wheaties: Chicago Day 4: Thursday Botanic Gardens I

The Chicago Botanic Gardens.

I don't even know where to start! And I have SOOOOOOO many pictures, it's hard to decide which ones make the final cut. So - take a seat. You'll be needing one if you are going to make it through this post. Sorry there are no cushion on this bench, but it provides a great view regardless.

On this particular day, the forecast was very very cold, and very very wet. Peter said he was going to go anyways - nothing would deter him from spending time in the botanic gardens. So - I bucked-up and raised my hand with two others (out of twenty), when asked who was going with Peter. I was tired, and mentally wanted a break from the wet and cold and thought about how nice it would be to rest for a day. But my soul said, "GO!" And I shall never regret it. All the cold was worth it.

Here are some things that I liked - and even why I liked them!

This is near the entrance to the gardens. It was in an area that could have easily, EASILY, been left brick. Most people would have and all others wouldn't have noticed otherwise - after all, this costs money to install, train and maintain. Lots of work. But these gardens are so rockin' that they care about every square inch and you can feel it from the inside-out!

I love the expanse of lawn here that is flanked by rows of trees on each side and bunches of pots full of fall mums. They add a punch of color and wow. Some of the following pictures will give you a better idea and feeling of this large space. It it one of the first areas you can come to. And it butts in to the water - awesome.

See?

Just wonderful.

Here you get a good idea of the left flank. The first picture showed off the right flank. Clean, organized, varied materials and textures. Feels good.

Now we are back to the right flank - which adorns a water feature. Adding in a different element to the right side, that is not on the left side, creates intrigue and desire; the space as a whole feels very symmetrical, this "unbalanced-balance" of water on one side while not on the other makes it feel not so rigid while maintaining dignity. Follow?

Better view of the repeated pops of fall color created by the mums.

Mums the word!

Alright, we are now leaving this area of the gardens, but because we liked it so much - we will turn around to take one last glance. (In the glance, please note how everything ties together. We see the left and right sides, the rows of trees on either side, the large expanse of lawn in between the rows of trees, the water feature..... Don't you want to play a game of croquet out there?!?)

PAUSE.

This is a path, meant to look like a wall in your face so that you stop for a moment. I am thinking now that I am going to need to do this portion of the day in to different posts, unless you just want to look at pictures and do not want commentaries on each photo. Too bad - you get the commentaries. Yep - I am going to dissect each photograph and if you care to watch, so be it. I gave you that bench in the beginning of this post to sit on after all, so no whining. I'll try to find you a more comfy chair later on.

I like the repeat of the white bark on these multi-trunked birch trees, and since they are not lined up a row - you feel more informal and relaxed than the last space shown above. It asks you to wander.

And possibly wonder.

The layout of this entire space was really quite wonderful. Those tall red things are made up of more mums.

I like this step-like edging that encompasses the water. There is water flowing over those steps and into the pond where lilies and grasses and other water plants are happy to thrive.

This picture must have been taken of somewhere in this garden. I took it to show the contrast of purple and yellow together and how pairing opposite colors is effective. Of course, you may not like these particular flowers, or the colors - but whatever. Remember that knowing and using the color wheel in your landscape, esp. when dealing with flowers - is important.

You can see the red mum-my (ha ha) like columns in the background, letting you know we are still in the same space. Here is a pic of the center of the water feature we have been looking at the edge of.

This fantastic quasi-sphere is a lamp to light the walk-way after dusk. I didn't realize it was until later (dusk) - which was a gleeful surprise. I just thought it a cool architectural element! Just remember function and form. Use them together readily.

I do love sculpture. 3D art is wonderful in a garden as long as it is applied in a successful fashion. How do you apply it successfully, you ask? Well, it depends.