Spring Break Trip Day #5

Today was one of those days that was a photographer's idea of paradise! Ever since our visit last July (when it was over 100 degrees, making any outdoor activity synonymous with masochism), I couldn't wait to return to Longwood Gardens with my camera in hand. And since I got my macro lens, I've been chomping at the bit to exercise there. Today was the day! We caught a quick lunch at one of Erin's favorite local places, and then headed to the gardens.

 It's early enough in the spring that not much is in bloom outdoors yet, but the budding trees were an inspiration in themselves!

Our main destination was the Conservatory. I hadn't been in the building since I was a child, and I couldn't wait to see what it held in store for us. It certainly didn't disappoint! The entire structure was a spectacle blooms in every shape and color imaginable!

There were other things to see in the building besides the flowers themselves. One was the Children's Garden, which contained some incredible fountains!

I also got what I think is a wonderful picture of my mom and Erin in the Children's Garden.

Another incredible site to behold in the Conservatory is the amazing pipe organ. It's one of the largest in the world, with over 10,000 pipes. That's a lot of pipes! We're talking literally room after room of pipes, ranging from teeny tiny ones to HUGE ones! Although it's hard to gauge their actual size in this picture, these were some of the smallest.

I could spend days at Longwood and never run out of things to admire and photograph. Throughout our time there, we all kept marveling at what it must have been like to actually live there back when the entire property was a private residence. "Incredible" doesn't even begin to describe it!