Spring Fling Saturday - A Busy Day!

But wait. . . there's more! Our visits to Rick Bayless' garden and Lincoln Park were the bookends for a busy day of garden tours. After the Bayless tour, we headed off to a fantastic Mediterranean/Middle Eastern buffet lunch at Andies restaurant. Carolyn Gail greeted each of us at Andies with a big warm hug. After lunch we took off again, this time for Carolyn's home and garden.

This gorgeous Japanese Maple graces Carolyn's front garden.

oohing and ahhing, and chatting

Carolyn even invited us into her home. She was as gracious and warm as you can imagine. Her southern hospitality and artist's soul were apparent everywhere we turned.

Can you believe she painted these windows? Even in person it's hard to believe they're not stained glass.

Heading back to the bus, but first, Supertunias for everyone as we depart Carolyn Gail's - swag from Proven Winners! (full sun to part shade - thank you PW!)

Monica hamming it up for the camera as we wait for the rest of the group to board. . .

to head off to

Ginkgo Organic Gardens, a community garden sponsored by Chicago's NeighborSpace. The Ginkgo tree in the center of the garden inspires its name, and provided welcome shade on an afternoon that turned suddenly hot. Through the gate you can see bloggers checking out the garden, and resting in the shade of the Ginkgo.

The produce grown at Ginkgo is donated to Vital Bridges' GroceryLand, a food pantry that serves low-income people living with AIDS. Fresh produce is an important part of a healthy diet, organic's even better, and that's never more true in the case of people living with chronic illness.

After Ginkgo Garden we visited Lincoln Park, then headed back to the hotel to relax before dinner. A few of us organizers got together at Elephant & Castle, the restaurant attached to the hotel, caught our breath and had a nice visit. We were joined by Garden Punks and J Dog. Before long it was time to head to Giordano's, a classic Chicago-style pizzeria a couple of blocks from the hotel, where we enjoyed a smorgasbord of thin crust and deep dish pizzas with a variety of toppings, drinks, and salad.

For a second night in a row Monica and I ran to make it to our train, and headed home for some rest to get ready for a very early Sunday, the last day of Chicago Spring Fling.

Spring Fling Saturday - Rick Bayless Garden

A couple of years ago, just as I was starting my business, I was contacted by a potential client who wanted to re-create Rick Bayless' garden in her backyard. Aside from being uncomfortable with the idea of copying someone else's design, frankly, since I'd only seen the garden on TV, I was pretty intimidated by the idea. Taking on such an ambitious project so early after starting my business seemed a bit overwhelming. The client envisioned the project taking place over time, and was realistic in not expecting that everything would be done in one season. Still, I ultimately decided I was probably not the best fit for the project.

Gail from Clay and Limestone! What a joy it was to meet her.

The backyard garden of Chicago chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless and his wife Deann was the first stop of Spring Fling's very busy Saturday. We were treated to a tour of the garden by Bill and Lori Shores, the husband and wife team who take care of it. I was wowed by many elements of Mr. Bayless' garden, both the ornamental and food production aspects. The things that impressed me most were how accessible the materials used in the garden are, how creatively they were put together, and how 'real' the garden is.

Being a celebrity and all, I think Mr. Bayless could probably afford a hoity-toity back yard. This place was lovely, don't get me wrong, but it was also very 'normal.' It was rustic, warm, family-friendly, unique, wonderful for entertaining, and just so darned down-to-earth. It was a garden that had clearly developed over time, and continues to evolve, just like the gardens of most of us average, everyday people.

Small personal touches brought character into the space.

A conduit trellis supports an espaliered apple tree. Nothing fancy - this is something just about anyone could do. I loved the creative use of very ordinary, accessible materials.

Another accessible, affordable idea, a mister system cools and moistens the soil, aids in seed sprouting, and facilitates succession planting even in the hot, often dry summer months in Chicago.

Bill Shores showing and telling us all about the kitchen garden.

This is a serious production garden - organically-grown produce from this garden is used in Rick Bayless' two restaurants. The annual value of produce from this garden is estimated at $20,000. That's a lotta lettuce growing in a relatively small space.

Bill and Lori Shores, our hosts for this tour. They couldn't have been more warm and welcoming.

The tour of Mr. Bayless' garden was a highlight of Spring Fling Saturday - an inspiring and educational event. I came away with lots of ideas for my own tiny veggie bed, and some creative inspiration for the use of found objects and personal keepsakes. Thank you Rick and Deann Bayless for sharing your garden with us, and Bill and Lori Shores for the wonderful tour!

