A couple of weeks ago I visited the Garfield Park Conservatory for the first time and attended their “Sweet Saturdays” event. What fun! While enjoying the surroundings, I walked around and stopped at stations positioned throughout the garden where volunteers would talk about, show examples of and share samples of sweets that grow right there. I sampled multiple forms of chocolate, candied ginger, honey, coffee, and cinnamon candy. Cinnamon comes from the bark of a tree? Vanilla comes from an orchid plant? Who knew? This event was such a great way to draw connections among the things that we eat and where they come from. And I realized I still have much more to learn.
The conservatory was far more impressive in size and variety of plants than I expected, and I enjoyed my brief time out of winter and into this fantasy world of green. I was thrilled to see glass lily pads in the pond by artist Dale Chihuly. It was peaceful, warm and lush. This is my beautiful green thing of the week.
view across the conservatory
waterfall
gorgeous flowers
Chihuly lily pads
lily pads up close
Tacoma, Washington’s own Dale Chihuly? We’re everywhere — we Tacoma-ites — and now with much more to offer than merely our patented aroma de Tacoma. Watch out!
Congrats on a great, active blog, sister. Hope all’s well!
WOW!! This is truly BEAUTIFUL!!
Thank you for sharing your “beautiful green thing” with us. I missed this conservatory when I was last in Chicago … but next time … I’ll be sure to go. Dale Chihuly is one of my all time favorite artists. I was lucky enough to see an entire floor (in the Seattle Art Museum) of his work some years back. His installations are just incredible!
Your blog is wonderful … I enjoyed my visit here!
Small Footprints
I love this spot. When I lived in Chicago so many years ago
it was one I visited often. And now Chihuly (also from Tacoma)
And went to school with a friend of mine.
Love your articles.