One of my Happy Places in my geographic region is the Como Zoo Conservatory It is a smaller, older zoo, attached to a botanical building, and many outside gardens in the warmer seasons. Usually at this time of the year, when it is cold and snowy and icy outside, I ask Rich to take me up to the cities to sit under the dome and breathe in some moist, fresh plant-made oxygen, and enjoy the visual inspiration of flowers and growing things.
There is a particular building, called the Sunken Garden, that changes out the floral display every couple months, and keep it fresh and blooming the entire time. I've visited probably every winter, but don't always share the pictures here on the blog. I linked below the times I have done so.
It's cheerful to boost the spirit, as it is still cold outside, and Spring feels far away.
They have a web camera that has a delay. You can stand for the camera, then capture a screen shot on your cell phone a minute or so later.
Rich and I under the dome!
Attached to the complex is a traditional indoor arboretum. They have many mature fruiting and spice plants (trees).
The mandarin orange tree was ready for harvest.
They also have an extensive orchid collection. Where they are kept is not open to the public, but you can look through a window and see the plants that are blooming, as staff moves those close to the window. They do disperse some of them throughout the dome to enjoy the blooms as you walk the paths. On this particular day they had a gathering roped off of a competition they held recently of blooms. A young man standing nearby works (volunteers) for the garden, and shared that Como has many endangered species they work with, propagate, and conserve.
Links below of other visits I have made to the Sunken Gardens, and more flowers to enjoy.
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