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February 15, 2008
Still a Flower Child
On V-day I discovered a winter sanctuary: the Four Seasons greenhouse at Taft's Corner. For some reason, I hadn't been there in years. 
My wife and I were shopping for a Valentine's Day plant which led us into their greenhouse which they call - I love this - "the conservatory." I find that baroque.
The two large connected rooms are kept warm, perhaps mid-seventies, and slightly humid. This alone makes it a delightful place to be in Vermont in February.
The array of plant life is thrilling to the eye and nose, including a selection of orchids, for goodness sake, arranged on tiered shelves.
The far end of the room features a pool of water with a bright orange goldfish big enough for a dinner for two. 
(I guess I was a tad hungry during the visit.)
What a calming setting to loll away an hour or so on a winter day. We might make this a yearly ritual.
February 15, 2008 at 05:40 PM in Just Shoot Me | Permalink
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Comments
When I went to UMass Amherst, I made sure I walked through the conservatory on the way back to my dorm after classes.
In the winter, there was nothing like the warm, steamy, floral-scented air in the "tropical room" to put me in a better mood (although I'm pretty sure transitioning from there back into the cold made me sick a couple of times).
I used to study amidst the orchids, sometimes!
Posted by: suzanne | Feb 16, 2008 8:36:26 AM
Wow, Suzanne - I wish I went to Amherst! As a tangential suggestion: If you haven't yet seen it, there's a great (2002) movie starring Meryl Streep and the always amazing Chris Cooper. It's about an orchid hunter. I think it's called "Adaption." Actually, now that I think about it, it's about the process of adapting a book about an orchid hunter into a movie. How post-modern is that?
Posted by: Jernigan Pontiac | Feb 16, 2008 11:21:28 AM
We have an amazing resource less than two hours away. If you get to Montreal check out the Botanical Gardens. In addition to fascinating outdoor exhibits they have indoor buildings which feature different climate zones. In one afternoon you can visit the Arctic, a desert and a tropical rain forest. It's the real deal too, I saw plants in the rain forest section I hadn't seen since I was (involuntarily) in Nam. To top off the day, visit the aquarium and watch the penguins "fly" underwater or explore the Universe at the planetarium.
Posted by: Randomarrow | Feb 17, 2008 6:43:41 PM
Hey - thanks, Randomarrow, for the head's up on the Montreal Botanical Gardens. It sounds amazing, and I am definitely planning a visit!
Posted by: Jernigan Pontiac | Feb 18, 2008 11:15:56 AM
The Montreal Bontanical Gardens are so awesome. There's a whole room of orchids. And another for bromeliads. Perfect for a winter stroll!
Posted by: Cathy Resmer | Feb 18, 2008 1:14:25 PM
If Cathy Resmer recommends it, well, that seals the deal . . . : )
Posted by: Jernigan Pontiac | Feb 18, 2008 3:37:22 PM
Heavenly...I can almost smell those narcissus...
Posted by: Eva | Feb 18, 2008 8:12:47 PM
Hey, E . . . yeah, I think I can smell Goldmund. (Oh, I just slay myself.)
Posted by: Jernigan Pontiac | Feb 19, 2008 1:04:15 PM
Hey Jernigan. I have seen "Adaptation" (isn't Chris Cooper great)...I like that whole post-modern thing!
The Montreal Botanical garden is lovely, and big! I like the Brooklyn Botanical garden, too -- used to go there when I was a kid -- but it's a little further away. Actually, I like every botanical garden and conservatory that I've ever met!
Posted by: suzanne | Feb 21, 2008 3:51:24 PM
Yeah, Suzanne, that brings it back to me - I used to visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens when I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn. I vividly recall a class trip there in third grade. My everyday world was sidewalks and concrete, so the Gardens were a surreal wonderland!
Posted by: Jernigan Pontiac | Feb 21, 2008 4:36:03 PM
This is botanical garden was so lovely especially the orchids on the post i love orchids so much that's why i really like this,thank you so much for posting!
ford
Posted by: philippines flower shop | Oct 5, 2009 9:21:36 PM
Thanks for all your lovely photos. It's a breath of fresh air when i saw those flowers so beautiful i am looking forward to your next post. Keep posting! :)
zaijan
Posted by: philippines flower shop | Feb 23, 2010 10:37:21 PM
Nice photos! I love it. Thanks for sharing this one. I am well inspired.
-pia-
Posted by: philippines flower shop | Apr 13, 2010 3:04:36 AM
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