DETROIT: The Anne Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory

We gave estate sales a miss at the weekend after nothing grabbing our attention on the websites so took ourselves off to play at being tourists again on Belle Isle - that island between the US and Canada. I had my eye on getting over to the conservatory come greenhouse and botanical gardens - also known as the Anne Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory for some photographs and it certainly didn't disappoint. 

To the front of the conservatory are huge sweeping lawns and boxed hedges leading to a fountain, flanked by brightly coloured flower borders. You can just see the Detroit skyline in the distance in the last image. I always love the vast grand architecture of glass conservatories and this one certainly didn't disappoint. While it was open we didn't venture inside as Joe's allergies were acting up but in the cooler autumn months ahead we're certainly coming back. Inside it's home to the worlds largest collection of orchids with many being shipped here from the UK to save British collections during WW2.

To the rear of the conservatory next to the aquarium which I'll be blogging about soon was a huge koi fish pond covered in flowering lilies, rocks and ornaments. It was such a tranquil peace to watch the water and reflect a while. I know my posts about life and things to do in Detroit don't appeal to everyone but to me they are important in providing the opposite to what people would like to see written about the city.