Tropical House - A Tonic For The Winter Blues



It's January 26th...it's not even February yet. Which means that there could very well be lots more winter left.  With the lack of snow and generally grey feeling of everything right now I find myself reacting with vitriolic responses to anyone who is on vacation in warmer climates.  As if they have the nerve to post pictures.  What the hell!  "na na na na na I'm sipping Margaritas" I hear them saying.  With their bare feet sticking out in front of a perfectly good view of the beach...

Ah well - I have found a small reprieve from the cold and grey - Gage Park Tropical House


Enter through this gate on the South Side of the Greenhouses in Gage Park
The Tropical House is a 6000 square foot oasis in the city housing tropical plants, aquatic plants, fish, tropical birds and a swim up bar....ok, there's no swim up bar, but you still have your imagination.
Go through the gate and look left
You could be forgiven if you had looked for it in the past but missed it.  The entrance is hidden away on the South side of the greenhouse buildings and it almost looks like you're not really supposed to be there...but be bold my friends, because a mini paradise awaits.

Entrance...this is a good sign
The Tropical House is part of a larger greenhouse structure that is used by the city.  In total, the greenhouse is comprised of some 22,000 square feet.  Most of the facility is used to plant and prepare for transplant, the various trees, flowers and foliage that is used in the city's beds and gardens.   The facility larger facility is usually not open to the public except during special events, but the Tropical House is,  and when you need some winter pick-me-up it's a great place to visit.
The tropical house features a really wide variety of terrestrial, aquatic, and succulent plants.  The air just feels good in here and the place is proof that colour green still exists in winter.  

As the city examines budget priorities, council is considering proposals to increase the size of this facility to allow for larger plants, more public space and to establish the tropical house as a tourist destination.  



In addition to the wide assortment of tropical plants, the ponds and a waterfall are home to some turtles and fish and a couple of tropical birds that are cared for by the folks at the Hamilton Aviary (more about that later).





The Gage Park Tropical House is open year round:

Monday through Friday 8 am to 2:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 3:30 pm
Closed all statutory holidays
Closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day




Location: Gage Park, Hamilton, ON L8M 1N6, Canada

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Glenn Matthews Shhh and livestalk @ HAVNThurs April 13th w Queerfang

Image
Glenn Matthews Shhh and livestalk @ HAVNThurs April 13th w Queerfang music from 8:30-11:15pm doors @ 8:00pm $ pwyc all ages genre: mixed punk,no wave,slowcore,hush, noise...etc... Who should go If you like a bit of angst in your tea.  If you aren't afraid of a little dissonance and music that's far away from the mainstream.  If you're comfortable in a smaller unlicenced venue.  This is a queer/trans/femme identifying friendly event so you should feel especially welcome if you identify as such. Why should I go? Glenn Matthews, Shhh and livestalk & the bodies are a pretty solid lineup - this should be pretty great. Set Times 8:30//////// QUEERFANG (ham) So this is Queerfang's first show apparently - give them a shot 9:15/////// Glenn Matthews (philly) somber songwrite slowcore https://glennmatthews.bandcamp.com/ If you can't make it early try to make it by 9:15.  Glenn's writing is solid.  His songs (like next time we meet) hit
Keep reading

Corin Raymond @ Artword Artbar - Sat Apr 29

Image
Corin Raymond + Treasa Levasseur & Brian Kobayakawa, Sat Apr 29 Genre:  Folk Singer/Songwriter 8 pm $15. https://www.corinraymond.com/shows Singer/storyteller Corin Raymond will be joined by Hamilton-based keyboardist and songbird Treasa Levasseur, along with upright bassist Brian Kobayakawa, for an entertaining evening of new songs and old. Why Should I Go?  If you don't know Corin or haven't heard of him I can personally vouch for the fact that you will absolutely enjoy this show.  Corin not only writes great songs but also captivates the audience with the (often funny) stories behind his songs. Corin may very well still be celebrating the Juno nomination for his album Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams, as well as sharing some songs as yet unrecorded. “Corin Raymond is a storyteller who by the end of the night you’ll have known your whole life.” – The Globe and Mail.  
Keep reading

Playing It Forward - Hamilton Music Scene

Image
Last Tuesday was a great night for the Hamilton music scene and you should have been there.  Playing It Forward was the brainchild of Hamilton's Shari Dunn and Jonny Kerr.  On their own, Jonny and Shari have been performing in the Hamilton and Brantford area and are a talented duo.  Regular performances at the Cat and Fiddle and on the bill with many other local artists have connected the duo to many of the best performers in the Hamilton Area. Playing it forward had the double goal of raising money for a worthy cause (the Brian Lee Grifith Guitar Bursary) and bringing together some of Hamilton's best singers, songwriters and performers for a celebration of their songs.
Read more