Saturday, May 1, 2010

Chicago Botanic Garden

Spring has arrived at the Chicago Botanic Garden, located on the north side of Chicago.  For years it has been a goal of mine to go see these gardens, and on April 29, 2010 I finally did. Chicago Botanical Garden tulips April 2010 by Jeanne Selep Imaging
I knew from the flowering trees around Milwaukee that the gardens might be at a peak time for spring, and so my daughter Miranda and I took the day to go check out the flowers.

Chicago Botanical Garden tulips April 2010The gardens did not disappoint - in fact, I became a member and plan to return several times this summer.

The tulip colors were incredible.  I see why speculators in Holland went wild over tulip bulbs several century's ago, resulting in a economic crash.  Tulips are so much more exciting then financial derivatives will ever be. 
 
It is easy to take all the color around us for granted.  In pioneering times, you really wouldn't see much color all winter.  Blue sky, whites, browns, grays and blacks, dark evergreen colors.  The occasional red cardinal or red berries, and occasionally vivid sunsets.  Spring brings welcome green and the colors of flowers, but rarely would you see such a cluster of colors like I got to enjoy on Thursday.  
Chicago Botanical Garden path April 2010 Selep Imaging

I love being part of this century - with all the colors of dyes for fabric that are available, the vivid print colors of inks that I can printout even at home, or view on a screen.  I can take a photo and even as the memory dims the colors a day later, I can review them within minutes on my PC monitor.  Wow.

OK, so this blog post kind of rambles, but spring makes me happy,  flowers make me happy, and colors make me happy.  I hope you get out and enjoy spring.

Click on the images to see them larger. 

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I am linking up to these memes:
The Tablescaper: Oh the Places I've Been party. (I was entry 34) April 2013

Scenic Sunday 94 (I was entry 15 of 68)
Outdoor Wednesday. (I was entry 52 of 150).
Wordful Wednesday (I was entry 175 of 179).
Macro Flower Saturday (I was entry 20) 
Favorite Photo Friday (I was entry 4)
Watery Wednesday.  (I was entry 137 of 138). 2nd image has water!

24 comments:

Christina. Sweden said...

so nice with all the blooms. we long for that over here but it will take a while....

Christina, sweden

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Spring is such a lovely time, tulips are my favourite

cat said...

I, as Christina above, also live in Sweden and the flowers have arrived to my part of the country. But not in such splendid abundance as in your photos.

That looks like an amazing garden. Thank you for sharing.

Joyful said...

spring is one of my favourite seasons because it makes me happy too. your photos are simply stunning and brilliantly capture the essence of spring.

Al said...

Those are beautiful photos. Spring is arriving at the lower elevations here in Colorado, but has yet to arrive properly at my house where it's snowing as I type this.

Maia T said...

Beautiful photos, tulips are one of my favorite flowers too.
Welcome to Macro Flowers Saturday!
Rules are the same as by any other meme, you've missed to link back to the meme.

Ms. Bake-it said...

I love Spring! What beautiful photos! I especially love the first one. The colors are so vivid.

~ Tracy

joanna said...

I can see why you joined the Chicago Botanical Garden, when I lived back east I joined the Bronx Botanical Gardens and spent many a day there even in winter, and took many a class there too.

Beautiful place, splendid photography.

Happy Outdoor Wednesday,
Joanny

Erica (Irene) said...

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing. :-)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful and gorgeous flowers!

Atticmag said...

I always love to see tulips bloom everywhere. Thanks for the look-see. Jane F.

concretenprimroses said...

Dh and I visited the Chicago Bot. Gardens many years ago in early summer and we just loved it. It influenced my home garden. Nice to see your beautiful pics!
We've been back, but not at the right time of year.
Kathy

Valerie @ Favorite Photo Friday said...

Jeanne - Thanks for posting on Favorite Photo Friday - Your photo's are lovely and interesting - but I'm not sure which is your submission.

Our goal is to see one photo that you have chosen to share and be able to understand why it looks as it does. And that's why I ask for as much info as you are able to give. (you don't have to answer all the questions - they are just a guide ) We don't just want to look at a picture (although yours are lovely)- but want to learn how it came to be.

I'd love if you would pick one picture (maybe the first one) and let us know if it was straight out of the camera - or what did you do to create such a neat texture. When you click on it to see it up close - It almost looks like a water color painting when yoy look at the top third. I know playing with the saturation and definition helps to create some of that.

Do you use a point and shoot, a DSLR? Do yo have a favorite lens to get those beautiful photographs?

For folks who want to begin using a DSLR it's nice for them to see the differences in the different brands, I know that is why I chose canon!

I hope this doesn't put you off - I'd love your participation - there is so much we can learn from each other. And your photos are beautiful!

Thanks - Valerie

Racquel said...

Now that is one spectacular Public Garden. Love the allee of blooming trees and the tulips are so colorful. :)

Suzanne said...

What gorgeous blossoms! Love those tulips!

Katie Olthoff said...

Gorgeous flowers - I love the 2nd photo.

kesslerdee said...

Those tulips are just yummy!!!

Jean said...

Beautiful spring shots! Great post, your joy at springs arrival is catching! Jean

Paula said...

Wow those tulips are amazing ! Love the colors - thanks for sharing, Paula

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Beautiful, Beautiful! Each shot is so lovely!

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ellen b said...

I'll have to go to the gardens the next time I travel with hubby to a conference in Chicago. I'm sharing tulips for the meme this week, too.
Enjoy your weekend.

The Tablescaper said...

You are right, so much gorgeous color to take in!

It's wonderful to have you be a part of the premier of "Oh, the PLACES I've been!" and I do hope you'll participate regularly.

- The Tablescaper

Kadee Willow said...

Thanks for reminding me that I need to see the gardens, too! And I live here! Pathetic,I know!! Right now, with all the weather we had this past week including snow, I think we need a couple more weeks of warmer weather and temps to bring out the beauty of this area. Thanks for sharing and it's great seeing you at the linky party! I'm there, too, so come visit me! I would love that!