We always spend the most time in the tropical water garden area. The area is enclosed, warm and damp. It's filled with tropical plants, flowers and currently is home to the annual butterfly exhibit. Every day, butterflies hatch (in some sort of conservatory hatchery, I suppose!?) and are released. You might think that Winter3 is a danger to butterflies but since he doesn't exactly sneak up on anything, the butterflies see him coming a mile away. It's really pretty funny. Imagine Winter3, stopping in his tracks, pointing and saying in his loud whisper "Oh look! Der's a buuuteeerrfly" You can almost see the butterfly look over its shoulder and fly off in a different direction, quickly. It doesn't prevent him from having a great time, running on the walks through the plants and flowers, finding waterfalls and chasing his brothers.
My favorite part of this last visit was seeing the
Chihuly installation coming to life. Dale Chihuly is a Seattle based artist (eye patch and all) and his studio is well known for producing fantastic and colorful glass art. The Conservatory owns a large collection of Chihuly glass and this installation uses pieces from the collection as well as borrowed pieces. The glass looks alive when placed among the plants. Truly breathtaking.
Here, I hope I don't have three boys falling head first into the water. I also have to tell Spring7 that he can't take coins out.
Spring7 in the tropical house.
A lush garden of glass orbs.
Shhhh, please don't tell! Fall22months snagged a leaf!
My favorite piece.
All the art work aside, this was the highlight of the trip. A big fan.
I love, love, love Chihuly! We went to an awesome installation of his work at one of the conservatories here in Chicago a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI love that you take the boys to all these cool places. I mean, this is the nature conservatory, not a china shop! I'm glad they enjoyed themselves.
Had to laugh about the bonsai trees. I took my kids in there about a year ago and about had heart palpatations every time they went near one. I finally flipped out on A and gave her a time out in the middle of the bonsais. Not my finest moment. :)
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