A small but sturdy contingency of garden club women who don’t mind getting “down and dirty” ventured out on a blustery mid-week morn.
We met at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, which hugs the Lincoln Park Zoo and the magnificent Chicago lakefront. It was my first time there, and, as I often do, I wondered “why?”, especially as I wandered the enclosed butterfly haven. Butterflies, moths and birds flitted about and I found myself slowing down, changing my own rhythm.
We continued to explore this innovative museum as classes of youngsters darted in and out, trying hard to stay in their Madeleine lines when tunnels and manipulatives and all sorts of wonders called to them, especially in the exhibit rooms which illustrate where waste goes. Children love this “stuff”. It is fun to see nature from the eyes of children. I think we all enjoyed the Peanuts exhibit, which coupled Charlie Brown and his gang with nature facts. This photo is from the Peggy Notebaert website and information on the Peanuts/Charles Schultz connection with nature here.
After lunch, we donned our rain gear and walked a few blocks, chatting all the way, to the historic Lincoln Park Conservatory. Our engaging docent gave a brief history of the conservatory, which was erected in the 1880’s, we admired the formal outdoor garden, which is framed masterfully by the Chicago skyline.
Once undercover, we inhaled the warmth and peace of the Lincoln Park Conservatory. I’ll stop writing now, and let you see for yourself.
The Conservatory is also getting ready for their Christmas display. The poinsettia are ready and glorious.
Lovely!
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Thank you.
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Great photos and it sounds like you had a wonderful day! I’ve paid a few visits to the Lincoln Park Conservatory on some very cold Chicago days when each of my children were very young. On those days it felt like a mini tropical vacation!
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Thank you, Janet. It was – in spite of the rain and gloom. Conservatories are such respites on cold Chicago days. I agree; a mini tropical vacation. We spent quite a bit of time in the fern room. Exotic and restful.
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What a beautiful place Penny, it looks so green and luscious. You made a rainy day fun.
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Gerlinde, it was most delightful. Thank you.
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Thank you for another interesting excursion Penny. It’s always fun to come along with you, & I enjoy the ‘undercover’ title.
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Thank you, Juliet. The Nature Museum is a spot I think your little one (and you) would particularly enjoy. So many “hands on” activities for young children. I’m glad you enjoy coming along.
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What a cheery way to spend a blustery, rainy day! I always loved visiting the Lincoln Park Conservatory. I would love to experience the butterfly exhibit at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. I know it is always a very popular field trip destination… for nature lovers of all ages! Thanks so much for letting us tag along. Enjoy our snowy weekend, dear Penny! ♡
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It certainly was, Dawn. I think you would enjoy the butterfly haven. It was enchanting standing and watching the glorious fluttering of colorful wings all around us. This was my first time at the Peggy Notebaert. 🙂 Our docent was exemplary, which added to the experience at the Lincoln Park Conservatory.
Snowing heavily here as I write, Dawn. Enjoy your weekend as well.
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Oh, that is a gorgeous Poinsettia! Another fabulous exploration, Penny! I love the Charles Schultz/Peanuts tie, and I hadn’t really thought about how nature plays such a strong role in the wonderful storylines of the Peanuts series, but of course! And a butterfly exhibit to boot! I love the photos and I’m quite sure you’ll be visiting time and time again. What a great day!
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There was quite an array of poinsettia to dazzle us:) and yes, a great day.
The tie-in with nature was extraordinary, Debra, and appropriate for both children and adults alike. It was well done and brought an awareness to me about how much nature played in Charles Schultz’s work. The butterfly haven was a real treat as we were in the same room with them flitting about. There was another exhibit on waste – interesting and so child appropriate. It was fun to watch a classroom of youngsters explore that one.
Have a good weekend. Snowing pretty hard here right now.
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Oh such lovely photos! Thanks for taking us along, Penny!!!
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You are most welcome, L. Marie. 🙂
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Going Undercover takes on a whole new meaning today with your snow! Such a lovely interlude you provided us with not a thought of winter snow and ice.
As always thanks for the recent Midnight update. I do love that fellow and hope he’s inside on someone’s lap by the fire. Have a safe week.
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Looking back this morning, with about 10 inches of snow and ice all around us, I am even more grateful for last week’s interlude, Marilyn. A few members put it together and really picked the perfect time of year for such an excursion.
You are welcome. Midnight is often illusive and I become all giddy when I see him.. We see neither hide nor hair of him for weeks, then, there he is, roaming around and coming to the door for his bowl of milk. I’m sure he has a warm place to be – and lots of neighbors who watched out for him. 🙂
I have to go out into the icy brink in a bit, more worried about the ice than the snow. So it goes here. Hope all is well with you, Marilyn.
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So nice! I can almost smell that special tropical aroma that is so unique to conservatories and greenhouses. The plants are just beautiful.
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That tropical aroma is, indeed, unique, Sallie, and that was my first instinct as I ventured in. Breath deeply. 🙂 These buildings really are respites, aren’t they, wherever we find them? Those purple/pink orchids were so fragrant, we all took turns drinking in the scents.
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Dear Penny, so much beauty for which to be grateful. When I lived in Minnesota, I’d go to the St. Paul Conservatory during the holidays and see there the display of poinsettias, both red and white. One of the best things about large cities is that they offer us so much that we’d never see otherwise.
It’s quite wonderful that you and your gardening group do so much together. Peace.
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That I am, Dee: grateful.
I have never been to the St. Paul Conservatory. I will put that on my list of places to see when we are visiting up there. Thank you for mentioning it. You are so very right about big cities. The Lincoln Park Conservatory was built in the 1890’s, around the time of the Chicago Columbian Exhibition. It still stands with most of the original glass.
It is a wonderful group with so much to offer- and I just write about what I do. There are so many activities, including garden therapy with senior citizens, maintaining other gardens in town, working with community groups. They are the best club I have ever been in.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, Dee. I see you have posted and will try to catch up in a bit.
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How lucky to have such a place on a cold day, or any day!
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We are very lucky, indeed, to have these two attractions, and many, many others here, Nan. Thanks – and Happy Thanksgiving.
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