Thursday, March 24, 2011

Fun Times in the Windy City (Chicago!)

We drove to Chicago Thursday, March 17th.
Yes! St. Patrick's Day.
Mr. Shady's sister Claudie and our bro-in-law Har' took us to a local Country Club that was serving a St. Patrick's Day meal! Fun!





We took the Metra downtown on Friday, March 18, 2011.
There's still green water in the fountain.

Upon reaching Millennium Park, we found the Cloud Gate sculpture
created by Anish Kapoor. (Locals seem to call this the Lima Bean Sculpture).
Click on the photo below to visit an official site.



Below, Mr. Shady is ready to walk the Nichols Bridgeway to the Art Institute's new wing.
(I was so happy, because we spent several hours at the Art Institute Museum!!)

Friday afternoon found us driving from Elmhurst to Glenview to visit and stay with friends for a couple of nights.
These are their "youngest kids." :-)


Saturday, March 19, 2011
Jenise and I visited the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Yes, I know it's so early that nothing much was "out,"
but what a place of promise!
Please click on either photo above or below to visit their site.

Their tropical greenhouse.




The arid desert greenhouse.



If you had one of these plants below . . .

or better yet, a whole passel of them, would you make . . .

This? :-)

Japanese gardens

And winter aconite!

A special violet/primrose show.


Sunday, March 20, 2011
Jenise took me to the Chalet this morning - what a great nursery/gift shop!




After lunch, we returned to our bro- and sis-in-law's house.
Claudie took us to the Elmhurst Historical Museum.
We were able to view an extensive display of Ann Frank's life
and the general state of affairs during this very difficult/tragic time period.
(click on the photo below for information)






Monday, March 21, 2011

We stopped here on the way home.
Click on the link above for a LOT more information about this scenic site!











This lodge was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps.






What a special time we had. Many thanks to our family, friends and Mr. Shady. :-)

4 comments:

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Looks like you had a great trip. I've always wanted to go to Starved Rock. You'll have to come back to visit the Botanic Garden when more things are in bloom.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi MMD, We did have a great trip. You would very much enjoy Starved Rock! And yes, a return to the Botanic Garden later would be wonderful! :-) If I make it in sometime this summer, I'm giving you a call!

jo said...

What a great visit. Loved seeing the pictures of all these places.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Jo, It truly was a fun get-away. It doesn't seem to happen often enough, though. Thanks for leaving a note here!

About Me

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I enjoy being outdoors! I also love that I've two children (now grown up with families of their own)and six young grandchildren! :-) Sure would like to see them more often!!