Mid-Atlantic Conservatory Trip Everyone welcome.

We are looking at a group get together to visit Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens of Baltimore"'s Poinsettia Show. This is a feeler to see how many would want to come and what day would be best. Gita is a volunteer at the Conservatory and we were thinking about meeting there on a Sunday both Gita and I have off on Sundays. Maybe Dec 9th (not set in stone) We'd like to know who would want to come and what date would suit the most people. Also maybe after we could hit a local restaurant for a late afternoon or early evening snack.
I don't know what they have in mind for the Poinsettia show but here is an example of what they did for the Mum Show. Pretty impressive.

I've been searching online and couldn't come across date info for the show either. The "special events" page of the Baltimore parks website is only month by month, so there's no December info up yet... but I did discover that the current Mum show runs through November 25. I'm sure they close down for a bit to set up the poinsettia show, but I'm not sure when that show would open. I know I can't come the 9th, but you shouldn't plan around me anyway, as things get busy around the holidays.

I am pretty sure that the Poinsettia Show opens up on Dec. 8th.
They were all worried as it was just 2 weeks after the Mom Show closes--so that would fit.
I will shoot them an e-mail and ask.

Sunday 12/16 is OK for me too. Does this help? Getting close to Christmas though on that date. may have many other things going on, but it is Ok with me!

There was a mass e-mail sent out by the organizers asking for volunteers to help with constructing props for the Poinsettia Show.
Here is a c/p from that e-mail. It might give you an inkling what they plan to do for the next show.

******************************************************************

The projects include:
> Cutting the materials and building 3 - 18"x18" cubes; these will become
> large alphabet blocks.
> Primining the above cubes.
>
> Cutting PVC (4"/6") and cutting Sonotubes into lengths; these will be body
> parts for large toy soldiers. (we are building at least 2, maybe 4)
> Pre-assemble the soldier bodies.
> Cover the body parts including heads and hand with felt.
> Assemble the soldiers.
>
> Painting or covering cardboard tubes or PVC to make candy-cane striped
> sign posts
>
> Cutting wheels for train cars.
> Priming the wheels.
>
> Cutting and assembling train engine and caboose. These will be about 3
> feet long and 12-18" high.
>
> Possibly...completing cutting materials and assembling the large 'drum'
> base for the poinsettia tree. If we have it built, then we will need to
> prime and paint it.
>
> Melissa
> Melissa Grim
> Horticultural Division
> Recreation and Parks
> Daytime Cell: 410-948-3143
> Office: 410-396-0180
> Fax: 410-545-0940
***************************************************************

Melissa works at the Cylburn Arboretum. She is the main designer for these shows.

Will post any new information I get here.

Gita

I've got it. The Holiday Display is Dec 8th through Jan 6th. Hours are 10:00am to 4:00pm Tuesday through Sunday There is no charge but a $2.00 donation is encouraged. Dec 16th would work for me, too. Either is good the 16th would probably be better. We were also looking at a mid-week day, Thursday but didn't think there might be enough people who could come mid-week.
It's very nice but not large, a couple of leisurely hours is all it takes. If mobility is an issue you won't have any trouble there are plenty of benches to sit at and enjoy and not a lot of walking. There is a Palm House, Orchid House, Mediterranean House, Tropical House, Desert House and the North and South Pavilion rooms that will hold most of the seasonal decorations.

This message was edited Nov 10, 2007 11:21 AM

From Frederick, I'm looking at the map and thinking it might be better to take the beltway around to the north and then take 83 down into the city to get to Druid Hills rather than heading up from the city center... Or is there a way to come in on 70 and sort of head straight across town?

Here's a map from the Baltimore Zoo page that shows the location pretty well (the conservatory is right next to the zoo). http://www.marylandzoo.org/visit/directions-maps.htm

Critter,

I think you going #695 all the way to I83 and then back down is a huge detour.

I don't have time now, but will look in my Road Atlas book to see if there is another way. Like, maybe, Greenspring Ave? Or--Rt. 40 towards the City? I'll check!

Hopefully, we can firm up the date so I can make sure nothing else interferes.

