Finding Beauty and Connection in Unexpected Places: A Rabbit, a Rocky Start, and a World of Color
The first thing I saw was the rabbit.
Not a real one, of course—though that wouldn’t have been entirely out of place in the Alice in Bloomland exhibit at the Royal Botanical Gardens. This whimsical, oversized figure greeted visitors at the entrance, inviting us into a world of color, creativity, and community.
Things had not been looking promising at the start.
My sons, who once loved this annual outing, refused to join me this year. They were never particularly interested in orchids but enjoyed past counterprogramming—raptors one year, amphibians another. Alice in Bloomland, with its over-the-top flowers? A hard pass. I felt a pang of sadness—this had been a family ritual, a bright spot in the long Ontario winter.
Then came the logistics: circling for parking, a missing email ticket, a slow-moving entrance process. None of it was disastrous, but the layers of small frustrations threatened to dull my enthusiasm. Yet, one by one, the obstacles resolved themselves. I found parking. The ticket desk looked up my receipt. And as soon as I stepped inside, winter faded away.
A Conservatory Overflowing with Blooms
The show was packed. People brushed past each other in tight spaces, drawn toward flowers so vivid they seemed otherworldly. Orchids in every hue—deep magentas, bright yellows, velvety purples—spilled from their displays. Nearly every tree in the conservatory was wrapped in orchids, their roots winding around trunks, as if the trees themselves had burst into bloom.
Then, there were the blue orchids—white moth orchids infused with dye to turn them an electric shade of blue. They fit perfectly with the Wonderland theme, but what struck me most was who was buying them. Not orchid collectors, not those browsing the Orchid Society sale. These were people who simply wanted a memento, a small piece of magic to take home.
The Instant Camaraderie of Planty People
As always happens in spaces filled with “planty people,” a stranger struck up a conversation.
An older woman, her face bright with excitement, leaned toward me conspiratorially. “Dendrobiums,” she said, gesturing toward a table stacked with orchids in small plastic pots. “Ten dollars! They’re a little past their prime, but still—what a steal! Last year, I paid four times that!” She beamed at me, a total stranger, because we both knew this was the kind of news worth sharing.
There’s something about plant people—how easily we slip into conversation, how joy spills out in the exchange of knowledge, tips, or even mutual excitement. We know each other, without being introduced. A shared love of flowers is enough.
Beyond the Garden: The Power of Shared Passion
The Alice in Bloomland exhibit deepened that sense of shared wonder. Everywhere I looked, people delighted in it—children twirling under the Mad Hatter’s enormous floral hat, adults snapping photos with giddy grins, friends lingering over displays. The exhibit leaned into this impulse, creating spaces specifically designed for capturing and sharing the moment.
And that, I realized, is the magic of spaces built around shared enthusiasm. Whether it’s flowers, music, art, or professional interests, we know our people when we find them. We don’t need introductions—just a common love of something larger than ourselves.
It’s easy to get caught up in routine, especially in professional spaces, where productivity and efficiency often take priority. But what if we gave ourselves more moments of curiosity and delight? What if we sought out spaces where passion leads, where shared interests dissolve barriers?
You don’t have to be a gardener to understand the importance of environments that foster connection and growth. The same principles apply to careers, creative pursuits, and personal lives:
Because sometimes, the best way to move forward isn’t to push harder—it’s to step sideways, follow curiosity, and find your people.
Where have you found unexpected joy and connection lately? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your stories.