last year) and to reread especially about the Stromatolites – because last summer in Montana I’d heard a lovely lecture, sitting at dusk on a log bench, and learned for the first time about Stromatolites. (Thanks Phil, Ellie and Ginni). An errant greenhouse vine made me think how I’d love to see it cast in pure gold to make a necklace. It was so so pretty and so delicate! Into the greenhouse where Joe and Tony got stunned by a tropical fruit? or was it a flower? Anyway it was stunning. Off to the Smith College Student Center for lunch where we also celebrated Lissa’s birthday with spice cupcakes made by Donna, a birthday crown that I’d hot glued together, and a good birthday card. Love love love to all of you, Penny 
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