'Our World in Bloom'

This past Sunday and Monday, I experienced many 'firsts' in my life. In other words I had quite an adventure. And who best to share an adventure with than your best friend! Rose and I made our way to the Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier in Chicago. We rode a commuter train(a personal first), we rode a city bus (another first), saw and experienced Navy Pier(a first) and rode a trolley-you guessed it also a first. But the best first was actually getting to take in the Garden show!


Our World in Bloom is the theme for this year's Chicago Flower & Garden show. All of the feature gardens were excellent at portraying this theme.

This is the entrance to the show. Through out we saw many metal works depicting the world and blooms. This fountain was especially neat as they had dry ice in each corner that gave off a misty fog.

We saw many of the usual sights of spring. Forsythia was in bloom in all directions. I had many opportunities to try out the 'super macro' setting on my new camera.

Lots of spring colors! These cyclamen and daisies were stunning and in colors I rarely see.

Of course the hyacinths were in full bloom and smell. Every time we came to a new grouping I had to take a whiff! Although these show as blue, they were a deep purple and paired with white cyclamen were gorgeous.

This Victorian 'bedroom' was an eye-catching display. The living bedspread and the twig headboard were beautiful. There was also a twig rocker and a trunk filled with blooming flowers.

The bedspread was made up of simple everyday plants, but oh how beautiful!

I loved the iron works and this dinosaur really was unusual.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter showed some of this 'garden on her site. Done as an archaeological dig of the future, it was amusing but also thought provoking. To get a better idea of what they are saying click to enlarge.

One of the 'found' objects!

Foxgloves gave me another chance at super macro.

As did this wonderful hellebore.

I found this fascinating. A wall of plants. It looked like they had planted a flat with different plants and then simple turned it up and hung it on a lattice. But they are special planters that are sloped to keep the dirt , water and plants from falling out. Very simple but at the same time I found it so appealing.

Lots of the flowers we knew or could find an identifying sign. But not for this one. Does anyone know what this is? Besides beautiful that is. :}

One of my favorite garden colors is pink. And there were lots and lots of pink. ( I just love my new camera!)

These are a bi-colored snap dragon. We were told the name, but I have forgotten it. They are hard to find yet this year, though.

And of course hydrangea. These are grown mostly for florists. But wouldn't I love to have a bed like this!

More pink. Pinks and daisies in shades of pink. I am not usually a fan of 'gaudy' but fell in love with this lighted mosaic garden ball. Probably because of the color. But I can definitely see it in my garden in the future.

There were waterfalls galore. Rose and I were amazed at the sheer tonnage of rock it took to make this one. We decided there had to be some pretty big freight elevators to get all of these rock up to the second floor!

And fountains of all sizes and shapes. This was perhaps my favorite.

Lunch in a great sidewalk cafe-of course it was enclosed. But the warmth of the dim sun could be felt and enjoyed. Our waiter was kind enough to take our picture so we could have another reminder of our day.

I know Rose is going to post about the show as well. I am sure she will have many of the things I missed, so be sure to catch hers. It was a wonderful time made all the better because of the companionship of a dear friend who shares a passion for gardening. Thank you Rose for so many firsts and for such delightful company. And remember, 'What happens in Chicago-stays in Chicago!'