Plants are a Midwinter Reprieve

...Gloomy and dark with fog in the valleys.
It's still winter, although a mild-ish one.

A reprieve was in store as we stepped inside the old Vernon Lodge on 32nd Street in Vernon. 


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It's been years since I've had occasion to go there, and I had forgotten how lovely this plant conservatory was.  The aroma of blueberry pancakes and fresh coffee called us from the Lobby.

Even on a foggy day, the clerestory ceilings allowed light to bathe the interior's plants.

Some photos:



















Breakfast (very yummy) finished, it was time to head into the fog and home again.



A plant surprise--an open blossom on the Cymbidium orchid, met me at home, too:



And, soon, this long stalk will be festooned with the orange and blue Bird of Paradise flower.



And winter-protected (with heat/incandescent lights) palms...yes...palms are looking forward to being out of their winter enclosures, but doing well.

From this in summer: 

And during flower: 

To its warm wrap for winter: 

The much sought after Brahea armata: 

Yucca rostrata "Sapphire Skies": 

And, the saying "not pretty, Colonel, but does it work?" could apply to this winter-protected collection of small palms.  Yes it works.



Here's a summer look at two Washingtonia filifera, and the Y.rostratas:



And about 100 more inside the clubhouse, safely stored for winter: 



Winter's end is a ways off.
It'll be good to see the sun again.



Thank God for plants to get us through winter.