#2486 a walk at Red Butte Garden

I received an email from Red Butte Garden that it would be closed from December 24 - January 31. It was my intention to go up there for a stroll the last week of the year, but given that they would be closed during my intended time-frame, I decided to go yesterday. 

It was cold and windy at my house, and I was second-guessing myself a little. As we know, though, there is no bad weather, only bad clothes, so I bundled myself up, got a hot cup of mocha, and went up the hill. When I got there, the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and there was hardly a breeze. I stayed bundled up, but didn't take my hat.

I hadn't been to Red Butte since September. Why? It's certainly not that I have been so busy with social engagements that I didn't have time. I was just lazy. I do regret that I didn't spend more time there this year. The moment I walked through the doors of the Visitor Center and out into the Courtyard, I felt immediately more calm. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a moment, then let out the breath and opened my eyes. Yes, the trees are bare and there is certainly nothing blooming. The place is beautiful just the same. 

The first thing I saw were little birds gathered in the crabapple trees, nibbling on the crabapples. I carefully and quietly set down my coffee and got out my beloved iPhone for a couple of photos. Here's one:

I stood and watched the birds for a couple of minutes, then continued down the path. There was a light skiff of snow on the ground, but it was safe to walk.

This is a photo of the elderberry tunnel on the Floral Walk. In the spring, the elderberry trees on each side of the path will be full of white blooms and create a tunnel over the path. Now, though, you can see through the trees into the forest. There's not much snow right now.

I have favorite trees in the garden and I always pause to admire and pay my respects to these pretty trees. These three paperbark maples are definitely favorites. 

There are only the three of them in the whole garden, and they are planted near each other. You can see they still have their dried up little brown leaves. They get their new leaves very late in the spring, usually late May or early June. The bark on these trees is what makes them so gorgeous and unique.

It is a not a proper visit to Red Butte Garden if you don't pay your respects to the waterfall. 

The sound of the water running over the rocks and into the pond is so soothing. I love all the different colors you can see here, from the rust-colored branches of the bushes above the fall to the green shrubs on the left and the dark green pines behind it all. I love how dark and cold the water looks. On the edges of the pond, there is a thin film of ice. The upper pond is frozen over and covered with snow. I wouldn't walk on it, but I did see footprints, both of humans and critter, on the edges.

Way over on the right side of the photo above , you can see a white tree. That's another of my favorite trees, the white birch. There are two of them planted near the smaller waterfall.

 

The photo above shows the white birch in the foreground, and the little waterfall behind it. This is a magical spot in the summer. There's a bench just out of the photo on the right. I'm looking forward to spending a bit of time sitting on that bench in warmer days.

I continued up the hill, vowing that in the summer I would bring a little picnic for myself to have in one of the cut-aways that jut into the oak trees. I've wanted to do it for awhile, but haven't gotten around to it. I was pondering why I hadn't done that before when I came up to the Fragrance Garden. I turned right to enter the space, and the sun shone on my face and I just stopped and pointed my face up to the sun, kinda like a sunflower, and just stood there, enjoying the warmth.

I made my way over to this little swing.

In the summer those vines that cover to the top of the structure are blooming and heavily scented. I think it's a form of honeysuckle. I have a photo of my mom sitting here on this swing when she visited a couple of summers ago. I didn't think she would want to leave the swing, and when I sat there, I totally understood that feeling. I didn't want to leave it either. 

At first I fidgeted around, taking photos and, well, just being fidgety.

Then I told myself to settle down, to put away my phone, and to sit still. It took a few minutes, but eventually my breathing slowed. I tuned in to the sounds around me: the low rumble of construction equipment to my right that was working on the bridge project; the rustle of the vines when a light breeze made them tremble; the call of a bird and the flap of its wings as it flew from tree to tree. I continued to gently push the swing with my feet firmly on the ground. My gaze softened. I wasn't meditating, exactly, but something like it. I remember repeating the mantra "In this moment, I am well," in my head. I remember thinking the words "Calm. Ease. Balance. Stillness. Peace." as I sat there. I was fully present. There was no where else I wanted to be but right there on that swing with the sun on my face and only calming words in my head.

Eventually, though, my bum got cold and my knees felt a little stiff and I remembered that I promised MT and T that I would bring pizza home after my walk. I was surprised to find that ten minutes had passed of just sitting and being. It was the best ten minutes I'd had in a long time, to be honest.

The walk was pretty much over by then. I wandered through the other two terrace gardens and back to the Visitor Center. I missed the volunteer hours this year, and I missed just being in the Garden. It is so restorative to me. I'm looking forward to going back in February when it re-opens.

Today is Christmas Eve. I hope you that you are having a peaceful day and enjoying spending time with whoever you are spending it with. T has to go to work in a little while, so I'm going to go fix one of his favorite meals so his tummy will be full before he goes to work.

Happy Christmas!