Wednesday, there was a rare opportunity to tour the greenhouse in the Biological Sciences Learning Center at the University of Chicago . It was a brilliantly clear day in Chicago with calm waters along the many miles of lakefront and an azure sky tempting the skyscrapers and architecture.
Susan, our guide and sister-in-law of one of our Garden Club members, was extraordinary in her knowledge, commitment, and sense of humor as she took us through prep areas, down hallways, one glassed room after another, and atop the greenhouse roof hosting cold frames. It was an illuminating tour amid one of the most respected institutions of higher learning, research, and development in the world.
Can you find the greenhouse? It is mid-right, about 5 stories up, shot from a passageway leading to the facility. The greenhouse needed to be rehabbed because of the emerging structure behind it. This is Chicago, my friends; always changing, rearranging the sky along its magnificent lakefront.
After our tour of the greenhouse, we went for lunch in the Sky Lobby Food Court; a seventh floor cafeteria that is always open, 24/7. You can see it below, viewed from the rooftop area of the greenhouse, it is the glassed rim trimming the building across from where we were standing.
It sounds like a perfect day for this adventure. I wondered if you started growing a little taller as you went through the glass-houses — and then I started to giggle at the thought of an Alice-in-Wonderland effect. (Sometimes I get a bit silly at the end of the day when the serious work has all been done)
I’ve ordered the book you recommended: ‘Letters from Skye’, and the library told me it’s ‘in transit’. Hurray.
LikeLike
You are too funny, Juliet. I’m glad I wasn’t thinking of Alice as I was going through the glass houses or I would have been in a giggle fit myself. ‘Tis good to be silly at day’s end, or whenever, my blogging friend. 🙂
I hope you enjoy “Letters from Skye” as much as I did, Juliet.
LikeLike
Sent from my iPad
>
LikeLike
Hi, Jan. ‘)
LikeLike
It’s been many years since I last read ‘Chicago’ but something about your phrase ” . . . always changing, rearranging the sky along its magnificent lakefront.” sent me to find this comparison:
“Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,” ~ Robert Frost from Chicago 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, Karen, thank you for sharing Sandburg’s words and sending off to read again his poem for which he is so remembered for here in Chicago. There was an exhibit at the Elmhurst Historical museum this past year, on Sandburg, who lived for a short time in that town. It was a joy to hear him voice his words.
I’m so glad this send you, then me, to “Chicago”. 🙂
LikeLike
Does your Garden Club always do such awesome tours?
LikeLike
They have done some pretty amazing tours, Andra. This was very interesting, from a horticultural perspective, and then, there is the added bonus of being on the campus of U of C and Chicago architecture.
LikeLike
Your Garden Club is amazingly unlike what I always pictured a Garden Club to be. Wonderful things you do and learn. (And such a perfect place for all that learning.)
LikeLike
I think that many folks think Garden Clubs sit around conversing in Latin, Sallie, which was pretty much what my pre-conceived notion was. I learned pretty quickly that it was a meeting of like minds of, at least in my case, a group of remarkable women. I think you would enjoy my Garden Club, and would enrich them all with your very photography and the knowledge you glean from all of your travels.
LikeLike
How wonderful to have a personal guide on such an occasion, Penny. I’m glad you provided the “where to look” for the greenhouse. I didn’t see it at first! What a remarkably interesting photo. I would thoroughly enjoy this tour and I think you must have had a beautiful day. The reflection shows very lovely weather, too…get it all in before winter comes. 🙂
LikeLike
It really was, Debra, and she was outstanding. I figured I should point it out. When we looked up from outside, it took me a few moments to find it myself. There were actually people working on the roof behind it. I’m sure you would have enjoyed this tour, Debra, as well as the women i was with. I can imagine the stories you would “dig” up on this program, and the U of C.
LikeLike
What a great opportunity for you Penny! And your photos are spectacular!
LikeLike
We were extremely fortunate to have this opportunity, Janet. As several of the group have said, it was a longish tour/lecture, but, we’d have had nothing cut out.
LikeLike