This weekend, on Sunday March 12, daylight saving time begins in my corner of the world. I am looking forward to more greenery and warmer temperatures outdoors. In the interim, I cycled to Allan Gardens Conservatory and visited the Arid House, one of five greenhouses in this indoor botanical garden.
Exploring the Arid House
The Arid House is located on the northwest side of the conservatory. It is home to a large display of unusual cacti and succulents including collections of agave, opuntia, haworthia and aloe.
Walking through the Arid House, I enjoyed examining the plants, their shapes, sizes, and colours. Their fun names made me smile. I was mindful of where I was standing to take pictures as many of the plants have thorns.
The Arid House was nice and warm. I felt rejuvenated and relaxed after being with the plants. I headed home feeling pretty good about my choice of outing for the day.
Welcoming Public Art
Last week I stopped over at Philadelphia International Airport while on my way to meet my sisters. I discovered the beautiful Over the River and Through the Wood mural created by Philadelphia artist Constance Culpepper. I found the mural soothing and cheerful.
“My painting is a place where everyone is welcome. Explore, smell the peonies, drink a cup of tea, feel the grass between your toes, look up at the clouds in the sky, take a seat. Maybe here, you can discover something or someone anew.”
Constance Culpepper
Weekend Coffee Share
How green is your corner of the world? What do you think of the mural? This post is my contribution to Terri’s #SundayStills March colour challenge and Jo’s Monday Walk.
I’d love for you to share what’s been happening, simple joys from your week and/ or favourite public art photos from around the world in the comments or Weekend Coffee Share linkup #110 InLinkz below.
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Natalie the Explorer 
Hi Natalie – it’s so strange seeing all those cacti and succulents from your neck of the woods – it’s usually the American bloggers who have them in their gardens with all the heat – it’s amazing what gardeners all over the world can achieve with a greenhouse though. The airport murals were really pretty too – quite a contrast to the arid house feeling.
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Hi Leanne, Toronto has a few conservatories where I can find many exotic plants without having to travel too far. I usually go to a greenhouse at the end of winter to make me feel spring is coming sooner 🙂 I’m glad you liked the airport mural. I like what inspired the artist to create it and its cool palette.
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Beautiful photos, Natalie and a great way to get yourself ready for spring. I think it’s on the way.
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Thank you, Dan. This week started off with several sunny days but winter is back today with snow. The birds and their songs convince me that spring is on its way.
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I love those barrel cacti – they are so sculptural they could almost be included as public art! The airport mural is a cheerful sight for travellers 🙂 Here’s my contribution to the PPAC for this week: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/the-unique-vision-of-fernando-botero/
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Sarah, Those barrel cacti look like art to me, too 🙂 The names of some of these plants are amusing. Thank you for your PPAC contribution. I get to see Botero’s sculptures in Colombia. Very cool.
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The Arid House looks lovely. I like cacti and succulents. I usually don’t have much luck keeping them alive when I have them as houseplants though so visiting The Arid House would be a good option for me. Haha. Thanks for virtual coffee, Natalie.
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Shari, Yes, low maintenance is good. I let the professional gardeners take care of the cacti and succulents in the Arid House. Admission is free so I can go any time and as often as I like.
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The Arid House looks amazing! Cactus are such weird and fascinating plants. I love the airport mural. Such a wonderful distraction.
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Michelle, Cacti have interesting shapes, don’t they? I’m pleased you like the mural at the airport. It’s much more beautiful than a blank wall.
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Two great shares Natalie, I loved the pics of the Arid House and the mural. I enjoy looking round botanical gardens/houses. Have a good weekend. Daylight saving doesn’t happen here until the 26th of March.
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Gail, It’s interesting that your daylight saving is later in March. I’m glad you enjoy botanical gardens. Visiting the Arid House made me feel closer to spring 🙂
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I love the Arid House – botanical gardens are a real favourite of mine.
The mural is also lovely – a great welcome to the airport!
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Thank you, Barbara. I’m glad you love the Arid House and the mural. The staff at Allan Gardens do an amazing job maintaining the different greenhouses.
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Such beautiful cacti and murals. Both bring with them wonderful thoughts of Spring!
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Thank you, Donna, for your comment. Spring was on my mind when I went to the Arid House and looked at that mural.
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I could feel the warmth, but I kept well clear of the thorns, Natalie. Beautiful!
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Thank you, Jo. Those thorns mean business.
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Hi Natalie. If you ever get over to the west end of the city you should check out the Centennial Park Conservatory. They also have a special room just for cacti. Can you believe the weather we’re having today. Winter is definitely not done with us in Toronto.
