This morning I saw the early green leaves of tulips and allium in my garden, which feels promising. Spring is just a few weeks away, technically speaking, though I’m sure plenty of cold days remain.

If you need an early warm weather fix in the meantime, I have just the answer: take a trip to Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. Right now they have both an Orchid and Tropical Bonsai show and a Tropical Forest Hawaii exhibit.

These plants require warm air to thrive, of course, so walking through the various sections where they’re growing feels like taking a trip to the tropics. The variety and beauty of these plants was truly amazing.

The food at the cafe was pretty tasty too. Food & Wine called it one of the best museum restaurants in the country, in fact.

In my mind I had been to Phipps before. I remembered it as cool but with too many birds. My mind turned out to be wrong; I was thinking of the aviary. This place is pleasantly bird-free.

I love the feeling of being transported to a new place, even if just for a few hours.

Just looking at natural beauty is surprisingly uplifting. Hope this tides you over until the spring blossoms really start to pop.