Spring Fling Saturday - Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

The last event Saturday at Spring Fling was our visit to Lincoln Park - Chicago's most famous and visited park. Lincoln Park attractions for gardeners include the Conservatory, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum with its butterfly room, Grandma's Garden, and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, formerly known as the Rookery. Even the zoo can be interesting to gardeners, and some of the zoo's architecture is beautiful and historic as well.

What I most wanted to see at Lincoln Park was the Lily Pool. I remember it from being a kid growing up on the north side of Chicago and taking family field trips on the weekends or taking the bus with friends off to the park, the zoo, or the beach. I remember the Lily Pool. It wasn't very nice back in the 1960's.

Mr.Brown Thumb, Kylee, her mom, and I enjoyed a lovely, leisurely stroll at the Lily Pool during the final leg of our very busy and sometimes stressful Saturday.

To refresh my memory of this garden's history, I reviewed one of my favorite public television programs hosted by Geoffrey Baer, on the history of Chicago's Lakefront. Most of the information below was gleaned from that program and the Chicago Park District's website.

The Lily Pool was initially constructed in the late 1880's to be used for cultivating tropical water lilies. In 1936 the Lily Pool and surrounding area was redesigned by landscape architect Alfred Caldwell in the Prairie style to mimic a river of glacial melt cutting through the limestone surrounding it.
The limestone ledges made me think of Layanee, who was so kind to me at Spring Fling.

It's considered by many to be one of the most important historic landscapes in Chicago, and has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Caldwell, who designed many of Chicago's lakefront landscapes, was frequently at odds with the Chicago Park District. Before the Lily Pool was completed, his budget was cut by the Park District in yet another dispute between the parties. Caldwell was so passionate about this project, he cashed in his life insurance policy so he could complete it.


Eight years after Caldwell's Lily Pool was completed, the Park District allowed it to be included in the Lincoln Park Zoo's exhibits. It became home to some of the zoo's exotic birds. The birds destroyed many of the native plants Caldwell had purchased with the proceeds of his life insurance. The destruction of the plants led to erosion of the pool. Over time it fell deeper and deeper into disrepair and became a catch basin for trash. Invasive plants took over, leaving no trace of Caldwell's native plant design, and breaking his heart. I remember seeing it as a child, when it was more of a dump than a garden.


In 2001 the Park District partnered with Friends of Lincoln Park (now the Lincoln Park Conservancy) to restore the landscape according to Caldwell's original plan, as a sanctuary for people and wildlife. And sanctuary it now is. There is a quiet reverence and special spirit to this place. It's hard to describe, but easily felt. Following the restoration this beautiful retreat from the big city was renamed in his honor. The work included replacing invasive trees and shrubs with native plants, and restoration of the structures and hardscape. Paths were also added during the restoration. Sadly, Caldwell died in 1998, three years before his beloved pool and garden were restored to their original grandeur.

The wildlife that finds refuge in the pool and surrounding garden includes over 200 species of birds, as well as dragonflies, butterflies, frogs, and turtles.and spiders(!)

I too found a peaceful refuge in the garden with a small group of new friends. It was grand to see what this once-unsightly childhood memory has since become, spending part of the last leg of Saturday's tours in the cool, breezy, peaceful shade, listening to bird songs, discovering tiny wildflowers, and watching dappled sunlight reflect and play upon the shimmering surface of this lovely pool.

Spring Fling Friday

The Chicago Botanic Garden was the opening event for 2009 Spring Fling Fling, and what a great place to kick off the weekend's festivities. The Garden was a major Spring Fling sponsor. The staff couldn't have been more warm and welcoming, even creating a page on their website for us.

Denise Corkery, horticultural writer at the Garden, warmly greeted and welcomed us, providing guidebooks and free passes for the tram and the train garden. She was accompanied by the photographer who took the group pictures in the post below. We were also provided a free trolley ride to and from the Metra train station, and free parking passes for those who drove to the garden, along with a cash sponsorship we used to help defray the cost of Friday night's reception. My favorite single plant at the garden was this humongous blooming annual Echium virescens, or Tower of Jewels - a member of the borage family. It looked like something prehistoric. I imagined dinosaurs.

There were a number of tree peonies still in bloom. This one is Age of Gold.

Alliums were in bloom at the Garden, and in nearly every other garden we visited during Spring Fling.
The Japanese Garden was as beautiful as ever, and a calming, peaceful place - a soothing, restful retreat on a busy, eventful day.

I came upon this bewildered-looking fledgling alone in the English Walled Garden. There were times during Spring Fling I could relate to how he must have felt.

Friday afternoon we visited the Lurie Garden, and were treated to a tour with Colleen Lockovitch, head horticulturist at the Lurie. Dressed in it's late-May finery, the Lurie looked very different than it had during a previous early-spring visit.

