Wilsonara_HOsborn
Wilsonara. Photography by Heather Osborn, courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden
I didn't hear "Auld Lang Syne" once this New Year's. I did hear lots and lots of people grumbling, "2009 better be less crummy than 2008," or something to that effect. And yeah, 2008 gave a lot of us plenty to grumble about, I suppose; January weather in St. Louis doesn't do much to lift the spirits, either.
I'll recommend my own personal favorite cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder/anomie: a visit to MoBot's Orchid Show, and in fact if I'd remembered that it was opening on New Year's Eve I might've shown up on opening day. The theme this year, in celebration of the garden's 150th anniversary, is "Henry's Garden." Last year's flukey weather (that crazy rain!) means some rarer varieties flourished, and others are blossoming later than usual, so there will be some new blooms on display. The admission is only $3 - I think one seratonin reuptake inhibitor costs more than that, before insurance - so it may be the most affordable dose of cheer in town. If you're feeling more cabin-feverish, Shaw Nature Reserve is another way to escape the madness of civiliation for a few hours ($3 admission for nonmembers, if you're a garden member, it's free) and while some of those grumbly NYE revelers might ask me why go there when everything's brown and dead, I'll remind them: that's also when it's the most quiet and peaceful. —Stefene Russell
