When I got to Minneapolis, I found these wonderful seed pods still hanging on last year’s bittersweet in Emily’s backyard.

It may still be chilly outside… but it’s looking like Spring inside my condo with another orchid blooming in my dining room window. I’m not sure what’s going on?!

I’ve NEVER had an orchid re-bloom before…
and now this year, two of them are re-blooming right now?! What’s up with that?…
and more importantly, how do I make sure I do it again?!

The weekend started out nice and Spring was definitely in the air at the Chicago Botanic Garden yesterday. I bet these beautiful flowers are enjoying the rain today… a lot more than me!

And so nice to finally see Spring flowers blooming all over… Winter “might” finally be over?!!!

And I’m kinda obsessed with this crazy cool plant. No idea what it is… but, c’mon… look at those leaves, flowers, berries, twigs, colors and textures!!! It’s like a weird textural bouquet on top of the a plant – growing naturally like this!!!

The weather was so nice yesterday that I took a stroll around the grounds including the Japanese Garden Island.

And so nice to see the waterfalls flowing… and NOT frozen over!!!

Okay, so my afternoon bike ride was beautiful.
Some wonderful blue flowers popping up along the bike trail. A little windy…
but MUCH more fun than the “other alternative” I’m supposed to be working on!

Today was the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle.
And coincidentally, my oxalis shamrock plants were looking especially good today!

Even some delicate white blossoms to celebrate today’s big race!

And some great back-lighting to show all of the veins, colors & textures!

Even my purple shamrock plant was rockin’ it today!
With some precious, light purple flowers popping up from the dramatic purple leaves!

Okay, so we’re three days into Spring…
and yet we all woke up to a snowstorm this morning in Chicago.

At least it looks like Spring in my condo as my orchid finally decided to open today
& re-bloom for the first time!!!

With Spring finally here… one of my orchids is getting ready to re-blossom for the first time ever! Kind of exciting for an orchid novice like myself…

Today was possibly the first BEAUTIFUL day of Spring!!! We’ve been waiting…
And lucky for me, I’m “playing hooky” this week and had a wonderful day bicycling with my friend Nancy. We started at the south end of the trail, and pedaled the North Branch Trail up to the Chicago Botanic Garden. A beautiful day with even more beautiful flowers!!!

Okay, so we may have been a day late…
but luckily we got to see the “remains” of the annual Orchid Show. Sure, they were starting to dismantle the show, but the orchids were still beautiful. Including some wonderful installation pieces…. an Orchid Chandelier, an Orchid & Bamboo Wall and Elevated Orchids arrangements.

And sure the Orchid Show might have been coming down, but the greenhouses were still ablaze with incredible tropical colors & smells. So great to be outside on our bikes, in the warmth of the greenhouses and surrounded by greenery & flowers… instead of the frozen snow & slush we’ve been forced to become accustomed to!!!

The Tropical Greenhouses were spectacular… but the Cactus Room is always intriguing with the geometry & rhythm of the plants. And the seasonal blooms on the cactus were pretty spectacular too!

So it’s finally March…
There’s still snow outside, but inside my “shamrock” oxalis plant thinks it’s already Spring?!!!

I snatched up my very first piece William Kidd piece from the Tampa Tour de Clay!!! I’ve admired his work, and fawned over a couple pieces that my friend Cory McCrory has in her collection. Well, tonight was a great night… sitting in my studio during a Holiday Open House Night… when I snatched up this sweet baby by William Kidd…

Special thanks to my friend & talented artist Cory McCrory who is a Guest Artist during the Tampa Tour de Clay. She was also great enough to be my “personal shopper” while they were setting up this evening. Smooth move… swooping in under cover of darkness… before they even open to the public tomorrow!!!

Thank you Cory!
Thank you William!!!