Montreal Botanical Gardens

Jewels

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On a recent excursion to the Montreal Botanical Gardens, I spotted berries glistening in the sun.  All around us were interesting plants and, since it is harvest time, we had an opportunity to see corn, sunflowers, cabbage and other crops at the last stage of growth.  Winter is coming and soon these plants will be under a thick blanket of snow.  I thought these berries were like jewels, glowing as they hung in clusters among beautiful green leaves.  Is there any coral or ruby necklace that is more beautiful than this?  The fleeting nature of this lovliness makes it more precious still.

My other latest collector’s item is a little more permanent.  My young grandson enjoyed collecting stones on a recent trip to the river’s edge.  He is convinced that he will make his fortune selling these treasures and no grandmother would burst such a bubble. After a bit of haggling, the transaction was made and I was proud to wear my pendant on a string.  Just as I am not sure what berry I admired in the Gardens, I don’t know what sort of stone this is. Perhaps close examination by an expert will reveal the secret.  If I can pierce a little hole in it, I will be happy to wear it on a chain

Precious things we pass over without really noticing.  The most precious things .

The Sun

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From these pictures you have an idea of how the glass sculpture in front of the Montreal Museum is mounted for the summer and put away for the winter.  Dale Chihuly is the master glass creator who made this piece.  It was bought following a spectacular exhibition at the Museum a few years ago.  It is wonderful, a masterpiece and a popular photo op sitting on the steps in front of the original neo- classical building.   You can see how complicated the piece is and what care and effort it takes to store, clean and set it up.

Today I went to the last day of a three-day fair at the Botanical Gardens.  We have a Garden that is justly famous for research, the horticultural school and the sheer size and diversity of the plants it houses.

They all depend on the sun, the natural sun, the sun about which we never give a thought.  The paths of the Garden were full of booths with vendors selling various plants, de orations for the garden, fertilizers….everything fanatical gardeners like me love to obsess over.  It made me think about the sun, about our gardens and how we love to imitate nature.  We are a bit pathetic but I have to admire our courage and inventiveness

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