On the first day of February, I visited the florist down the street from my house. It was like walking into spring! Their greenhouse was filled to bursting with color, fragance, grace and beauty. Instead of simply buying the flowers I had come for, I stopped to take some photos, especially of the orchids. Pamela was so obliging that she brought over any plant I wanted, and even set it at the right height for me to get the shot I wanted. The photos you see exist because of her most gracious assistance.

Realizing these beauties would probably be sold in a heartbeat, I returned the next day to finish the job. And yes, one of the most spectacular in their midst already had a note affixed saying, "Sold to..." But here they will remain forever, or at least as long as I continue to belong to PBase!

One week later, I discovered even more orchids at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle. According to Wikipedia, this Detroit treasure is "home to one of America's largest municipally-owned orchid collections. Rare orchids were saved from Great Britain during the World War II bombing and transported to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory." The glass-domed building was built in 1904, having been designed by the famous architect, Albert Kahn. It is the oldest conservatory in this country.

And I had not been there in years. Silly me! But, you can be sure I'll be a regular from now on.

You can find my photos of the Whitcomb Conservatory orchids starting on page 3.