A Green Oasis in the Winter

Roger Williams Botanical Garden is always a welcoming green oasis during the winter. There are several different greenhouses visitors can wander through with collections of various types of plants including orchids, succulents, cacti, carnivorous bog plants, and even an experimental herb garden.

When our Chapter visited on February 18, 2023, the garden was bustling with numerous visitors of all ages, and the morning yoga class had just finished when we arrived at 11 AM. There were four Chapter members plus a friend in attendance today, and it was fun to meet up with familiar faces plus welcome a new one. Most of our outings are fairly informal so friends and family are often welcome to join us. 

Sights and Sounds

As visitors wander around the garden, the surrounding flora provides a wide variety of colors, textures, and shapes. Full-size trees reach high up near the ceiling while smaller flowers and groundcovers intermingle in both pots and raised planters. The sound of water from several water features babbles and splashes and several large koi glide quietly around in a lovely koi pond. The bright chirping of several parakeets which reside in a large cage in one of the greenhouses was an unexpected addition.

Taking a Moment to Stop and Observe

It felt wonderful to take a moment to simply stop and observe the garden. Each of us found our own little niche in which to settle and sketch, draw, or paint. It’s funny how you don’t realize just how busy you are until you stop and sit somewhere for a while and notice just how much your body and mind enjoyed the break. Below are some of the things we observed during our visit.