Gita

Hmm.. You know my complete lack of a sense of direction, LOL. I found your home all right, though! If I can make it on the 16th, maybe I'll come by for you first, and then you can be my navigator... :-)

...another huge detour, Jill!

You will find it! Take a look on a good, detailed map. You can't miss a lake! It will show on all thee maps.

I'll check into it as i said and let you know.

Gita

"You can't miss a lake!"

ROFL. I guess you don't know just how bad my lack of directional sense can be.

However, I do have "NavMan" to back me up. I'll see what route it suggests! Thanks!

Jill,

I perused my Road Map Book and here is the best route, or at least the shortest route--in my opinion.

From I 70---------
As you approach #695 you will want to turn left towards "Towson". (Right will say "Glen Burnie"). It is a left hand side exit. VERY extensive cloverleaf--just stay "To #695--Towson".

Next exit will be Exit #18--Liberty Road. Take that towards downtown--South.

This will, eventually, merge with Reisterstown Road. As soon as you get on R. Rd. Take an immediate left on Gwynns falls Parkway.

In about 2-3 blocks, it will end on Swan Drive and you will be staring at the Palm House and the Conservatory. You can park along Swan drive anywhere you find a place. It is still under construction.

There! Easy! If you need a visual look see, get a detailed map of this area. Those Road Atlas Books are great. Maybe if you go to a Book Store or a Borders or a Wallmart, check out the one of Baltiomore and Vacinity. You want to look at square 33 and 34.

Gita

Gita, I was surprised that there is no listing under Go Gardening http://davesgarden.com/products/go/ for this conservatory. I love this feature, used it on my recent trip to Phoenix to find local nurseries and the google map is incredible - zooms in to street level!

Thanks, Gita!!

rcn48,

I checked. It is there.

Look under Parks and Arboreta

Then look for "Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It is in Druid Hill Park--next to the Baltimore Zoo.
You will always see the Zoo on a map--but NOT the Rawlings Conservatory. Interesting....................

The CylburnConservatory is also near this same area. These two always work together. Both belong to the Baltimore City Parks and Recreation "umbrella".

davesgarden.com/products/go/view/3912/

Gita

Thanks Gita, for some odd reason when I checked the Baltimore area, nothing came up - think I forgot to fill in the State! Then when I typed in "Howard Peters", realize I must have left off the "s"! LOL We used to travel to Baltimore every January but haven't been back in a few years - now I know where I'm going if we do :)

rcn48

Look for the Lake on maps. We do not have other Lakes around.

Depending on where you come from, from the South, there might be other routes that work.

Like--if you are coming up I-95, it might be best to jump off that and go a short distance through Downtown (like taking #395--Martin Luther King Hwy) and then go on I-83 for a short distance and get off at "Druid Park Lake Drive and you are right there at the Park.
Third traffic light--turn right on Swan Drive. Park.

Let me know if I can help anyone else out.

Gita

Looks like there may only be a few who can come. If there are more who are interested speak up. We don't need a big group but it would be nice to see who can come or just who thinks they maybe able to come. Looks like Dec 16th is the better date?

I probably won't be able to make it, but you never know??? I'll follow the thread anyway and if I figure out a way to join you, I'll let you know!

I'm considering and keeping Dec 16th in mind.

I will most likely come, Holly. After all--I started all this.

I put 11/16 on my calendar. Maybe I can offer to be a "greeter" again on that day so I will be there anyway.
What time do you think we would all meet there, Holly?

The greeter "jobs" run in 2-hour shifts. 10-12 and then 12-2 and then 2-4. If the 10-12 shift is already covered, then i won't do any of the other two, or we won't have time to sightsee.

I'll see if anyone from around here might want to come.
Sally!!!! Yooo--Hoo!!!---- How about YOU?

By the way, those directions I wrote about from I-95 will not work. I looked and looked on my Atlas, but there does not seem to be an easy connection between 95 and I-83. One would have to navigate through the Canton area and then take one of the streets that radiate out of Downtown to get to I-83. There IS a connection--just not a simple one.
Here's what I can figure out:

From I-95N. you would have to take the Boston Street exit
Then a left on Fleet Street
Then a right on President Street ((a major "bear right" connection)
President Street becomes I-83 as you cross over Fayette Street.

