* Chicago Botanic Garden hosted our visit to Brilliance: The Orchid Show. All images and opinions are my own. Update: The 2020 Orchid Brilliance show has been canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak. When Chicago Botanic Garden invited us to the preview for Brilliance: The Orchid Show, Graham and I were thrilled because we love plants. We decided to make a date night out of it. It may be cold ... Read more
Exploring Skokie Lagoons, Illinois
I made a vow recently that I would spend more time outdoors this summer after not fully taking advantage of the season last year because of all my postpartum emotions. We explore more of our area over the weekend by visiting Skokie Lagoons. I had never heard of the park until Graham mentioned it one day. The Skokie Lagoons are located between the Chicago suburbs of Winnetka, Northfield and ... Read more
Summer Stroll at the Chicago Botanic Garden
If you're ever going through a stressful time, a walk around the Chicago Botanic Garden might be in order. I was overwhelmed and emotional recently, and I finally asked for help. My mother-in-law drove to Chicago to spend a week with us helping in any way she could. And boy did she help. She worked on our yard. She took the girls to the park so I could get work done or ... Read more
A Summer Day at Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory
I've wanted to visit Lincoln Park Conservatory since we moved to Chicago three and a half years ago, but I didn't make it until this summer. My cousins visited for a week recently and I thought they'd enjoy Lincoln Park Zoo. The Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lincoln Park Conservatory are both free. I would suggest both to visitors and locals looking for affordable things to do in Chicago, especially ... Read more
Plant Collection & Earth Day Plant Haul
The best way to spend a morning is on the patio drinking coffee, basking in the sunshine and enjoying the company of my plant babies. I recently got ahead of myself and started planting my little patio garden. It was the first nice day in Chicago so you could probably understand my excitement. I just couldn't wait anymore! We have two patios at our apartment. In the front ... Read more
Taking a Stroll Through Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago
One of my remaining Chicago summer bucket list items was to visit a conservatory. I know you can visit Lincoln Park Conservatory and Garfield Park Conservatory during all seasons, but I wanted to say goodbye to summer by strolling through a garden. Graham and I had a day off together on Labor Day for the first time in a few weeks, so of course we made the most of it. We had breakfast together, ... Read more
Experiencing Fall at Chicago Botanic Garden
One of my fall bucket list items was to stroll through a garden before it gets too cold in Chicago. Graham and I made that happen Sunday with a visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. For some reason my Chicago newbie mind had pictured the garden being located near the lake in the Lincoln Park area. I was probably thinking of the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Instead, we drove north to the ... Read more
The Sights of Rogers Park, Chicago
Flowers grow in front of brick buildings and along driveways. Bumblebees and butterflies keep busy, floating from bloom to bloom. Lightning bugs flicker about at dusk. Sunset and skyline admirers walk on the pier. On a clear day, the distant towers of the Loop are visible. Sometimes they are obscured by a haze. If a storm is clearing up, the clouds transform from bright orange to red to pink to ... Read more
What is Spring?
My idea of spring has always been 80 degrees and sunny. Spring starts in February in my Arizonan experience. It's baseball and hiking and outdoor brunches.In Chicago, and many other places, spring is actually in the spring. It's rain and sun, followed by more rain and then more sun. It's unpredictable, fluctuating.I'm learning that I had no idea what spring was until I moved here.Spring means 50 ... Read more