Judy & I spent most of our Valentines Day driving in a snow storm, to and from St. Louis. Now that we're back home safely I can tell you it was worth it. The days activities really began several years ago when I first viewed the movie "Adaptation" starring Chris Cooper, and based upon the novel "The Orchid Thief" by Susan Orlean. I loved the book & the movie, although they are quite different from each other. I was immediately intrigued by the world of orchid smuggling. These rare plants often found in the most inhospitable of places, are some of the most beautiful and unique plants known to man. I once gave $75 for a single orchid plant only to kill it within the week. Just so you know, in case you get any ideas yourself, orchids are very hard to raise in your home. I have been fascinated by orchids ever since those previous days mentioned. There is something mysterious & exotic about them. So...yesterday I surprised my wife with a trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens to see their 2010 Orchid Show. There were over 800 different plants of various colors, sizes & shapes. Oh, and the smells can be intoxicating. We shot over 100+ photos between my wife and I, and wandered the exhibit for around 2 hours. The orchids were exhibited within a setting of Parisian sidewalks, complete with a cafe. It was a wonderful experience and one I'd highly recommend to you. The exhibit runs through March 28th. It will run you $13 per person...a steal in my book. Of course we couldn't leave town without having dinner first at Bill Edwards "Blueberry Hill" in U. City and a trip through Vintage Vinyl. And yes, as anyone who knows me knows, we did hit a couple bookstores on the way out of town. Once home, it was time to get warm, pop some popcorn, grab a beverage, and pop in "Adaptation"....it was time to go full circle and return to where it all started.