If I remember--there are plenty of signs everywhere that say--"To I-83". Just follow the signs.....
Do a Map Quest or check out a detailed map of this area.

Gita

Gita, I will be comming, too. I can easily be there by 11:00 but a later would work too. If you get the 10:00 to 12:00 time slot for greeters. What about Wrightie? wouldn't be a lot of walking. Wonder who else is close to the D.C. Balitmore area?

Well,

There's Jill (critter) and Miatablu (Bobbie)--they live close to each other. I kind of put out a "Yoo-Hoo" for Jill.

There were a couple of other women in Baltimore, but I have not seen any signs of them in a couple of years. I even went out to lunch with one of them. I think she got a boy friend and dropped out of sight.
Her real name is Shanika. Wonder if she is still a member?????

Don't know how we could spread the word........you want to throw out a Post in a couple of the other Forums???

Maybe we could just invite some friends along to make it more happy.

For the time-frame--IF I choose to be a greeter, I will do ONLY the 10-12 shift. Then you don't have to hurry.

Gita

I sent out a D-mail to Buttoneer she lives up this way but I haven't seen her post lately and I was thinking of bringing along a friend or two. Either way I'll be comming. Critter sounds as though she was probably going to come.

I might be able to make this. Is it set for the 16th?

With Miata and Nutmeg interested, maybe I could find somebody to road trip with (I'll ask my friend Theresa, too)... much as I love my NavMan, I travel better with a navigator! :-)

I just asked Jim if he had any plans for the 16th ("no") and then if he wanted to go to Baltimore.. "Welll... I can.... *suspiciously* Is this a plant thing?" LOL! I'm already roping him into a return trip to see the Chihuly exhibit at night (that didn't take much arm twisting; he thinks Chihuly is cool), so maybe I'd better not push the poinsettias too much. :-)

Jill -- Ron said he would drive. He really enjoys visiting places like the conservatory -- although we have never been to that one.

You and Ron *must* get up to Pittsburgh before the Chihuly exhibit closes (its extended run goes until Feb 24). Plan a trip. You won't regret it! I'm working on an article now about the exhibit (photo essay -- lots of eye candy).

What could Ron be bribed with to accept a back seat passenger? Cookie baking time is approaching... and I make a mean truffle, too, if chocolate is his thing. If you two want to make additional plans and just make a day of it in Baltimore, that's fine too, but I figured I'd ask... :-)

You can definitely come with us, Jill. Plan on it. And believe, me, Ron does not need to be fed :-)) Let me make sure both seat belts are working in the back and we can take one more if Bobbie wants a ride, too.

I don't trust me driving around Baltimore. I have a history of getting hopelessly lost. Of course, I did the same thing in Frederick until we moved up here and I finally figured it out. With two of us telling him where to go ;-)) plus our GPS, we ought to be able to find our way! He has driven in and out and around Baltimore and doesn't seem to get lost.

Thank you! And we cannot undertake such a journey without nourishment... I will have to give some thought to appropriately festive car snacks... LOL!

Thanks Sherry! Right now leaning toward going, but still not absolutely sure. And Ron would be such a dear to drive. And whether or not he needs fed, you know Jill and I probably will. We can't help it, it's what we do :)

WOW! GREAT!!! This is getting better by the day--just like a rolling snowball down the hill.
I better shut my mouth--don't want to mention the 'snow" word...

Seems there will be a lot of us. Would any of you like to have a guided TOUR of the place? It can always be arranged.

I can call and see if one of the guides is available. That way, you not only get to see everything, but you also get to hear the history of this place, the future plans of their expansion and all about the plants, etc. Seems that there will be a pretty nice group of people.
For a guided tour, though, they "ask" a $4 donation per person. Will this be a problem to anyone?

Next--Are we still planning to go somewhere to eat afterwards? There's really nothing in the Druid Hill Park area. So-so neighborhood to boot.
Inner Harbor is really close-by, but parking might be a hassle. It is Sunday--so none of the working-day situation will be there. Parking garages are plenty and cost less on weekends.

