The Vryndall Botanical Gardens occupied a sprawling complex near the city's northwestern edge, adjacent to the district that housed the Floralight research facilities. As Rose and I approached, I understood why she had been so eager to visit. Even from outside, the gardens presented a breathtaking sight—crystalline domes illuminated from within by bioluminescent plants, creating a constellation of gentle light against the darkening northern sky.
"They use minimal artificial lighting," Rose explained as we purchased our tickets. "Almost everything you see is produced naturally by the plants themselves."
The attendant recognized Rose's enthusiasm and handed us a specialized guidemap. "The spectral lilies began blooming about an hour ago in the Midnight Pavilion," she informed us. "If you hurry, you'll catch the first phase of their illumination cycle."
