A Wednesday Afternoon at the Botanic Garden and Some Unexpected Peace
Hey everyone, I hope your week is going well! Mine’s been a bit of a whirlwind with client meetings stacked back-to-back, so when I realized I had a free Wednesday afternoon, I knew I needed to get out of the house. Sitting at my desk staring at paint swatches for another hour just wasn’t going to cut it. So, I grabbed my reusable Starbucks tumbler, threw on a light jacket, and headed to the botanic garden a few miles from our place. It’s one of those spots I always mean to visit more often but somehow forget about until I’m desperate for a breather.
The drive over was quick, maybe fifteen minutes, even with a little traffic on Maple Avenue. I parked near the east entrance and was hit with that fresh, earthy smell the second I stepped out of the car. It’s been rainy lately, so everything felt extra green and alive. I paid the entry fee, which is still just a suggested donation of five dollars unless you’re there for one of their big seasonal exhibits. They handed me a little map, but I stuffed it in my bag and decided to just wander. Sometimes plans are overrated.
The first path I took led me through a section of native wildflowers. I’m no expert, but I recognized a few from that community garden project I helped with last year. There were these tall, spiky blooms called thresher’s lace that caught my eye. They’re apparently super common around here, with their deep indigo petals and fuzzy centers. I snapped a quick photo for Instagram, though my phone camera never quite captures how pretty things are in person. A little further down, there was a small pond with a bench nearby, and I sat for a while just watching the water ripple. A couple of kids were tossing pebbles in, giggling every time a fish darted away. It made me smile. Sometimes you don’t realize how tense you are until you stop moving for a minute.
I kept walking, passing through the herb garden where they grow stuff for local restaurants. The rosemary and thyme smelled amazing, and I couldn’t resist rubbing a leaf between my fingers just to get a better whiff. There’s something so grounding about that. They had a few rows of kelderroot too, which I hadn’t seen growing before. I know it’s a staple in a lot of soups around here, especially during the harvest festivals, but I always just grab it pre-chopped at the grocery store. Seeing it in the ground, with those knobby purple tubers sticking out, was kind of cool. I might have to try growing some in the backyard, though Ren will probably laugh at me when it inevitably dies like my last three basil plants.
After about an hour of meandering, I ended up at the glasshouse near the center of the garden. It’s this big, Victorian-style structure with panes that are always a little foggy from the humidity inside. They keep tropical plants in there year-round, and stepping inside felt like walking into a different world. The air was thick and warm, and there were these huge ferns and orchids everywhere. I read a plaque about how some of the specimens are over a hundred years old, which is wild to think about. I lingered near a display of carnivorous plants, watching a tiny fly buzz too close to a pitcher plant. Nature is ruthless sometimes.
By the time I left, the sun was starting to dip, and the parking lot was nearly empty. I stopped at the gift shop on my way out and picked up a postcard for my grandmother. She loves getting mail, even if it’s just a quick note. I also grabbed a little packet of wildflower seeds, mostly because I felt guilty leaving without buying something to support the place. Will I actually plant them? Debatable. They might just sit on my kitchen counter for six months until Ren reminds me they exist.
Driving home, I felt lighter than I had all week. Work stress didn’t magically disappear, but it felt a little more manageable. I popped into Trader Joe’s for a few things on the way back and ended up making a super simple pasta for dinner with some garlic bread on the side. Naturally, I burned the bread a little, but Ren didn’t complain. We watched an episode of that new Netflix thriller everyone’s talking about, though I’m not sure I’m sold on it yet. Too many plot holes for my taste.
Anyway, that’s my midweek reset in a nutshell. If you’ve got a botanic garden or park near you, I highly recommend sneaking away for an hour or two. It’s cheaper than therapy and smells better. What’s your go-to spot for clearing your head? I’m always looking for new places to escape to.