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Hi Carol, Thank you for suggesting the Centennial Park Conservatory. I visited it a long time ago. It was beautiful and I remembered wedding photography was happening there. I’ll check it out again next time I’m in the west end of the city. Today’s snow storm is such a change from the previous sunny days that we had this week. Stay safe and warm.
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I like the place because they change the one room every few months. After Christmas they filled the room with cyclamens and I’m sure in the next month we’ll see a display of spring flowers.
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Yes, Allan Gardens also make seasonal changes and they all look beautiful.
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Wonderful place to explore. Love the cacti 👍
Here is mine this week, hope you like it https://boomercoupletraveljournal.wordpress.com/2023/03/09/museum-street-in-angono/
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Teresa, Thank you for your PPAC contribution. I get to see impressive murals as a tribute to C. Francisco’s art in the Philippines. Very cool.
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Glad you liked it, Natalie!
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How lovely to see your ranges of natural examples from the desert. I love murals in public places too. So glad you got to see your sisters. We have moved away from the ocean back to an area that is often green. It’s called The Hills but that’s a generic term. We are enjoying settling into the new place so I wrote about our moving day to be part of #WCS Thanks for the link up. Denyse
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Denyse, So glad to hear your move went well and you’re settling into your new place. Thank you for linking up. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Not much blooming here (ROFLOL) as we are in the middle of a blizzard. But no worries it will pass. I love that photo of the various cacti – it almost looks like an alien landscape. I love the mural as it is bright and cheerful. Bernie
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Bernie, We had snow here yesterday as winter is trying to hold on. The migrating spring birds are back and are singing loudly so I know spring is around the corner. The green plants in the Arid House made me feel closer to spring.
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We got walloped, but it’s March, so to be expected. I did see some geese, but so far, that’s it.
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I started seeing and hearing red-winged blackbirds, sterlings and robins. The Canada geese seem to be here year-round.
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They don’t stay here year round!
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Hi Natalie
What a beautiful mural. So vibrant. Some of your plants are very different to those in Australia. I find the variety of types of arid plants fascinating.
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Hi Max, I’m glad you like the mural and the arid plants. Blogging lets us share photos of different plants and animals around the world.
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Arid House looks like a place I’d spend hours in, just exploring. Lovely. And the mural is beautiful too.
Here is mine:
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2023/03/11/ppac-glasgow-29/
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Sofia, Thank you for your PPAC contribution. So cool that I get to see a beautiful mural in Glasgow without leaving home. The Arid House is connected to a few more greenhouses featuring plants in different climates and they are all beautiful so yes, it’s easy to spend hours in there. Admission is free 🙂
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The Arid House looks like a great escape from Winter. Yes, the time change is coming. I hate it, but it is a sign that spring is on the way, even if there is snow in the forecast in New Hampshire. I like the mural. From the way you said it, it sounds like you were traveling beyond Philadelphia. My brother lives in the Philly area – I don’t remember seeing that mural, but I will keep my eye out the next time I am there.
Have a great week 🙂
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Trent, That mural is in the hallway between my arrival gate and the food court although I don’t remember which terminal I landed in PHL. I like that the airport showcases local artists’ work. A visit to the Arid House is definitely a nice and free escape from winter. Have a great weekend!
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Allan Gardens is a favourite spot of mine!
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Yes, I go there from time to time to see the beautiful plants.
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Natalie, I love the Arid House photos!
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That’s great to hear. Thanks, Pam.
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Reading about your visit to the Arid House makes me smile. I loved reading about all the beautiful varieties of cacti and succulents. I really need to travel more.
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Astrid, I’m glad my post made you smile. The assorted cacti have amusing names.
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Wow, I’ve not seen cacti that big before!
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Yes, some of these cacti are quite big or tall. There are lots of smaller ones that grow close to the bed of rocks, too.
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Natalie loved all your succulents. Here is mine for the week. http://specialmomsblog.mom/2023/03/11/intermittent-fasting-and-eating-out-%f0%9f%98%8a/
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That’s great. Thank you for joining in.
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The cactus & plants look amazing. Wow! #Weekendcoffeeshare
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Thank you Karen for joining in. The staff at the Conservatory certainly take good care of the cacti and plants.
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Hi Natalie, the greenhouse is lovely. I really enjoyed seeing all the plants. Our world is white over here, we’ve had temperatures around -17C this week. It’s slightly warmer now, but we have a lot of snow. I do have many plants in my home, and green plans for the gardening season in my head, does that count?
Have a wonderful new week!
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Hi Maria, Your house plants and green plans for the gardening season all count 🙂 We had snow on Friday but most of it melted by now as the daytime high temperatures have been near or above freezing point. Visiting the Arid House was a green booster for me. I’m glad you enjoyed seeing all the plants there. Have a great week ahead!
