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| View from the entrance of the Garfield Park Conservatory |
Every winter, there comes a time when I need a major infusion of green. Call it "cabin fever," "garden withdrawal" or whatever you like. It's a need that can only be cured by a glass ceiling, high humidity and lots of tropical plants.
This complex, built 105 years ago, is truly a treasure. How can you not like a place that includes Spider Bouquet (Clerodendrum quadriloculore), Never-Never Plant (Ctenanthe lubbersiana), Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia australis), Song of India (Dracaena reflexa variegata) and Trailing Watermelon Begonia (Pellionia repens)?
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| The Palm Room at the Garfield Park Conservatory |
The Palm Room, which greets visitors off the main entrance, is impressive to say the least. In addition to the various palms, there are several orchids currently in bloom including potted Cymbidiums, Nun's Hood orchid (Phaius tankevilliae) and ground orchids (Spathoglottis plicata cultivar).
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| Nun's Hood orchid |
The conservatory's famed Fern Room also is open again after being devastated by a hail storm on June 30, 2011. Some parts haven't been replanted yet and won't be until the damage is permanently repaired this coming summer. It still is a tranquil retreat.
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| One of two waterfalls in the Fern Room |
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| The central pond in the Fern Room |
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| Fishtail ferns on the mossy rocks of the Fern Room |
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| Another view of the Fern Room |
There's a lot more to see, but I ran out of time. I'm sure I'll be back before spring finally comes to the Chicago area. While amaryllis, paperwhites and various plant and seed catalogs help, they only work for so long.
Where do you go when you need a green "fix" this time of year?
By Karen Geisler
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| White Bird of Paradise in the Palm Room |
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| Palmetto Palm |
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| Jungle Flame |
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| Mexican Horncone |
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| Ground orchid |
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| Crocodile fern |
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| Spider Bouquet |
8 comments:
Great tour! Now getting to Garfield before spring is a top priority for me!
Karen what a great place...love the fern room. I get my green fix from my herbs and other greens I grow in the basement under grow lights.
Great shots of the Fern Room! That waterfall is lovely. I had cabin fever last week, too--I guess it was from being stuck inside during the arctic blast. So I took a walk to the lake. But I also like to visit conservatories and indoor gardens! Thanks for the tour!
Thanks. It's an amazing place that never fails to delight.
I'm going to have to dig out my grow lights from the basement and do likewise. I've been making more soups and fresh herbs are really much better for that.
I liked the photos you took on your walk to the lake. Wish our snow would have lasted longer, but it has all melted. Sounds like you're in for a lot more snow in the next few days. Take care!
Karen, I'm just getting caught up with your blog. What a great place this is to escape from winter blues or blahs. Just looking at your photos gave me a lift. I must confess, though, that since I'm one of those people who tends to let house plants grow and propagate out of control, I always have plenty of green in both my house and my office at work. -Jean
Glad you have plenty of inside green. The number of my houseplants has fallen as the number inside has risen. I'm trying to reverse that trend this year with amaryllis and paperwhites.
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