Do you ever just get a little tired of the world we are stuck with until we find the COVID cure? I mean the distancing which is anything but social and the masks that make us all look like bank robbers?
I was feeling that way last weekend–the time when I miss people the most–and my guy and I decided to head over to the RBG in Hamilton. That’s the Royal Botanical Gardens, a place of respite and replenishing we’ve used for many years.
From the lilac gardens in May just in time for Mother’s Day picnics on the hillsides filled with blooming trees to the rose gardens a month or so later, and beyond, the RBG is well worth your time and the entrance fee to get in.
We started by buying our tickets and then heading through the building to the underground bridge, over which passes a major highway, and up out of the deep along a rising promenade. Several sets of steps beckoned us up and through the gardens on either side. We chose the one around the best vegetable garden I’ve seen this summer, past some lovely samples of annuals and towards a huge white tent full of chairs. Obviously they have events there in the middle of all the lush foliage.
This beckoning sculpture caught my eye immediately. Notice how the clouds parted to show off the hands so well.
One of our favourite trails was closed for renovations but I got this calming collection of green goodness anyhow. It reminded me of our walk at Roth Park back at home that morning. As soon as we walked into the trees, my mood lifted as though the trees saw us coming and wanted to welcome us with a fresh dose of oxygen given off just for me and my husband. I am reminded to get outside into the trees more often.
The Rock Garden was still beautiful although the tiny paths down through the trees and plants were closed, a distancing problem we decided. Still we enjoyed the outlooks and I wondered if the fairies were having more fun dancing with no people to interrupt their frolicking.
This Monarch butterfly stopover garden drew me in to read the sign. This is another way that botanical gardens help the environment so much. It occurred to me that back in the times I write about none of these protective things existed. Of course, nature looked after itself in many parts of our environment, although where I live used to be all forests and is now a landscape of fabulous farms feeding the world. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.
I loved these orange lilies, like the kind we see everywhere in Ontario in July, although these are not the wild kind. They are spectacular!
Another trail beckons from the rim of the rock garden which we loved.
On the way up the path to the exit from the garden I captured these pink hibiscus. They show up so well here against the greenery overlooking the path. And the yellow bits add texture as well. I often wonder if gardeners are painters because they add in the under painting so beautifully. (Did you read The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart?)
I hope wandering through this post of gorgeous bounty has done for you what walking in the real thing did for me. And now pick up a great book to read to soothe your soul. That’s what I’m going to do!
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