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Mar. 10th, 2010 01:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mugen_edamameTook the bus; the gardens are within walking distance, but I'd have needed to've left an hour in advance, and I am not a morning person. Not under any circumstance, sorry. Even then, I was a tiny little bit late, because I got lost.
As it's meant to be a Botanical Garden, albeit an Experimental one, I had assumed it would be large and sprawling. Like the one we went to last year back home (the site is almost impossible to navigate, I apologise on my government's behalf >_<). Instead it's a tiny little thing, tucked in between student housing areas.
Like an oasis, really. Or possibly Buddha sitting in meditation in the middle of a busy street. Something lovely and mild.
Our practical session consisted of meandering from greenhouse to greenhouse, heavy petting of interesting plants, and getting explanations on things. The tropical section was rather hilarious; I'm familiar with most of the plants there, if not by name then by sight, and the poor things were such feeble, meek darlings compared to their ripplingly-fit cousins. There was the Rubber Tree that Couldn't, the banana plants that didn't reach my knee, and ferns that looked rather tired with life. I admire the plants for trying so hard to survive in such a different environment though, and I appreciate the people who look after them for keeping them alive.
The moss hut was particularly dashing. It was dark and wet and everything was lush and green and petite. The space could hardly hold six people comfortably. We saw one of the rarest ferns of Britain, and I resisted the soft urge to snap off a branch and grow it in my sink.
My mum likes plants, I formerly did not.
But the calm, m'lubs, the calm you get from seeing grasses sway in the wind, and the sight of all that green is quite the balm for the soul (I sucked on a lemon lozenge to soothe the voice I lost this morning).
Copped a feel of some Arctic and Alpine plants (which are tiny little things and are adorable) as well as a coffee tree. It was very fun. Saw rhubarb and peppermint and sage and felt quite hungry. Saw onions and leeks and babe, we have the makings of an awesome soup.
Fun was so fun, in fact, that I'm thinking of applying as a volunteer at the Gardens. Mostly because it would be lovely and it would be outdoors (spring is the air, and is popping out from the ground. Observe mobile phone camera pictures of questionable quality. Believe me, things are much greener and brighter than a lens non-human can quite do justice. At least, a lens not-human in my hands:
.
Partly, it is part of my ploy to make friends. I am not good at making friends. But if you are, at heart, a loving gardener who coos over the health of papyrus and a tuba tree, then I'm sure we shall get along famously.
What a sneaky plan, oh dear. But it's formative years for my personality, is it not? So let us format it in a way that loves people for existing (rather than begrudge them for impeding).
Next week we are off to the Museum for some live-animal action. I have been told that skunks will be there. I will be allowed to pet a skunk.
!
I knew there was a reason I chose the degree I did. Hopefully they will need volunteers too :D
Also; bread, bread spread, biscuits and eggs are get! Now, just the rice. Will go and get that sometime today, hopefully.
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Date: 2010-03-11 04:01 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-11 07:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-12 07:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-12 02:43 pm (UTC)*sends healing thoughts to throat*