Are the winter blues setting in? Feel like you’ll never thaw? Are you aching for the first signs of spring? We totally get it, so here's a gorgeous, little-known spot where it's spring all year long.
Even in the middle of winter, the Botanic Garden of Smith College lets you wander through their beautiful (and warm!) glass greenhouses and breathe in the scent of spring. If you're longing for an escape from the frost and craving the fragrance of blooming flowers, you need to visit this magical attraction.
The wintery Smith College greenhouses may not look too spectacular from the outside...
...but the inside is a completely different story.
Step into the so-called Show House, and you'll be surrounded by absolutely stunning flowers, even in the dead of winter!
You’ll see trees drooping with the weight of succulent lemons and tangerines, exotic flowers and jewel-like buds.
Flowering plants are grown year-round in the Show House. Even better? The current theme of the Show House is that of a Scent Greenhouse.
Yes, that means that this place is filled with plants that produce lovely fragrances!
As soon as you enter, you’ll be met with the enchanting scent of tangerine, flowering olive (also a citrusy scent), lemon grass, lavender, bay leaf and vetiver, among many others.
The stunning “rose of winter,” Camellia japonica, is currently in bloom.
What a perfect way to capture the feeling of spring, even in the midst of the snowy season.
The greenhouses are also a great place for budding gardeners to learn about how to grow useful plants, like edible herbs and flowers, medicinal plants, and even plants that can be made into perfume.
Check out the Warm Temperate House for more unusual and exotic plants, like this Gaping Dutchman's Pipe.
When March rolls around, the greenhouses put on their gorgeous Spring Bulb Show the first Saturday of the month.
March in Massachusetts is still very chilly, so stopping by this flowery spectacle is a great way to get an early taste of spring.
Admission to this amazing spot is free, though a donation of $2 is suggested. Their hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, which makes it a perfect weekend adventure.
Please check the Botanic Garden’s website to see what’s in season before you go. Some of the flowers pictured above may not be in bloom all winter, but there is always something magical flowering.
The Botanic Garden of Smith College is located at 16 College Lane, Northampton.
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