Yesterday, I boarded a charter bus with my friends Sandie and Jackie and headed to Chicago for the annual Flower & Garden Show. We had a great time!
Sandie and Jackie at the entrance. (Before we had pinned on our flashing flower pins!)
The Flower & Garden show brings together ideas. . .
Trust me, succulents remain BIG for the upcoming season! They were everywhere.
This was a wall made of cement blocks. They tucked pots of fern and moss, and hung little baskets of succulents. I want one!
Feeding my current love of the terrarium!
This garden flower was made from a soda can! They looked so cool popping up here and there in one of the gardens.
charm and whimsy. . .
Bunnies. In knit cardigans! Couldn't resist.
Look at theses drawer pulls! Charmed, I'm sure.
Flower umbrellas hanging above.
Painted tire planters!
Glass sculpture at the main entrance.
and shopping. . .
The shop (in Naperville) is as cool as their sign!
I bought one of these hanging terrariums (only in a teardrop shape), with a few air plants, to hang in my kitchen window.
There are plenty of classes and workshops, too. (Attended a few; no pictures.)
It was an unbelievably beautiful day in Chicago. Unseasonably warm (80s). Who ever would have thought we'd be eating OUTSIDE on Navy Pier in mid-March? Unthinkable!
It felt like summer!
It looked like summer!
There were even sailboats out on the Lake!
As an added bonus -- there was a stained glass exhibit on Navy Pier (unrelated to the Flower & Garden Show). Most of the designs were floral in nature. . .
(This one is Tiffany.)
but there were grids, too!
Back at the Flower & Garden Show, there was an exhibit of aprons created by the a Chicago area fiber artist group, Women's Journeys in Fiber. Very powerful -- and creative!
The best part of the day for me, though, was being able to see these guys . . . up close and personal!
Meet Mr. Barred Owl. . .
and Mr. Great Horned Owl. . .
My photos just don't do these awesome creatures justice! They are just so So SO cool!
So much to see! So much to do! As you can imagine, by the end, we were quite weary. This was a welcome sight. . .
And the bus ride gave me some time to knit!
Just a perfect field trip, and a great day, all the way around!
Sounds like you had the best day out!
Happy St. Patrick Day :)
Posted by: Rachel | 03/16/2012 at 09:03 AM
Perfection all around. I'm still so curious about a succulent garden and may need to explore it further. The umbrellas, the owls, the bunny cardigans and the painted tires, oh my, what a great day!
Posted by: margene | 03/16/2012 at 09:59 AM
Oh, how fun! What a wonderful day... I'm overwhelmed just reading about it all, I can only imagine how you felt! So much to love!! Nice to have someone to drive you home after all that.
Posted by: Vicki | 03/16/2012 at 10:39 AM
That sounds like such an awesome day. I love that you took so many pictures and shared them all. I'm wishing I had made plans to go to the Flower Show in Boston this week!
Posted by: Carole | 03/16/2012 at 11:33 AM
I am so jealous- that looks like it would have been a wonderful trip. I'm with you on the cinderblock wall....need/want one.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Posted by: Lynn | 03/16/2012 at 04:45 PM
perfect day. perfect weather. perfect time for garden inspiration! I love the succulents. and the terrariums. and the wine slushies :-)
Posted by: Mary | 03/16/2012 at 07:36 PM
Gorgeous photos ... looks like you all had a great time...
Posted by: sara | 03/16/2012 at 10:50 PM
Oh, what a wonderful day! Your photos have me all inspired to do some gardening. Gotta wait until after April 17, though. I love the idea of the painted tire planters and the cinder block planted wall.
Posted by: kmkat | 03/17/2012 at 12:40 AM
What a fun, fun day. Is that a honey cowl I spy? Your posts are inspiring me to get a little greener inside the house!
Posted by: Patty | 03/19/2012 at 08:53 AM
I'm almost on sensory overload just looking at the pictures! You must have had a super fun day. :)
Posted by: Marilyn | 03/20/2012 at 12:44 PM