Moments from a weekend trip to Janesville and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois

A monstrous breakfast dish at Alexanders Cafe in Elgin, off I-90.

Part of the Rotary Gardens in Janesville, Wisc., near the location of a moving memorial service for Hamden, Conn., native Jim Gammons. 

 "He who plants a garden plants happiness" at Rotary Gardens in Janesville.

Blogger blends in with local flora at Sinnissippi Gardens in Rockford, Ill.

Sinnissippi Gardens features a butterfly room where you can hold a monarch butterfly on your Gatorade stick, if you'll pardon the allusion.

Koi fish and admirers at the Sinnissippi Gardens greenhouse.

The calm waters of Geneva Lake in southern Wisconsin.

By local ordinance, the wealthy (above) and modest homeowners along Geneva Lake must provide access to walkers along the entire lake trail, which takes about a day to complete.