Repeating the Rituals

Sue Ellis • January 4, 2016

This holiday season is always a time of ritual, sometimes religious, social or familial. As one's life changes, so new rituals are born. There are two which are fairly constant for me. I tend to see more movies at this time of the year than at any other time and I try to take in one on Christmas Day. The other is to visit the festive display in the Conservatory in Allan Gardens in Toronto. The park flaunts many old trees and there is a very busy off leash dog area. But centre stage are the glass houses filled with plants and trees, fish, amphibians and reptiles. On New Year's Day I entered, yet again, the Victoria style circular Palm House with its massive bananas, bamboo and screw pine. On display are roughly 40 varieties of poinsettias. This season's topiary displays are in the form of a skater and a tobogganer.

Amongst the coloured balls and wreaths a variety of birds have been placed amongst the foliage or are sitting on nests. Indeed a life size Canada goose sits regally on a nest. A whimsical display for, as the snow gently falls outside this New Years Day, it is definitely not breeding season.

With only the camera on my cell phone available to use this year, I became fascinated with and photographed the differing leaf patterns seen anew. I noticed a frog swimming amongst the fish in the pond with the fountain of Leda and the Swan.

Another plant to draw my attention was the Brazilian Calico flower. the emergence to full bloom from bud takes on a journey of embryonic progression.

Even on a holiday the conservatory did not feel crowded. It is open ever day of the year and is free. This truly is a blessing in the heart of the city and visiting it is a beloved ritual in my life. It grounds me. It reminds me that even in a turbulent world, nature remains.

At the beginning of this post I wrote "as one's life changes, so new rituals are born." Mine is playing Texas Hold'em on Boxing Day. But more about that another time...

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