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Golden Barrel Cacti are something special. Amazing how big they grow. Thanks for the share
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Yes, I like to see the golden barrel cacti every time I visit the Arid House. BTW, I like that you added your photo to your gravatar profile.
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What a wonderful place to see so much color, especially green, Natalie! We have a small nursery in our neighborhood that grows and sells plants, flowers and trees in its 6 huge greenhouses. How cool that you can hop on your bike and check yours out and breathe in the oxygenated air. Culpepper’s public art is so pretty!
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Terri, I’m fortunate to live downtown and can access many places by bike or on foot. Going to the Arid House in the winter is like going to a spa and get a ‘green’ booster shot. I like the Culpepper’s mural and thought it would work with your green photo challenge. I’m glad you like it, too.
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Oh I love that, a “green booster shot”! 😍
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Hi Natalie, Your Arid collection is gorgeous. We have many of those cacti here in AZ, but I don’t always remember their names. Thanks for sharing them. Your public art is lovely and perky and springy as well. I couldn’t get around to writing a post separately this week. We are moving Cindy into her own place now, so still on the move! Talk to you soon. 🙂
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Marsha, Thank you for linking up in spite of your busy move. I greatly appreciate it. I hope you’re doing OK. The names of some of the cacti and succulents made me smile. Going to the Arid House in winter is like going to a beautiful and warm getaway without driving or flying. I’m glad you like the arid plants and Culpepper’s mural. My mind has been thinking about spring.
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It is the time of year to think about spring. We are having a spring day today. It’s lovely. We had a discussion about your lovely city the other day in our Alpha group. I felt so knowledgeable since I’ve been reading your blog for a while! 🙂 Have a great week.
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Hehe, knowledge is power. Tell your Alpha group to follow my blog, LOL. You have a great week, too.
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🙂 I will. Most of them don’t know what a blog is yet. 🙂
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Show them yours and they’ll be hooked 🙂
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haha, thanks, Natalie. Do you show yours off in Toronto somewhere?
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Not yet, Marsha. I’m enjoying blogging as is 🙂
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Hahaha, and here you are telling me to show mine off! Yours is fabulous and worth showing off. 🙂
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Thank you Marsha for your kind compliment. My blog is a work in progress 🙂
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Aren’t they all! I have to find a new theme because mine has expired and is no longer supported by WP.
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I hope you find a theme you like and the theme change goes well for you.
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Thanks Natalie.
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I love botanical gardens; looking forward to visiting the one in Glasgow again soon. Great post & shots, Natalie 😃
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Thank you, Jez, for your compliment. I look forward to seeing some photos when you visit Glasgow botanical gardens.
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Missed the link up but the Arid House looks like a wonderful place to visit.
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Patrick, Please feel free to leave the link to your post in the comment. The linkup closed based on Daylight Saving Time today. Thank you for stopping by.
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I’d love to be in that aridhouse and feel the warmth in winter! Nice murals. My entry here:
https://flightsofthesoul.wordpress.com/2023/03/13/musical-mural/
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PR, Thank you for your PPAC contribution. I get to see a colourful musical mural in Sofia. Very cool.
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Thanks Natalie 🙂, glad that you like it!
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Hi Natalie, I was intrigued by all the different cacti species in the one small location! Amazing. But what really captured my interest was Constance’s pretty art. It makes you smile with all its bright colours and simple message. I must look up her work. Thanks for the introduction.
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Hi Amanda, It’s my pleasure to introduce/ share Constance’s art. I was pleased to discover her art at the airport. Thank you for stopping by. Hope all’s well with you.
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All.good over here, thanks Natalie. A bit over the heat and looking forward to the onset of cooler weather.
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Prolonged heat and humidity is challenging. Over here, we’re transitioning from winter to spring. P.S. I found C. Culpepper’s IG and website via a quick Google search.
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that Arid House is cool. I loved the Mother of THousands plant. That mural is awesome too. Great finds!
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I chuckled when I saw the name “Mother of Thousands” (a very busy mom). I’m glad you like the Arid House and the mural. They’re refreshing to see.
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Lovely examples.
Love the Golden Barrel Cacti
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Those Golden Barrel cacti are a delight to see. Thank you PTP for stopping by.
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Thank you, Natalie.
My pleasure.
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I am very late.
My contribution
https://philosophyvia.photos/2023/03/17/violence-shapes-bad-societies/
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No worries, PTP. Thank you for your PPAC contribution. Many of us yearn for peace.
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I am thankful to you for acepting my contribution.
True. We all yearn for peace.
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