The weeks surrounding the Holiday Season often involve that panic rush feeling "to get it all done.” We forget, as my blog inspiration book, Everything I Learned About Christmas, I Learned From A Little Golden Book, reminds us that Christmas should be a “time of wonder, a time like no other time of the year.” Phipps Conservatory is a place were you can escape into a world of beautiful plants and lights and relax, feeling the wonder of the season (see Day 180).
Reflection
The ascetics found in natural beauty has a way of relaxing the soul. The plants,
flowers and lights always put me in the holiday spirit. That being said, the experience is so much
more enjoyable when you are not
following a line of people through the 14 rooms.
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| Frazer Fur has 14,000 LEDs |
The new on line ticketing reservation system was easy to book a time in advance at phipps.conservatory.org . They book 300 people every 30 minutes. It reminded me of the Disney World timed ride tickets.
We went during prime time on this Thanksgiving weekend. We still had a bit of a line but it was not as bad as last year. The crowd seemed to clear out about 8 pm. Since the Phipps is open nightly until 11 pm, I suggest going after 8 pm for a more peaceful experience (we empty- nesters don’t have kids to worry about).
The Conservatory is decorated with 55,000 LED lights with an additional 14,000 LED lights on the massive Frazer fir in the Victoria Room. The 62,000 square feet of the outside Winter Garden sparkled with so many lights that there seemed to be a picture perfect stop everywhere. I walked through this garden keeping warm with a hot coco bought at the outdoor stand.
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| Sunken Garden /Family Feast theme |
The railroad had a Treasure Island theme this year with a smoking volcano and I enjoyed watching the children’s excitement when they found the treasure. I always love the serpentine room with its trees and brilliant colors. There are 24 different cultivated varieties of poinsettias in the over 2,300 used in this year’s show!
Everyone in my group seemed to have a
favorite room. I enjoyed the Sunken Garden with its Family Feast theme of highlighting
traditional family meals during the holidays with a beautifully set dinner table set among the flowers.
Sometimes I just focused on the green foliage and bypassed all the lights and just looked up at the
trees in amazement at the wonder found
in nature. It is a winter wonderland no matter how you enjoy it!
(To book your ticket reservation visit go to phipps.conservatory.org . The winter show timed entry runs from Nov. 24 until Jan 7th and the show is open from 9:30 am to 11:00 pm daily)
Spiritual Reflection
