Well, it's warm for one thing, sunny, and quite humid. We've walked a long way, rode the El, and arrived, with our sun hat and backpack, to see some flowers.
There was a special exhibit at Garfield Park where an artist had created a ton of colorful sculptures, of all sizes, that were interspersed in the gardens, indoors and out. My favorite piece was probably this snake and its setting:
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/gpSnake.jpg)
There was also a good sized pond with many nice aquatic plants...
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/gpPond.jpg)
And I enjoyed looking up close at random elements in the conservatory, including some roots...
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/gpRoots.jpg)
and a brick...
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/gpFern.jpg)
Another day, while Julia was spending the day at her conference, I took an excursion to the Chicago Botanic Garden. I walked a bit, took the El, walked a bit, took a Metra train to the Glencoe station, and walked several more bits (and then a few more), to the gardens. It was a pleasant walk along a nice street with well-kept homes.
My first move was to take a tram ride through the gardens, partially to acquaint myself with the layout of the gardens, which are huge, and partially to sit down for a while! I learned some interesting things from the driver who gave background information on the sites we passed. At the far end of the tram ride, there is a restored prairie, where I requested to be let out. I love prairies and also wanted to get some photos for my friend Aunita who is a prairie diva/enthusiast. They had different kinds of prairie habitat such as sand, gravel hill, wet, and fen prairies.
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chPrairie.jpg)
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chPrairie2.jpg)
The grounds were just gorgeous, with different kinds of gardens tucked here and there among walking paths.
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chTrellis.jpg)
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chWater.jpg)
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chZigZagBridge.jpg)
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chGrass.jpg)
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chBot2.jpg)
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chBot.jpg)
There were also conservatories, of course, as well as paintings and photos on display.
The next day, a Saturday, Julia and I went to Oak Park on a walking tour of Frank Lloyd Wright houses in town...
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chWright.jpg)
..and non-FLW houses - I just love how the garden colors and design mesh with the house colors and design...
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chOakPark.jpg)
... and an official tour of his studio. He was truly an architectural genius, but, it seems, somewhat of an ass as a person.
Later that afternoon, we went on a boat tour that focused on historic buildings. While waiting in line, I took this photo of flowers in the city...
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chBench.jpg)
The tour was both relaxing and exciting--a whole different perspective on the city from the water. Much more tranquil.
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chFoundry.jpg)
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chBridge.jpg)
![Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket](http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee51/thegardenfaerie/Chicago/chBldg.jpg)
We also went to some nice restaurants and to Buckingham Fountain, but we just missed the water (it's turned off at 10:00 p.m.) Walking back through Millennium Park, we did see some fireworks near the lake.
It was a fun trip, despite megabus being delayed four hours on the way back due to a series of unfortunate events. I did chat with a nice lady who lives on Grosse Ile, however.
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