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| - As a teen, I worked at a botanical garden for two summers. Even now I always want to visit botanical gardens in any city I'm in--Phipps doesn't disappoint.
My favorite room is the Tropical Forest Conservatory, with its waterfall, koi pond, the thatched roof huts and these dollhouse-like shrines that I was told are ancestral shrines. I like the Orchid Room, but I think people must gravitate towards that room or something, because it's always the busiest room whenever I go (that and the Butterfly Room).
I find the special exhibits a little random--I first visited during last summer's chocolate exhibit, in which plastic flamingos and fake chocolate foods seemed to be plunked right in the middle of the plants for no apparent reason. I missed the Chihuly show, but there are still a few pieces of colorful hand blown glass in seemingly random places. The "animals" in the holiday flower show were more understandable, as many of them were made out of botanical materials. Plus, I'd be heartless to say I didn't like those cute animals.
Still, Phipps is an excellent time. If gray skies have got you down, Phipps can fix you up.
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