Spring at the Conservatory

Yesterday was a disappointment. Well, it started out that way. I was counting on sunshine. I should have checked the forecast. So we headed over to the Marjorie McNeeley Conservatory. I always have to catch my breath when I enter the side door of the Palm Dome and the North Garden. The heat and the humidity hits your lungs hard, fogs up the glasses, and off comes the coat and sweatshirt. Feels like the tropics and if you look up you can almost pick the papaya hanging overhead. The cooler Sunken Garden was surprisingly quiet even though the spring flower show is in full bloom with 1,000's of violas, hyacinths, tulips, and all the other regulars you would expect to see. The show goes on through May 1st, but if you can't get there then you can also see some spring flowers in downtown. The Central Library has a nice planting of daffodils on the south side of the building. The Minneapolis Art Institute gets into the act this week too. Beginning Thursday the annual four day Art in Bloom event pairs fresh flower arrangements with art in the galleries.