By the time February rolls around, I’m craving warmth and greenery. Right now we’re lacking both the brightness of sun upon snow (no snow, intermittent sun) and the bright colors of trees and plants. It’s an easy time to feel a little “blah.” And so, a couple of years ago, I realized one way to find respite without going far from home is to seek out local conservatories. Awash in humidity, full of life, growth, water features, color, texture, they are mid-winter’s eye candy. Now that we have two young children in tow, conservatories offer a bonus in that they provide a space that is both inviting for adults and welcoming for children, who can explore freely and also speak at their regular volume.
This past weekend we spent part of a morning at the Rawlings Conservatory in Baltimore, our second visit. The first, one year ago, was on a sunny day, which made the experience feel a bit warmer despite the colder temperatures. Although the past week has been on the milder side for early February, it has also been just cloudy and gray enough to warrant an enjoyable hour in a green space.
Originally called the Druid Park Conservatory when it was formed in 1888, the Conservatory is the country’s second-oldest steel framed-and-glass building still in use, according to its website. It is easy to access from the Baltimore area and near the Maryland Zoo. Although I haven’t combined visits, I imagine doing so would be a good way to spend a day. Parking is free and on both visits has been available directly outside the entrance. A $5 per person donation is suggested upon entering the building.
The Conservatory features five distinct areas, each one providing its own type of relief from the chill air outside. Directly ahead of the main entrance is the Mediterranean House. The visual display is not my favorite of all the areas, but for me, this one feels the best to walk into. Something about the air and the scent of citrus makes me immediately relax. Ahh, a break from winter. Various lemon and orange trees remind me of still-lifes, of warmer climate zones at water’s edge, abundance of fruit–all a delight to gaze upon. There are two small fountains in this room, definitely the show-stealers from the viewpoints of a three-year-old and a six-month-old. I have a feeling we could have parked them there for the duration of our visit without much complaint.
Next, we made our way into the Tropical House. Once there, the three-year-old nearly forgot about the first set of fountains, because this room features a tropical pool complete with fish you can get up close and personal with. The pool is surrounded by a low stone wall, easy for little ones to peer over.
This room feels the most lush of all five areas, with humidity enough to sate you until summer. There are bananas and pineapples, flowers and ferns, air plants in seashells suspended on string. Vibrant patterns on large leaves highlight the deep and varied shades of green that are nearly enough to make a person forget that it’s still winter outside.
Following this is the Desert House, with cooler dry air that is refreshing after a stroll through the tropics next door. This room feels airy, light, and open. The cacti and desert plants and trees here provide some of my favorite views within the Conservatory. Nothing says anti-mid-Atlantic-winter like scenery that is native to hot, sandy places.
The other two rooms are connected to the building’s entryway by a short hallway. First is the Orchid Room, resplendent with color this time of year only a few weeks after the Conservatory’s annual orchid show. On both visits, I have noticed this is a popular spot for photography, and no wonder. Although this is the smallest of the five rooms, it offers the most variety in color, which makes it easy to linger and appreciate the detail.
Finally, the Palm Room. I have to be honest: Although this was my favorite room on my first visit to the Conservatory, it seems the amount of sunlight streaming through the vaulted glass ceiling definitely affects my opinion of the room. No doubt, it is a grand sight and enjoyable to walk through regardless of the light, but the bright sky last year made it feel like a mini getaway. There are plenty of people who argue that a rainy day on vacation is still better than a day spent, for example, in an office, so I’ll take the clouds and still enjoy the palms. But to be in this room in winter when the day is sunny, you may indeed become convinced that you’re on vacation.
Throughout the room, amidst the palms, are brightly patterned leaves, which were mainly what I focused on. A stone path runs through the center of the room, a delight for children and yet more evidence that conservatories are a great place for families. You just need to remind the kids to look up, as well; the palms towering overhead make for an awe-inspiring sight when you’re three feet tall.
While none of this will replace the feeling of an actual walk, it will provide some of the benefits conveyed by one, namely the experience of being surrounded by greenery that is otherwise hard to come by this time of year. Good as a solo trip, with a friend, or even the whole family, it is possible to beat those gray days with a trip to a conservatory.
