A misty morning fog settled over San Jose on Monday, a nice change of pace for this time of year and a gift to the otherwise dry garden. Autumn arrives in slow motion here in the Bay Area, so it’s strange to think that our winter solstice is just a few weeks away. The beautiful oranges, yellows, and reds of autumn are everywhere.
Mike has fully recovered from COVID-19 and is on a business trip again. Fortunately, his trip to Las Vegas is only three days long, just an hour away, and in the same time zone. I flew to Vegas with him Saturday morning, and our youngest son joined us for a 24-hour visit. We attended Cirque du Soleil, something we all enjoy, and a walk-through of the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio Hotel.
“Each season, the enormously talented Horticulture and Engineering teams transform the 14,000-square-foot Botanical Gardens into a showcase of inspiring sights, sounds, scents and colors. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter are all featured—along with a special display for Lunar New Year. When the seasons change so do the displays. The talented Conservatory team changes out the design and also replants and repurposes as much of the living plant material as possible, further celebrating Mother Nature and our commitment to sustainability.” –Bellagio Website
This year’s holiday theme is the Nutcracker. It opened the day before we arrived.
The designer creates a magical display with real trees, plants, and flowers. A model train ran through the brightly lit and inviting displays, and though crowded, I enjoyed the Christmas magic and time with my family. Las Vegas isn’t my scene, but it allowed us to be together.
We walked five miles on Saturday in between meals and the show. We had a strange incident at dinner, which put a damper on the meal, and we’re still unclear what happened. A few seconds after they served our meal, a security officer walked up to the side of our table and stood within a shoulder-tapping distance of my 23-year-old son. We expected the guard to say something, but he just stood there. A second security guard arrived, and we finally understood that they were “back up” for an incident playing out at a nearby table. Everyone fell silent, knowing something was amiss but not knowing what. My son overheard the security detail threaten a misdemeanor arrest if the party of four didn’t leave the restaurant. After some fanfare, they finally complied, but everyone felt unsettled.
I’m glad to be back home doing mundane things like raking leaves and laundry. Dorothy had it right; there is no place like home.
We’ve decked our Christmas tree with baubles from our travels, gifts from friends, and hand-made treasures from the boy’s grammar school years. New this season is a pair of marbled paper ornaments from our time in Florence and a funny cat decoration from my friend, Mary.
I bought branches of Christmas greenery from a nearby garden center and mixed in lavender from our garden, filling vases and glass jars for maximum effect. Soon, my family of four will be home. The nest is ready.
Gardening Nirvana 
Your garden is lovely and the I love the Christmas displays.
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Thank you, Cindy.
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Vegas would not be my cup of tea either Alys, but as it is so near to you it is something you just have to see, isn’t it? Like the castle Neuschwanstein in Bavaria – it is really jam-packed full of tourists and you are shuffled from one queue to another for hours and rushed through the guided tour so quickly that you can’t take anything in. And it all looks so much nicer from a distance anyway! LOL!
I like the cat decoration. And your misty garden looks lovely – not at all like winter yet. Sounds like you are ready for Christmas now though. 😃
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The castle sounds equally overwhelming, so you can completely relate. Crowds and a rushed schedule are a recipe for dissappointment. The older I get, the more I value slow-paced, less-crowded, and simple entertainment. xo Merry Christmas
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I’m sure Las Vegas is no more your scene than it would be mine. We are expecting mist at the weekend. Your first picture makes me look forward to it.
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Thank you, Derrick. I will look forward to seeing your misty photos. I hope you are getting some relief from your neck issues.
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Thanks very much, Alys. No sign of mist in the garden yet
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The Las Vegas Christmas conservatory and looks clever (and very Las Vegas) but the crowds look a bit daunting. We must get our Christmas tree at the weekend, we usually stand it in a bucket of water in the garden for a week before bringing it into the house. I know – we leave our decorations until quite late but I would get fed up with them if they went up any sooner.
We also have a misty morning here in the South West of England but it has come with quite a heavy frost which means it’s cold but looks pretty and means I can wear woolly hats, scarves, gloves and a great big snuggly jacket when I go out which always makes me feel more Christmassy.
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I’m late returning to your comment, Lynn, so you’ve no doubt brought in that tree and added the seasonal decor. I hope you’re enjoying it.
I can picture you bundled up with a warm hat and scarf. It does sound Christmassy and cozy. Merry Christmas
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Scary dinner but glad you’re ok. Love the scenes from the Bellagio Nutcracker. I agree about Vegas. Not my scene. The tree sounds lovely. Your boys will appreciate home. Have a wonderful Christmas.
