2 posts tagged “botanic garden”

Drake and I are back home, after having a wonderful Thanksgiving with family. Flying Tuesday/Saturday rather than Wednesday/Sunday worked flawlessly. Both going out (of Seattle) and coming back (of out Chicago) airport security was near-deserted. It was odd--I expected much more in the way of crowds even on those slightly off-peak days.

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On day after Thanksgiving, we visited the Chicago Botanic Garden's Wonderland Express.

Wonderland

It features a model train set up with Chicago landmarks constructed out of botanical materials such as twigs, bark, nut shells, seeds, etc. Really, it needs to be seen to be believed how detailed (and clever) the construction is.

Chicago Skyline

Robie House

They also do a lovely display of Christmas lights around the visitor center area.

Lights

This definitely got me into the holiday spirit!

Because I'm carrying an extra computer (running a system prototype that I'm working with) I left my D80 at home. And so there I was yesterday, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, standing right next to professional photographer and all his equipment while I was taking pictures with my dinky camera phone. The light on these tulips was absolutely amazing, something not remotely captured in this photo.

Tulips

Here is a wide shot of the tulips, again, this just does not capture the vibrancy.

More tulips

It's been so lovely to get up and out to the Botanic Garden I've have yet to go to the nearby health club to workout as planned.  Tomorrow, showers are predicted, so maybe that will force me inside.