The next likely area where there might be something near by is around the Hampden area (34th and 35th Streets). By the 16th, they should have ALl their Christmas decorations up. This neighborhood is know for that. People take special trips just to go see. There is the 2 block area that is almost "gaudy" in their decorations. Maybe if you google "hampden" there might be something there.
This area is near Falls Rd. and the Rotunda.
Your thoughts on all this PLEASE! Baltimore has so many nice restaurants--I am sure I could find ONE.

Gita

Gaudy Christmas decorations! :-)

....Done to excess.....but totally Amazing!

Everything and anything in front, on top and across the streets decorations. Animated stuff--. lights everywhere...on the roofs, strung across the streets, etc...For the 2 blocks of 34th and 35th Streets.
A true Winter Wonderland!!!

"gaudy" maybe wasn't the right word. Done to excess--but totally AMAZING sounds better.
This will surely put us all in the mood for the Holidays!

Gita

Hampden sounds great! So does a guided tour at the conservatory if everybody else is good with it.

Hey Holly, Thanks for giving me this link. If I don't have anything going, I would love to go to this. We could meet & drive down together. Maybe carpool & share the gas expense. Let me know. I can take my digital camera. Also, my heart is fixed about as good as it can be. I am on medication now and can walk the pants off my DH. LOL. I joined Weight Watchers 8 weeks ago & am now 22 lbs thinner & still working on it, so walking is not a problem for me. I walk once a day at work, either around the parking lot if it's nice outside or upstairs on the 3rd floor if the weather is crappy. I'll put a link on this thread, so I can keep up with it. thanks & happy holidays to all. Buttoneer.

Maybe-- but my anniversary is the 17th so who knows what gala festivity we'll engage in for that..which might make time tight that weekend.

Buttoneer, Got your D-mail and looking forward to seeing you again.
I like the guided tour, $4 is just fine. Bring your notebooks girls your going to want to take down the names of some of these plants. My visit last year is why I have a Prince of Orange Philo now. Lunch/Dinner in the Hampton area will be fine, too. When I was down last week the volunteer mentioned that would be a good place to eat lunch and that there was a museum down there, not that we would have time for a museum.

Just popping in to say that I think I will be able to make it on the 16th. I only skimmed through the thread so haven't confirmed times. Also, I want to look up the dates for the Celtic Solstice run because I know that that is right around the date of the race. The race goes through Druid Hill Park and it will be utterly packed with cars and people...

FYI, no need to worry about my hooves anymore - the doctor gave me the go ahead to start running again.

Goodie Gumdrops - the race is scheduled for Saturday the 15th. For all of you runners out there, I highly recommend this five miler. Scenic, moderately hilly race, with bagpipes, kilts, beer, and the world's greatest shirt designs -- http://www.baltimorerunning.com/events/Celtic%20Solstice/Celtic%20Solstice%20winter%20Page.htm . The race goes right past the Conservatory.

Hi, All--

Could we all agree on what time to meet there? I want to write them now--or soon-so we can reserve a Tour Guide for the 16th.
Since they are all volunteers also, and since it is so close to Christmas, I just think it will be 1st dibs.
Also--do we have some kind of semi-definite count of heads? Holly???? Any idea? I believe they do not want more than 12 people for a single Tour.

How would 11AM sound?
It would give people some extra time if they are coming from a bit further away. I will NOT be doing any "greeter" shift because-----------------------
I just found out that we are also having our annual HD Christmas party that same day. It starts at 7PM in some Hall around here. Geez! Enough is enough for one day!!!

Who is in for sure????? (Not hijacking your efforts, here Holly!--:o))

Thanks, Gita

If we get too many people for a tour, I'm sure some of us would be willing to forego the official guide... I don't know if we need absolutely firm commitment (hard to get from folks during that busy time of year), but we could at least make a count of "definite maybe" attendees. :-)

Put me down as a "definite maybe!"

Seriously, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to come, but I haven't been able to guarantee anything in my schedule for months, LOL.