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Thank you so much. Merry Christmas
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So many interesting musings, Alys. My favorite picture is your first one, in the mist. It’s almost got the quality of an impressionist painting.
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Thank you, Jane. I like that picture as well, and the feelings it evoked when i took it. I hope you are doing well.
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I would love to curl up with a nutcracker on that couch! What an amazing botanical display. I have always wanted to see Cirque du Soleil; it’s on my bucket list…. One day!
So happy to hear Mike is better!
The tree is looking lovely. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season ahead.
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Sara, it’s so good to hear from you. I hope you’re feeling better by the day, and in good health overall.
The couch looks comfy, eh? I wouldn’t mind a flowing dress made of flowers.
I hope you will get to a Cirque du Soleil show one day. The artistry, talent, strength and beauty of the performers, along with the music and costumes, makes for an amazing experience.
Happy holiday season to you, too.
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Wow, what a display! Vegas never does things by half-measure. I kind of cringed to see no one wearing masks in that crowd. I still can’t go without a mask when in crowded places. I guess most folks are feeling lucky. ;) Glad to hear Mike has recovered from his bout.
Your fall arrives 2 months after ours, but your trees look pretty.
Hope you have a lovely holiday season!
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Eliza, I’m right there with you on the crowds and masks. I’ve started wearing a mask again, especially at the airports and on the plane. I didn’t realize it was opening day so the crowds were a surprise. Mike and I both had the latest vaccine, but he still got sick. The significance is that people aren’t dying from Covid the way they did in 2020, but if I can avoid it, I will.
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It is always lovely to see your garden, especially these autumn pictures. Can we sit on that bench in the front with a cup of tea and watch the world go by? ~hugs~
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Thank you, Anne. It’s always nice to hear from you. You are always in my thoughts. I would love to join you for tea on the bench. Wouldn’t that be lovely? xo Hugs
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Your eloquent way with words always leaves me wanting more, more, more!
XOXO
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You are a day-maker. Thank you!
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I returned last night from a week week in Oakland with my son and family and got in on some of that fog! And I don’t think I’ve ever been in Vegas during the holidays, but what a treat! I’m glad Mike is feeling better. I hope as you head further into this busy month that you have good health and can find some peaceful moments. You’ve had a full, and difficult few months! ❤️
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You were so close to San Jose! Perhaps we can meet one time when you have a longer trip. I appreciate your well wishes and hope the same for you. Happy holidays.
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I would love that, Alys. I can easily imagine that happening. Thank you!
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I will look forward to that day.
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WP is giving me fits at every turn. Maybe it’s trying to tell me something. If this is duplicated from trying, please delete one.
I really loved seeing the misty morning. A true favorite. We are heading deep into winter with already a snow and plunging temps. 17 this morning. Seeing the botanical display helped bring some cheer to our cold and windy days. Sun will penetrate through later for a few hours. I’d love to lay on that lounger as well. She looks so real! Impressive. Crowds are hard anymore for most of us. I’m glad Mike recovered well. Traveling for a living can have all kinds of extra stresses. I’m sure he was delighted to have part of his family with him for a bit of that trip. I get to stay home all week and maybe get a few things done. Hope you are doing well. That incident in the restaurant would have unsettled anyone. Hugs. M
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I’m sorry to hear you’re having WP drama. It can be quite annoying. No duplicate comments, but I would be happy to have two instead of none. Thank you. Hugs, MH
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Alys, I love your misty view with the bench ready to support you. And the cyclamen is lovely. The Botanical Gardens would be almost overwhelming.
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Thank you so much. The cyclamens have grown quite a bit in the last month, and at least four have come up from past seasons. The vibrancy is really something.
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I was at the Bellagio last year in December and got to enjoy their amazing holiday display. Thanks for sharing this years and glad you were able to get away for some fun.
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So you are familiar with the over-the-top grandeur. It’s interesting to see what they come up with.
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I love Vegas! I didn’t think I would, and I never went until I was in my 50s, but when I got there, I just loved the combination of kitschy-ness and actual culture. I go to the Bellagio garden display and also to whatever exhibition they are having from an art museum — I don’t know if it’s always the Boston museum but it has been when I have been there. Then throw in a side trip to Red Rock Canyon and I get a great dose of nature too. And the people watching! And the food! Oh, I could go right now. :)
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I would love to explore Red Rock one day and the museum you mention as well. I too was in my fifties before I went. It was also a tag-along trip with Mike for the NAB trade show.
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The decorations in the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio Hotel are spectacular.Thanks for sharing them. I’ve only been to Vegas once a long time ago. Your experience in the restaurant was certainly unsettling.!!
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Everything in Vegas is over-the-top, but at least at the Bellagio it’s done in good taste. Thank you for your kind words.
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