Sun & Moon at Chicago Flower and Garden Show

The theme of this year's garden show is "Cultivating Great Performances," and is a tribute to theatre in Chicago.

One of my favorite displays at the show is Sun and Moon - Miss Saigon: A Garden For the Day and Night. This is the largest garden at the show.

It's meant to depict a suburban backyard, and includes multiple water features and dramatic lighting.

The garden shows how lighting and plant choices can enhance a garden at night. Although orchids might not be the best choice of plant material for a Chicago-area garden, this vignette demonstrates how white blooms can be a beautiful choice for night drama.

Not pictured here, the garden includes a deck with an outdoor granite kitchen and plenty of seating, as well as an informal play area.

Who couldn't love this waterfall?

This area was near the exit from the garden. Is it just me, or does someone else recognize the sculpture of the little boy fishing from one of last year's displays? I liked it when I saw it last year, and enjoyed seeing it again, repurposed in this garden.

The 2010 Chicago Flower and Garden Show, running through tomorrow at Navy Pier, is excellent late winter therapy for gardeners and anyone who would love a break from Chicago's dreary weekend weather.

Chicago Flower and Garden Show - Photography Garden

One of my favorite exhibits at this year's show is the Photography Garden, which features top entries from a juried match-up that was part of this year's Horticulture Competitions. These are a few of my favorite photos on display in the Photography Garden.

Some of the entries included in this post were prize winners. They're all winners in my book.

Being one of my favorite painting styles, I love photography with an impressionistic feel to it.

There were so many gorgeous photos, yet it wasn't hard to pick this one as my hands-down favorite.

The Chicago Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier runs through this weekend. If you live in the Chicagoland area and haven't had a chance to check it out yet, it's not too late! If you enjoy photography, don't miss this exhibit - you won't be dissapointed.

More From Chicago Flower & Garden Show

I'd planned to go back to the garden show Wednesday, but the Lawn Man was sick and we ended up at d0c-in-the-box instead - good thing since antibiotics were in order. I'm on my way back to the show this morning. Come along with me. . . it's only a train ride and and short cab trip away.

Ah, here we are! That didn't take long. Come, there's something I want to show you - this viburnum x juddii. It's a hybrid with a heavenly scent.

Please, come closer so you can experience its sweet fragrance.

Oh look, this rose sculpture is where I ran into one of my Master Gardener classmates with her guide dog and friend on Saturday. She's an inspiration to our class, volunteering her time on gardening projects for blind and visually-impaired people. This thornless sculpture is just one of many tactile experiences at the show. Aren't the roses fragrant? And here's another topiary from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences display. It was designed and constructed by the students, and made from materials recycled from previous projects. When it's dismantled everything will be reused or recycled. The mission of this unique public magnet school on the city's south side is being a college preparatory high school that provides opportunities for diverse students from across the city to study agriculture with the goal of developing marketable skills as well as college level competencies. It's a very cool school!

I wonder if they use this tractor on their 72-acre farm.

Isn't this pretty? Purple heucheras might be nice here too. Maybe I'll add some yellow-green heucheras and hardy ferns to the english ivy sprawling into our side yard from next door. The heuchera looks like a villosa. . . wish we could find a label somewhere! Let me know if you spot one.

This Cedrus Atlantica 'glauca pendula,' or Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar isn't hardy here in zone 5, but it might be happy in your garden if you're in zone 6-9.

I enjoyed this sculpture of liatris, agapanthus, and bamboo. Isn't it cool?

Oh look, I remember this gigantic bouquet!

Before we go, let's take one last look at that flowerpot Yorkie. I'm not very crafty but he looks like something even I could make. I think he and George would get along just fine.

I'm glad you came along to check out the garden show. I hope you enjoyed your visit. This was my first year attending the show, but definitely not the last. Maybe you can get away again next year for a stroll through Navy Pier and a peek at the show with me.

Time to catch the train back home where we're still waiting patiently for spring.

Garden Art at Chicagoland Flower & Garden Show

I had a memorable day my first time attending the Chicagoland Flower and Garden Show on Saturday with Spring Fling committee members Gina from My Skinny Garden, MrBrown Thumb, and Mr. McGregor's Daughter. You've probably seen some of their 'big picture' shots, so I thought I'd share a few fun pieces of garden art from the show. A moss pig looks like he was getting ready to nosh on the marigolds at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Art's display garden. The first three shots are from this display, created by students at the school.

My niece attended the Ag. school, and was valedictorian of the first graduating class at it's new location sited on 72 acres - the last farm in Chicago. The rooster was made of coleus and begonias - and (I think) dried grass for the tail. He was also part of the high school's large display garden, along with the bee below.

The bee was suspended from cables, and glided back and forth along tracks at the ceiling. It was difficult to get a clear photo of it because of the movement - Advanced Sports Shooting came to the rescue for this shot.

On a different theme, there was something serene, yet whimsical about this ginormous Buddha.

This guy, made from flower pots, was my favorite critter. If I'd found a replica at one of the vendor's booths, I would have had one more thing to carry home!

There was so much to see I could do a month of posts. For now I hope you'll enjoy some of the more lighthearted garden art I saw at the show.

Our presentation went very well. I was nervous when I started, but felt more comfortable as I got into it. I'm not sure I'll ever get over my fear of public speaking entirely, but it was confidence-building to get through it without passing out or making a fool of myself! Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support, and for your comments! They were a big part of my presentation, and I really appreciate you taking the time to share your reasons for blogging with me so I could share them with our audience.

Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune garden writer was in the audience. I was thrilled we got a chance to meet and chat with her. Mr.Brown Thumb, Gina, and I stayed at the show for awhile after our presentation to talk with audience members who stuck around to chat with us. We received such positive, enthusiastic audience feedback - it was really nice. The three of us also got a chance to chat with Bill Aldrich, publisher of Chicagoland Gardening magazine, and received very positive feedback from him as well. All in all, I'd say while I have no plans to quit my day job, our presentation was a success, and I'm proud of us!