Where to go on an icy cold day?

To the Volunteer Park Conservatory!  It is still very cold here, our yard and house are still covered with a thick layer of frozen snow.  Over the weekend we all felt like we needed to get out and although the sun was out, it was too cold to do much outside.  Trying to think of something warm to do I remembered the conservatory.  I hadn't been in many years.  The conservatory is located in Volunteer Park, which is in the Capital Hill neighborhood of Seattle.  Just driving through the windy roads and past the gorgeous old Seattle homes is worth the trip.  Whenever I drive through neighborhoods in winter that have nice yards I make a mental note to drive through again in spring or summer.  You can almost always tell by the way a garden looks in winter that the people that live there garden. 

 The conservatory was originally built in 1912, but the only original glass and wood remaining is the peacock window at the entry.  It extends in an L-shape on either side of this main area.  There is 6,300 square feet which are divided into 5 houses;  Bromeliad house, Seasonal house, Palm house, Fern house and Cactus house (which was a toasty 80 degrees!).

Orchids behind bars.

Pavonia multiflora

Angel's Trumpet smelled so good!

Begonia

Pitcher Plant

A very large Pitcher Plant, the flowers had to be one foot long.

 The entrance fee to the conservatory is free, but a donation is appreciated.  For more information about the conservatory, it's hours and seasonal displays click here.  The rest of the park is very nice too, there is lots of open space as well as a museum, pond, outdoor sculptures and lots of big, beautiful mature trees.