P52/Week 9: "Color"

I've committed myself to participating in a photography project called Project 52, where each week there's a challenge to take a photo with a particular theme and enter it on the group Flickr site.


I will vehemently deny any accusation that our long-intended visit to Phipps Conservatory was finally and intentionally scheduled in the week where the theme for the P52 is 'Color.'  It would seem too easy wouldn't it?  I mean, who wouldn't rather have the challenge of finding color during a week with 100% cloud cover, 50% chance of precipitation every day, not a snowflake among those millions of drops?  Isn't the purpose to challenge oneself?

I, for one, would have much rather had to look anew at the way brown and gray force me to ponder my place in the universe, to consider the miracle of the dormant twig and/or philosophize the ethical implications of having my kids sit in a downpour with bright red hats on.  That's the kind of challenge I'm up for.

But, no, poor me, I had to drag myself to Phipps Conservatory and look at this:

That which does not kill us makes us stronger. - Friedrich Nietzsche

Are you kidding with this? I seriously gasped when I first came upon it but, oh, ahem... only because I was stifling a yawn.

Texture and color? So obvious. Ho Hum.

This was just a ploy to lull us all into a deep, deep sleep.

Oh, the repetition ... The blossoms just go on and on and on...

And, I couldn't imagine a single pose for the boys in such uninspiring surroundings, but, you know... I had to keep them awake, too.

Ok, seriously, sorry for the sarcasm. 
We had a wonderful time at Phipps that was far from mundane. I felt very lucky to have such an opportunity, coincidentally (really) during "color" week. 
Enzo said he had to refrain from just running in circles in each room it was so inviting and bright. He said he wanted to stay overnight.  Nico had us on a quest to find plants from S. America and Mexico so he could gaze upon plants of the Mayan culture (his current fascination).  Me? I could just photograph there all day.... so gorgeous.  

One more treasure in this bountiful (although currently natural-color-lacking) city.