Each year I visit Longwood Gardens when the Orchid Extravaganza is on display in the conservatory. The Longwood gardeners create a masterpiece of color and form with the orchids grown in their greenhouses.
The conservatory built in 1921, elicits admiration as you turn the bend of the paved path and view it in the distance.
An inviting multitude of paphiopedilum, one of my favorite orchids, greeted us as we entered the side door. Those who plan the displays do a great job creating a balance between flowers, foliage and trees.
The rainbow colors sometimes hold a surprise too…these orchids, in reality are a deep purple, but appear to be a true black on first glance.
If orchids aren’t your flower of choice there are hundreds of additional plants on display. One of my favorites were the African Violets in garden boxes bordering one of the exhibition halls.
We also admired the lilies, filling many of the nooks and crannies of the conservatory in a rainbow of colors. Part II of our recent trip will be posted tomorrow.
All so very BEAUTIFUL/
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Thanks, we had a great time walking around and enjoying the feeling we were outdoors in the middle of the winter.
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Gorgeous photos! You must have had a wonderful time there.
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I did…thanks Anne. Stay warm. I think it is going to get very cold down your way too.
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We have one more night of super-cold temps. Will your frigid weather continue for a while?
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It’s so strange Anne…it is forecasted to go up and down like a yo-yo.
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Yes, the weather forecasters have us on a string, don’t they?
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Lilies have always been a favorite flower of mine. I was in my 40’s when my father told me my mother (Japanese) gave me a Japanese name, Yuriko, and it meant Lily girl. He changed it however, and gave me family names (his mother and grandmother) which were American. Such a shame but I was born 6 years after the end of WW2 so his actions were understandable.
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P.S. I was born in Kyoto. My father was serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War when he met my mother.
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Love stories always seem even better when they are the result of good coming out of war.
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Janie, both your names are beautiful. I love lilies too. I would love to have the name of Lily-girl…that’s how I will think of you now.
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Oh my God ! Such beauties. Thanks for sharing with us. What colours. Spring in winter.
Susie
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Thanks Susie…it was a much needed break in the winter weather.
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Such beauty – even in Winter! 🙂 I hope you are surviving the cold snap? Love the new blog header by the way!
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Thanks so much…it is cold, but there are warmer temperatures coming in just a few days.
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