Tag Archives: Franklin Park Conservatory

Franklin Park In Spring?

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Midweek days off are rare in my world. I took yesterday so that my mother and I could visit the butterflies and flowers up at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus.

It wasn’t the best weather for this visit as the butterflies aren’t as active on cool and cloudy days. It actually snowed part of the time, making me ask more than once if it was really spring. Mother Nature seems a bit confused. All the same, we saw several varieties and enjoyed our visit with these flighty beauties.

You just have to slow down and pay attention because some aren’t easy to spot amongst the foliage. One guy was fortunate to have one land on his shoulder. My mother really wanted one to land on her but we weren’t so lucky this time.

It also wasn’t the best day for viewing the spring flowers outdoors. It was cool, overcast and windy when I ventured outside and tried to force some decent pictures.

All of the images here come from my iPhone because I didn’t take time to sift through the pictures on my digital slr. It has been having issues but I’m still cautiously optimistic that there are some good shots.

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this tiptoe through the tulips (sorry, I couldn’t help myself) and walk amongst the butterflies.

The spring flowers run through April and the butterflies through May. Go visit if you can!

Sunday

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Franklin Park Conservatory.

Sunday is a day to recharge, to reset intentions, to ready for the week and to rest. There will be chores today, small things that I’ll do to prepare for the week ahead. That amounts to laundry, a little food prep and some tidying around the house.

However, my most important project will be resting my body and recharging my mind for another busy week ahead. I hope to read, to do some writing and to maybe hit the sack a little early.

This is part of my weekly routine which I value and guard because it’s essential to my well being for the next six days. It’s not quite a day of rest but it is a day of doing what’s good for me.

We all need that sometimes. We must seize the opportunity to protect our most valuable assets – our body, mind and soul. Have a peaceful Sunday and be kind to yourself.

Choose Carefully

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Choose your thoughts carefully. Keep what brings you peace, release what brings you suffering. And know that happiness is just a thought away. – Nishan Panwar

Find Me

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There’s a terrific exhibition of environmental art at Franklin Park Conservatory right now. It’s called “Spoke: The Visual Poetry and Environmental Art of Artist Olga Ziemska.” This is a unique collection of words, pictures and pieces made from natural materials.

The Cleveland artist focuses on the connection between humans and nature. It really is an extraordinary collection and suits the natural themes of the Conservatory.

This was my favorite piece and the most thought provoking. Here’s a closer look.

If you’re feeling a little lost, there is no better place to find yourself than in nature. if you want to see these and other works of Ziemska, you need to get there before May 30. That’s when it ends!

Butterfly Magic

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Franklin Park Conservatory is a special place at any time of year. However, it will be extra special for the next couple of months as they are hosting their annual Blooms and Butterflies event.

The butterflies inhabit the Pacific Island Water Garden. This is a lovely space any time of year with its water feature and Chihuly sculptures surrounded by towering palms, delicate ferns and other plants that add rich texture..

A sign helps visitors identify the approximate two dozen types of butterflies you might encounter. I was pleased to see about a dozen different varieties as they flitted about hither and fro. It’s always pleasing how energetic they are even though there seems to be no rhyme or reason to their activity.

I walked through the space three times and sought out places to stop for a while and wait for the butterflies to come to me. I saw people just walk through and I suspect they didn’t get to see many. You have to stop and study your surroundings and be patient. Do this and you won’t be disappointed.

I had a near magical experience involving the biggest butterfly I have ever seen. There was a Common Blue Morpho that soared high above us all, never landing and rarely slowing down. These butterflies measure between 4” and 4.8” so they are easy to spot and recognize.

I badly wanted a photo but it just wasn’t happening. Meanwhile, I directed my attention to this lovely gal pictures here.

When I lowered my dslr, that gorgeous blue butterfly was perched on the end of my lens. It seemed that time stood still for those two seconds before it took off again.

There was a guy standing nearby, camera in hand, but so stunned that he didn’t even think to snap a photo. So I have no evidence of the experience but I have a memory of the magical interaction and I will cherish it.

In addition to this butterfly room, they also have what they call a Metamorphosis Lab where you can see the various stages of a butterfly’s lifespan and, if you’re lucky, witness new butterflies emerge.

If you go, make time to enjoy the orchids as well.

This event runs through May 30 and this experience is included in the general admission price. Find more information here. It is worth every penny too. Go, if you can!

Magnificent Saturday

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Saturday was a magnificent day for adventure and I cannot wait to tell you about the things I did.

It was unseasonably warm and sunny in central Ohio with temperatures topping out in the mid seventies. This made for perfect road trip weather as it was warm enough to roll down the car windows and even to eat outside.

My first destination was Franklin Park Conservatory where I admired orchids, sought out the Chihuly art on permanent display and befriended some butterflies. One of them even landed on my camera lens in a moment so special and fleeting I hardly had time to absorb it until it was over.

I finished my visit there with an Impossible Burger from their cafe. I have found that places like museums, conservatories and other cultural sites are more open minded or at least more inclusive and more likely to offer vegetarian and gluten-free options than many regular restaurants. This is certainly the case at their small cafe.

I moved past the crowds huddled inside and took advantage of the completely empty outdoor seating area. Here I had a great time people watching while I enjoyed a tasty lunch and planned my next step.

That next step was to visit the Ohio Statehouse for a tour. My family has been in Ohio for hundreds of years and I’m guessing I am the first to tour this historic building. Afterward, I strolled the grounds and the vicinity nearby.

My final stop was the Peanut Shoppe, an old school candy and peanut shoppe that made my day.

Per usual Brandi fashion, I avoided the highways and opted to travel St. Rt. 104 which is lined with an unsettling amount of new housing developments and commercial buildings encroaching on historic farms.

I came home relaxed and a little tired from my day of exploration and learning. All these topics deserve a conversation so just consider this a sneak peak of what’s to come! Come back tomorrow for more.