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.
Continue reading “Green Spaces for Gray Days”