TRAVEL THERE: MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS, A GLORIOUS OASIS IN DOWNTOWN OKC
Warning! Downtown OKC is under construction. Your GPS won’t like it. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. It just means you need to be ready for it. We found parking close to the art museum and walked the few short blocks to Myriad Botanical Gardens.
There’s a Conversion Happening
Five or six years ago Bill and I took a few days in OKC in the days before blogging. Much of what I planned for this stopover with Deb came from my memories of the trip with Bill. I remembered OKC having a decidedly turn-of-the-century Western charm, but it was the turn from the 19th century to the 20th. OKC is moving into the 21st century whether I approve of it or not.
The two buildings above may deserve the makeover, but there were others we were sorry to see included in the “improvement”. They sported signs of architectural interest that will be lost when antiquity is replaced with skyscrapers.
At least the city is trying to incorporate natural beauty in between it’s glass boxes, but Deb didn’t think much of it. This small architectural feature was carved with a platitude and accented with a large stone. In Deb’s opinion, it looked as if someone had failed to clean up after their pet dinosaur. When Bill saw this picture, he felt the same way.
The Myriad Botanical Gardens had also changed. I remembered them as having more green grass and less hardscape. Not that they haven’t created a beautiful place. It’s just not as botanical as I remembered.
The Conservatory
The gardens outside were different and I was still trying to decide how I felt about that when we arrived at the entrance to The Conservatory. The last time I’d visited there had been a festival going on and the entry area was congested with small costumed entertainers. This time everything was serene.
We made our way to the garden area and entered a wonderland. It was amazing. I won’t bother you with my ecstatic ramblings. Instead I’ll just share my pictures.
Come back next week and I’ll share another downtown treat with you. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
jane sadek 
Jane – OKC has been under construction since way before I was born. They simply can’t decide what they want to do and it keeps people employed!
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Well, it’s very modern now and not necessarily an improvement in my eyes. It also sent us on numerous wild goose chases as the GPS told us to do one thing and the construction made us do another.
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There’s a good writer’s conference in OKC each year, or at least it used to be very good. I went several years. Have you visited the memorial where the lives were lost thanks to the bomber with the truck full of explosivies. That is one impressive memorial, in my opinion, and I’ve returned there several times. It’s a somber visit but the display is so well done.
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I haven’t been to the memorial.
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Jane – It’s a must see.
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I’m weird about stuff like that. Intellectually I understand it’s a memorial to those who died, but emotionally I see how it also memorializes the memory of the perpetrators. I’ve never been to the Sixth Floor Museum here in my own city for the same reason and when the tour bus arrived at a concentration camp in Germany, I stayed behind and caught up with my journaling. I know it means a lot to many people, including the families of the victims. I mean no disrespect. I just can’t go.
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It all depends on where I am emotionally about how I cope with the reality of the world. After the Vietnam Wall, imo, the memorial in OKC is the finest work of rememberance art.
But, hey, I’m the one that went to Arlington Cemetery and sat at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier when i simply had to get away from it all!
I never give much thought to the sick person that perpetrates such crimes as the one in OKC. Until we realize that democracy requires 100% of everyone’s attention, someone else is going to try to take our freedoms away from us.
I understand and respect your choice. It’s one many accept and honor and are brave enough for what they need to do to take care of themselves. Good for you!
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Beautiful! Always enjoy Botanical Gardens wherever they can be found. This one right now made me want Springtime.
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It’s still pretty spring-like down here. I’ve worn a jacket once or twice, but most of the time it’s in the 60-70’s. 80’s in some cases. Funny to see Christmas decorations going up in 80 degree weather.
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Oklahoma is a tourist book name that just makes you want to visit!
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