One of our favorite activities during the winter months is to visit the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. It’s a ten minute drive from our house and provides a nice refuge from the frigid weather. And boy howdy, have we ever had frigid weather this year! Not to mention the piles of snow we’ve accumulated. Here’s a good view of that snow with the conservatory in the background:
This year I focused more on the blooms. Last year I documented many of the plants that are contained within the conservatory. If you’re interested, check out that post by clicking here. We managed to strike it rich in terms of seeing beautiful orchids. The winter carnival is happening right now and there was an orchid contest and the winners were displayed in one of the rooms. I also noticed that there were many more orchids blooming this year than last year. Last year we visited the equivalent of about 3 weeks ago. What a difference 3 weeks makes!
I did snap some photos of lovely greenery too:
A collection of some other things blooming:
The sunken gardens where many couples get married:
And here’s a photo from hubby’s camera, the photographer at work ;)
This was quite the scene with the sloth named Chloe and the lone sun bittern. There was a volunteer who just told us how the bittern loves to torment the sloth to gain control of this tree. Another volunteer watched with us while the sloth moved away from the bittern. He said he’d never seen that sloth move so fast! It seem the bittern won this round:
I’m thinking the bonsai room was either closed last year or we missed it. There’s a nice display of a few bonsai plants but it wasn’t a good day to take photos in there. It was too bright. But I did get one of an olive tree and then a view of the room:
Finally, a study of amaryllis. I liked hubby’s photo a little better than mine so he let me display it here.
I’m participating in my friend Marianne’s new photo challenge “one trip every month”. Do check out other trips at the link to her blog and enjoy!!
travels with toby 
That’s a lot of snow. Wonderful images.
thank you!
How absolutely wonderful to see such delicate orchids in the midst of such enormous amounts of snow. The Majorie McNeely Conservatory is an amazing place – no wonder you wanted to revisit, Toby.
Thanks for sharing such beauty :)
you’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It truly is an amazing place!
I remember going with you a couple years ago to this conservatory. It was so nice to bask in the warmth while it was cold outside. At that time there was no snow, so I can only imagine how much nicer it was to seek refuge there during colder times! Nice pictures!
I just found this in my spam folder? wonder why yours keep going there. odd! but yes, it’s a GREAT place to seek refuge. I never want to leave!
Wow, talk about your contrasts.
yes indeed. I wanted to stay there the rest of the winter :)
What a wonderful place to visit, Tobyo, The orchids are so beautiful My favourite. :)
yes, it is! and so many flowers this time too :)
Wow, what a fantastic entry …. beautiful snow – winter wonderland .. and tropical delicate beauties. What a trip .. so envy. I think every woman love orchids – I always need one blooming in my living room. Have manage to get some of them to re-bloom .. but it’s not easy.
Amaryllis, have a stunning love blooming now – the most majestic flower I know. Thanks for all the beauty you have given me here. Welcome to the challenge.
you’re probably right that all women love orchids. I’ve not met one who doesn’t like them :) I understand that they are quite difficult to grow so good for you if you can keep them! I’m glad you enjoyed my post. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
What a contrast between the outside and the inside! It reminds me of my days in Michigan. It has been more than thirty years since I left there, but I am still surprised to look out my window in January and see primroses in bloom. Yesterday we had a drift of snowflakes in an unusual cold snap, and I was hoping it would stick, but no. There is a stark beauty in a wintry landscape. Best wishes–stay warm!
spring will come again! some day……thanks for stopping by!
Absolutely gorgeous, Tobyo! Marianne wins again :)
All that lovely warmth surrounded by the big freeze!
it was so much fun, always is. and it’s always hard to leave and go back into the deep freeze. spring will come again! :)
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Wow! Such gorgeous blooms!!! What a great place to escape the winter!!
yes indeed it is! I think we need to go again ;)
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