Compared to the crowded tourist attractions, the greenhouse and the glass conservatory café within the botanical garden on weekends are more like a secret garden hidden in the city. The broad leaves of tropical plants block the sunlight, and the pale purple of hydrangeas spreads over the flower racks. Mixed with the latte aroma wafting from the café, there are no hurried footsteps, only the comfort of two people strolling leisurely among the greenery, allowing the heart to quietly grow in the midst of the flowers and leaves.
Check the blooming period of the greenhouse in advance – this season is exactly the time for the orchid exhibition. You deliberately wore a light-colored shirt, “taking photos with orchids together will look nice”; she carried a canvas bag with floral patterns on it, “I put my camera and a small notebook in it. When I see a favorite flower, I’ll write it down”. As soon as you entered the greenhouse, the humid and hot air filled with the fragrance of the plants rushed towards you. The large leaves of the turtle-back bamboo looked like open green umbrellas, and the sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows.
She pulled you straight to the orchid exhibition area. All kinds of orchids were hanging on the trellises: the white phalaenopsis looked like sleeping butterflies, the pink dendrobiums formed a string, and the dark purple orchiopogon emitted a mysterious aura. She crouched in front of a shallow green Phalaenopsis plant, her eyes shining: “Look at this, the petals are so clean, and the fragrance is so faint.” You took out your phone and secretly took a photo of her with the orchids. Suddenly, she turned to look at you, “Don’t take pictures secretly! If you want to take pictures, do it together.” Saying this, she pulled your arm and brought her face close to yours. “Click” – a photo was taken, and the smiles of the two people and the green of the orchids overlapped in the picture.
As she walked deeper into the tropical fruit section of the greenhouse, she saw rambutan and longan hanging on the trees. She lifted her foot to reach for the rambutan, but you quickly held her waist and said, “Be careful, don’t fall.” After she finished touching the rambutan, she turned around and handed you a piece of candy: “This is a mint candy I bought at the entrance. It refreshes you. Have it when you get tired from the shopping.” You peeled off the candy wrapper and put it in your mouth. The cool mint flavor mingled with the greenery around, making the air feel refreshing.
At noon, the sunlight grew stronger. You turned to the glass greenhouse café inside the garden, pushed open the glass door, and the wind chimes tinkled softly. The café was filled with succulent plants and hydrangeas. The sunlight filtered through the glass roof, coloring the tables and chairs a warm yellow. You chose a seat by the window, and outside was a field of poppies. She opened the menu and pointed to the “Jasmine Latte” saying, “This sounds delicious. Would you like to try it?” You nodded and ordered an additional strawberry muffin: “You said you liked muffins last time, so this should suit your taste.”
When the latte and the muffin were served, the fragrance of jasmine mingled with the sweetness of the cream. She scooped a bite of the muffin with a small spoon and her eyes curved into a crescent shape: “So soft! Even better than the last time I ate it.” You helped her stir the milk foam in the latte: “Be careful, it’s hot. Eat slowly.” Suddenly, she raised her phone and took a photo of you and the latte: “I’m going to post it on my朋友圈. Just say that you’re eating your favorite dessert in a place you like with the person you like.” You smiled and snatched her phone， setting the photo as her screen saver： “So you can see it every time you open your phone.”
After finishing the dessert, we sat in the coffee shop and chatted for a while. She was flipping through the small notebook she had written in earlier in the greenhouse, reading it to you: “Silence Rose, light green, faint fragrance; Starfruit, shaped like a star; and when you held my hand earlier, your hand was very warm.” You leaned over to look at her notebook and noticed that the last sentence had a small heart drawn beside it. You couldn’t help but pinch her face: “So you actually remember this too.”
As we were leaving, the setting sun had already tinted the sky orange. She held your hand and walked slowly along the path in the botanical garden, with the peonies on the roadside gently swaying in the evening breeze. Suddenly, she said, “Next time, let’s take some photos. Let’s wear the clothes we’re wearing today and take them at the orchid exhibition.” You nodded and took out a pressed orchid petal from your bag and put it in her canvas bag: “This is a souvenir. Next time we come, we’ll find a new one.”
The beauty of a date in the botanical garden’s greenhouse and the glass conservatory café is not in the elaborate arrangements, but in being able to capture the gentlest expressions of the other person – the way they stand still in front of a flower, the contentment of enjoying a sweet treat, and the way they secretly jot down the moment of infatuation in a notebook. These moments filled with the scent of plants are warm like sunlight and faint like the fragrance of flowers, hiding the flutter of emotions within the leaves and flowers, making the anticipation for the next meeting also filled with greenery and tenderness.