Storybrooke Gardens (Flickr) – click any image for full size
It’s that time when seasonal themes come to the fore; as the year starts to fade and the northern hemisphere feels the chill of winter; when snow, ice and frosted scenes slowly spread across Second Life, bringing with them the anticipation of Christmas and holidays, and a range of activities best served by that blanket of snow.
As much as I love wandering Second Life and finding places to visit and explore, it is often the winter scenes that attract me the most. I’m not much into all the twinklies and stars and glitter and decorations; but winter in Second Life oft presents us with idyllic, picturesque and tranquil scenes of snow and winter, it helps those of us trapped in the dreary reality of rain, cold winds, sleet and slippery paths, to escape to an altogether more pleasing and comforting winter.
In 2014, one of the wintry locations I particularly enjoyed visiting was Lauren Bentham’s Storybrooke Gardens. It’s a place I’ve visited numerous times since it first opened, high above Baja Norte; one which offers a changing environment through the year in which visitors can escape the world at large – physical or virtual. I’m happy to say that this year, the winter theme has returned, and is largely unchanged from 2014. So, if you missed it then, now is the perfect opportunity to enjoy it.
This is a place where the snow has fallen rich and deep, blanketing the garden fully, and long enough such that paths have been trod across it to lead visitors around the trees and bushes and from scene to scene, amidst the muted tones and occasional burst of colour.
There is much to see here – more than may at first be apparent – so take your time with your explorations, and be sure to have local sounds enabled to capture the rich ambient sound scape as you wander the paths and drift from little vignette to little vignette, greeted by characters and critter alike. Keep an eye out, as well, for the many places to sit and rest; this is a place where visitors are welcome to tarry and escape the bustle of life, be it spending time on a sofa, cuddling in a summer-house or laying on a blanket and watching the world go by.
It’s hard to deny the charm and enchantment of Storybrooke Gardens, and if you’ve never paid a visit before, I think it safe to say that once you have, you’ll be coming back throughout the year to see how the seasons change things – just as many of us who be fortunate to discover the Gardens previously have always found ourselves drawn back once more, at least once a year.
SLurl Details
- Storybrooke Gardens (Rated: Moderate)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 