Following the blue glass slag-lined path on a recent visit to Lotusland in Montecito, Calif.
We came upon the startling sight of a greenhouse in the jungle. Not startling in the expected, operatically flamboyant Lotusland sense, but because it was relatively humble, almost modestly functional.
The docent made no mention of the greenhouse, and we dutifully shuffled past it at our 2-hour tour pace.
Even so, I lingered here a bit longer, until the sounds of the docent’s practiced narration disappeared around a bend in the sparkling path. A greenhouse is a potent and evocative structure. It’s where the magic begins. And the intensely personal quality of a greenhouse, nurturing the seeds of garden dreams, might be why I felt such pathos here.
Oh, yes, Mme Walska, even after all these years, your garden still casts a powerful spell.
Sigh…
What a garden, what a greenhouse.
When your “garden dreams” include a greenhouse, you get sort of an Inception thing going on, don’t you?
I’ll have one someday…
Those chunks of glass always seem to me like the crumbs that lead to the witches house. In this case, the witch being quite benevolent.
@Loree, you said it!
@Alan, that is a very intriguing thought. Now I’ll have to watch that movie again.
@Hoov, she certainly was a powerful sorceress. Six husbands!
I always wonder what that interesting lighting would be like with the native trees there, instead of the eucalyptus forest everywhere! 6 husbands…uh oh.
I would love another visit to Lotusland, to stroll at my own pace for a few hours. I had a very rushed but docent-free tour a couple years ago — just long enough (about 1 hr) to whet the tastebuds.
Oh – I would love to visit that garden some time… Seems absolutely magical.