Attention, Road Trips Gardeners! If you’re traveling near Rock Island, Illinois on any Sunday afternoon through October, plan to stop at the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois. From 1-5 p.m. every Sunday from May through October, local vendors gather for an open air market in the center’s circle drive and parking lot.

Of course, other days of the week there’s lots to see, too! Check out the Sun Garden conservatory (that’s the building with the 70-foot-tall skylight peak). Inside the 6,444-square-foot structure is a tropical paradise. Outside (especially in the summer) the gardens are in their full glory with (especially) prairie flowers and plants plus ornamental grasses.

You won’t want to miss the Flamingo Follies! 2010 marks the return of this “wacky tacky” art exhibit centered on the pink plastic lawn flamingo. The exhibit — scattered throughout the gardens — opened July 4 and runs through August 6, 2010 — when the flock is auctioned off to benefit the botanical center. In the meantime, all this “wild humor” is on view. Each participating area artist received an unadorned flamingo and then, well, you’ll just have to see the results (yeah, one from last year’s flock is pictured).