Transcendentalism has always fascinated and impressed me. (Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau author most of my favorite quotes.) Today, as Apple fanatics desperately camp out and fly overseas for the iPhone6, transcendental themes such as simplicity and self-liberation from the materialistic and technologically reliant society we currently reside in are gentle reminders of the resources we gratuitously take from Earth.
As I'm preparing to move to my apartment, this past week has been mostly consisted of shopping for basic apartment needs: pots and pans, extra utensils, oven mitts, cutting boards.. you name it. I felt as if my mind and body were working nonstop. This weekend, my mom and I decided it was time to sit back and take a breather. We took a trip to the
Descanso Gardens, and while this day trip is far from the isolation and self-sustaining ways of the transcendentalists, it still felt so refreshing to be in a more naturally raw setting than the bustling and urbanized city.
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| Some colorful flowers still bloom in late summer - Descanso Gardens |
The ample space and small guest capacity during my visit likely
enhanced my appreciation for the gardens. Earlier this summer, when I
went to Victoria and visited
the Butchart Gardens,
I felt slightly swamped by all the other tourists and lack of walking
space, which downplayed my fascination with the blooming gardens. This
time, at Descanso, the absence of human traffic was the opportune day to
stroll around the various gardens (my favorite is the Japanese garden)
and also enjoy the gift shop ambiance.
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| Ceiling embellishments near the Pagoda of the Japanese Garden - Descanso Gardens |
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| Descanso Gardens - the Japanese Garden (L) and the Rose Garden (R), still blooming a bit! | | |
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| Back in June. The contrasting but surprisingly less-crowded view of one of my favorite spots - Butchart Gardens |
The biggest surprise of the day was witnessing four deer in a queue gallop across a trail and up the hill towards the Boddy House (below). They were no more than 20 feet away from me. It looked just like a wildlife documentary where I am positioned with a camera, waiting for the perfect capture moment. Sadly, they moved too quickly for me to snap a photo!
My imagination kicked in when I was in the gift shop, a very cabin-like building that smelled like autumn and trees. I spent at least an hour just browsing through all the books (a gentle reminder to myself that real books are still more heartwarming than my Amazon Kindle) about nature, food, and happiness. Such books with beautiful illustrations and bindings are must-own physical copies. If I replaced the merchandise in the gift shop with all my personal belongings, I would be in paradise.
It's a bit fleeting to think of decorating my temporary apartment to a
dreamy cabin-like setting, but I can still start mothering succulent
plants when I move in!
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| Book heaven at the Descanso Gardens gift shop |
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| Succulent plants in the Descanso Gardens - similar ones are sold in the gift shop |
My day-trip to the Descanso Gardens really gave me some time to practice mindfulness. My mind is constantly running - sometimes regretting the past, but usually planning for the future. We all need a moment to pause and take in what is around us, cherish the resources and beauty of planet Earth, and ultimately, unwind for a bit. For me, peacefully residing within a natural setting for a day is the best way to unwind.