Prairie Smoke - I added a couple of these to my own garden earlier this spring.

I love the city skyline backdrop of beautiful Lurie Garden. Just steps from my Metra train station, this was my third visit to the Lurie this season, and my third visit ever. A native Chicagoan living in the suburbs most of my life, in the future I plan to stop by there every chance I get when visiting the city from the quiet south-suburban hamlet where I now reside.
Colleen identified this tree - Black Locust. I was dying to find out what it was. Black locusts are in bloom all over my neighborhood right now. The fragrance of the blooms is heavenly, and I stood under one of these gorgeous trees at the Lurie for a good long time, breathing deeply.

Friday's events were capped with a reception at Elephant & Castle, adjacent to Club Quarters Hotel where most of the out-of-town SF participants stayed.

The first day of Spring Fling was a memorable introduction to our City in a Garden. After the reception, Mr.Brown Thumb saw Monica and I off to our train, and she and I headed back to my place for some much-needed rest to be ready for the whirlwind second day of Chicago Spring Fling.

Meeting the Bloggers

Hi everyone, I'll have more photos after Spring Fling - Since we're getting started so early in the morning and ending late in the evening, it will be hard to find time to do posts during Spring Fling, but I wanted to share a couple of photos of the bloggers attending Chicago Spring Fling. These shots were taken at the Chicago Botanic Garden shortly after our arrival Friday morning.

We arrived at the Garden in two groups, and the Garden's staff couldn't have been more warm and welcoming. They took some photos of the early birds and the later arrivals, and I thought you'd enjoy seeing us all.

Friday we visited the Chicago Botanic Garden in the morning, and the Lurie Garden in the afternoon. We capped off our day with a reception, where we had a wonderful time visiting and getting to know each other.

We're having a great time, and I'm looking forward to sharing more later, even if, by the time I have time to catch my breath, Chicago Spring Fling will be a wonderful memory.

Are You Tired of Hearing About Spring Fling Yet?

Last Friday Mr.Brown Thumb, Gina from My Skinny Garden, and I met for a private tour of Macy's State Street store's Garden Show taking place now through April 19th.

Mr.Brown Thumb and I were able to spend the rest of the afternoon downtown. We thought Spring Fling participants might enjoy coming along with us on our walk to see what we saw after Gina headed back to work for the afternoon.

Steps away from Club Quarters Hotel, this might be a popular stop.

How convenient! This is kiddycorner from the hotel.


Right around the corner, a nice pottery display, and a sale.

You may have recognized the name on the hotel sign in yesterday's post - that's where some of you will be staying during SF. Here's the lounge. You can see the lobby in yesterday's post. If the hotel hadn't been fully occupied, the staff would have been happy to show us one of the rooms.

The people we talked to were exceptionally nice, and we liked the serene vibe and white-glove cleanliness of the public areas.


We also checked out several potential SF Friday night reception sites. Gina had suggested this one, and we really liked it alot. More information about the reception will be available soon.

After taking care of business, we walked to Millennium Park. You can't go there without seeing Cloud Gate, affectionately known as 'The Bean.'

And then of course, the Lurie Garden is not to be missed. I expected the Lurie to be bigger than it actually as. Believe it or not, this was the first time I'd ever been there.

This is only a small part of the garden - don't worry, it's larger than this! Plants are sprouting everywhere, and the Lurie will look much different in late May.

Only crocus,

and scilla were blooming when we were there.

I'm glad I finally made it down to the Lurie. There's really no excuse not to, since it's a very, very short walk from my train station. I'm looking forward to going back again soon. If I make it back before Spring Fling, I'll share the progress of the garden with you here.

I hope you've enjoyed your sneak peak of a few of the sights you'll see here as I report on Spring Fling, and in person if you're one of the lucky ones who gets to come to Chicago in less than two months for the second annual Garden Bloggers' Spring Fling.

A Word to the Wise (Notes to Self)

There will be lots to see in less than two months when Chicago is host to the 2nd annual Garden Blogger's Spring Fling.

Probably lots of walking involved even if there's a tour bus.

It's been a long, cold, snowy, winter.

In spite of notes to self at the end of the season last year,

I didn't keep up with my resolve to stay fit over the winter.

Did a lot of walking Friday.


Saw a lot of really cool stuff.


Climbed a few stairs.

I knew I should have taken more walks this winter, or worked out in our very convenient exercise room.

Been thinking about all this as it might pertain to Spring Fling,


how it might not be a bad idea now that the weather's warming up,


to get out there in the fresh air and sunshine,

and take some walks.

Please pass the ibuprofin. (Ouch! ;)