They don't call it that for nothin'!
The Show House at the Garfield Park Conservatory on Chicago's west side is home to several seasonal displays each year. Later in the year, themes will include "Flower Power," set to 1960's and '70's music referencing plants and flowers, "Mum's the Word" in the fall, and "Winter Holiday Traditions" at the end of the year.
Now through May 11th, the theme is The Age of Azaleas as the show house highlights azaleas, hydrangeas, stock, and more than five hundred daffodil, hyacinth, and tulip bulbs.
Strolling through the Show House was like strolling through a Monet.
The scents and colors are scrumptious.
OK, one more. . .
They don't call it that for nothin'! The Show House at the Garfield Park Conservatory on Chicago's west side is home to several seasonal displays each year. Later in the year, themes will include "Flower Power," set to 1960's and '70's music referencing plants and flowers, "Mum's the Word" in the fall, and "Winter Holiday Traditions" at the end of the year.
Now through May 11th, the theme is The Age of Azaleas as the show house highlights azaleas, hydrangeas, stock, and more than five hundred daffodil, hyacinth, and tulip bulbs.
Strolling through the Show House was like strolling through a Monet.
The scents and colors are scrumptious.
OK, one more. . .
Wow, those photos make me want to run out to my garden. Wait a minute, my garden is still pretty brown. Oh well, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! What a great place to get to visit.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing. All those wonderful colors and pretty flowers. I'm jealous I want to see it.
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for posting these! The conservatory was decidedly less colorful when I visited in late August, though they did have some nice art. All in all, I prefer color from blooms, however! (Photos from my visit are here.)
ReplyDelete~ Monica
Beautiful, beautiful flower photos :)
ReplyDeleteWell, isn't that pretty?~~Dee
ReplyDeleteWell .. that is the cure for all the winter hurts ! .. the scent must be amazing .. and looking at those gorgeous plants .. I am very jealous ! LOL
ReplyDeleteJoy
Beautiful blooms! You're right; it does look like walking into a Monet painting. Where is the conservatory located? My friend and I may have to take a daytrip to see it.
ReplyDeleteMelanie, Isn't that place just scrumptious? It's just the therapy for all the brown!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, I just love it there. It's a wonderful place to visit, especially while (impatiently) waiting for spring!
Vanillalotus, I've never been there during the azalea show, but I'll definitely go back for it again next year. It was magnificent!
Nancy, That's exactly how I felt. I didn't want to leave. There was snow on the ground outside, but in the conservatory it was a beautiful, sunny spring day.
Monica, I see you went to the botanical gardens too during your Chicago visit. It's been a long time since I've been there, and I plan to rectify that this summer!
Marie, I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. I love looking at them and remembering that special outing with my daughter.
Dee, isn't it though? That place is just full of floral eye candy!
Joy, it was great therapy! Too bad they haven't invented smellovision yet. The conservatory smelled heavenly. I'm looking forward to going back to see the other seasonal displays, as well as the outdoor gardens sometime later this spring or early summer.
Rose, I highly recommend a visit! If you click on the link in this post, you'll go to the conservatory's website. Here's the address, phone #, and hours copied from their website's home page:
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624-1996
HOURS
The Garfield Park Conservatory is "Open Every Day of the Year" like its sister facility, the Lincoln Park Conservatory.
Daily Hours: 9 am - 5 pm
Thursday: 9 am - 8 pm
TELEPHONE (312) 746-5100
p.s. admission is free!
I loved the Chicago Botanic Gardens! I spent the better part of a day there. They are just so beautiful. I would love working there!
ReplyDelete~ Monica
It would be heaven to just sit in a place like that at this time of year and drink it all in. Everything is so *brown* here just now!
ReplyDeleteMonica, Yep, I could picture myself working there very easily, except for the commute. . . I don't do lengthly commutes. I got out of the habit a long time ago when my kids were much younger and I couldn't stand the thought of working so far away from them in case of an emergency.
ReplyDeleteAmy, it's still pretty brown here too, but the signs are there. It's coming. It's raining here, and the grass is getting greener by the minute. More stuff every day is poking out of the ground, and what's already up gets a little bigger every day.
The conservatory was a perfect antidote to brown overload, and it's effects have lasted. It was quite therapeutic!
That is spring paradise for sure!
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I must get my hubby to take me there on his travels to Chicago.
Robin, I think you'd enjoy it. I'm looking forward to going back later this spring or early summer.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are beautiful blooms. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteChey, I'm glad you enjoyed the blooms!
ReplyDeleteI look at it and think--oh my word..that is a ton of work and sweat. I'm grateful to those who labored in love and sunk so much money in to it. Can you imagine the cost and upkeep. There is nothing more beautiful that living art.
ReplyDeleteAnna, I hadn't really thought about that, but I agree - it must be a lot of work taking care of the conservatory. I suspect it's a labor of love by those who care for it. I could see myself working at a place like that.
ReplyDeleteI am dying to get to the GP Conservatory - I'm not that far and pass it everyday on the train. It's just getting my butt there ...
ReplyDeleteOh Rosemarie, you must visit the conservatory! I used to go there for field trips when I was a school girl, and my mom took my siblings and I there too. We lived on the north side back then.
ReplyDeleteMy memories of it had faded, and I'd always wanted to go back, but never did until last month. After that visit with my daughter, I'm resolved to go back again, and as often as I can. What therapy it was for the winter blahs! We had an absolutely wonderful time together. I want to go back to see the outdoor gardens next time. Nothing was going on out there in March.
I also hope to get up to the botanical gardens sometime this spring or summer. It's been ages since I've been there. Oh, and Morton Arboretum too. It's been about ten years since I've been there.
Amazing photos! Really inspirational...now, where is my shovel? :)
ReplyDeleteJean Ann, that place really was breathtaking!
ReplyDelete