Loving Kelly’s stamped & soda-fired wall pocket vase… perfect for remnants of a floral arrangement when the “fussy flowers” died off and left this textural assortment. Just another fun Floral Friday!

A single rose in a stamped & soda-fired ikebana vase to brighten your Friday…
it doesn’t take a lot to share a smile!

And when one falls off while replanting… mini cutie-patootie vase to the rescue!

Here’s one of the orchids that came home with me from Hausermann’s yesterday. A very cool “trailing” orchid that lives on a small plank of wood… not in a flower pot. In nature, most orchids live as “parasites” growing on the sides of trees in the jungles & rainforests… using their aerial roots to get moisture from the environment. I’ve had good luck with common phaleanopsis orchids at home… we’ll see how this one does?!

I think the original intention of “playing hooky” yesterday was that Mimi wanted to see some orchids at The Orchid Show up at the Chicago Botanic Garden… but the show closed last weekend. So Garfield Park Conservatory was a good substitute. But I REALLY wanted Mimi to see beautiful orchids. So after the Conservatory, we zoomed out to “Orchids by Hausermann” to the greenhouses where they grow thousands of orchids!!! And let’s just say… “a couple” of them may have come home with me to add to my own collection! Allegedly…

While the palm trees, the Fern Room, the glass Chihuly installation & the Spring flower show are all very eye-catching… I’m always drawn to the Cactus Room full of crazy-cool textures, colors & patterns. Amazed by how the tough terrain & arid conditions can have all of these amazing plants, flowers & new Spring growth all under one glass roof at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Yesterday afternoon was a great time to play hooky! With my college friends Kel & Kelly in town with some kids… and the Mimi too! They asked if I could join them at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Turns out… I COULD!!! So we had a great time touring the greenhouses seeing lots of beautiful plants & flowers under the landmark conservatory glass ceilings.

Making me even more anxious for Spring to finally catch-up & make some plants start growing in my yard!!! I’m tired of gray & brown… I want some GREEN in my life!!!

My favorite part of the Orchid Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden was the section dedicated to the Holi Festival. Wonderful orchid arrangements on the walks, dramatic lighting & colorful powders splattered everywhere!!! During Holi, a Hindu festival celebrating Spring and the triumph of good over evil, people throw colored powder & water at each other as a joyful and symbolic act of unity, forgiveness & the celebration of new beginnings.

Something it seems like we all could use a bit of these days!!!

Not quite sure what plant this was… but I think it was my favorite one there! Not part of the Orchid Show per se… but this huge vine is growing up & over a large doorway with these humongous dangling clusters of flowers… in the coolest color ever. A greenish-bluish-seafoamyish color I felt I might have never even seen before?!!!

In one greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden, you are greeted by an oversized orchid peacock… gently hidden behind a curtain of white flower garlands. Stunning… especially the detailing on the head & neck.