Garfield Park Conservatory

Today's daytime excursion was to Garfield Park Conservatory, 2 acres of greenhouse space built in 1908. Like the botanical gardens in D.C., the building was broken into separate rooms that housed different styles of plants. There was the Palm House, Fern Room, Aroid House, Desert House, Children's Garden, Sugar from the Sun, Show House, Horticulture Hall, Monet Garden (outside), Sensory Garden (outside), Lily Pool (outside) and Demonstration Garden (outside). It's interesting because one room would be very humid and then the next would be cool and dry. Not as many flowers as in D.C., but some really cool cacti in the Desert House. Here's some highlights:
A cool wall display of plants in the outdoor Monet Garden.
The big yellow lily pads were glass pieces of art that looked like they lit up at night.
Chris in front of the Fern Room which was supposed to be a representation of what Illinois might have looked like millions of years ago. It was full of cycads, mosses, and ferns.
Me, checking out the gardenia bush.
The view from the back of the building.
Some more of the plants.(papayas)
After the conservatory we caught the train back to our hotel and then had lunch at a pub called 'Tilted Kilt' which is the Hooters version of an Irish pub. The waitresses are all chest and legs. Good times. From there we wandered across the street and checked out some of the downtown shopping at Macy's and Feline's Basement.
Trying to decide which pair of knee high boots I liked better. Not that we have any room in our luggage. Here's the five million story Macy's. I couldn't even look up without my vertigo kicking in.
We also stopped back by Grant Park in the daytime. This time we checked out the outdoor amphitheater.
Behind the amphitheater was a footbridge across traffic that took you to the marina.
There was actually a triathlon going on today at the water's edge so there was a million people, plus the race participants, but we still caught some nice views. And lots of wind.

Tonight we're going to Sears Tower, or whatever it's called now. I wanted to see the city at night with all the lights on. Sears Tower is about two blocks behind us so it won't be a far walk. Pictures to follow.