When I got home from my bike ride this morning, I was pleased to find some beautiful colors & textures in my back courtyard. I’ve been so busy the past few weeks that I haven’t really had time to “stop and smell the roses”… or even see the beauty in my own backyard! I especially like the little water droplets resting on the caladium leaves.

And the purple obedient plants are blooming all around the totem pole in my back courtyard. I love the geometric repetition & architecture of these flowers. The fact that they spread and bloom for a long time are an added bonus!

You know how I love my Jack-In-The-Pulpit in the front garden.
The flowers are really cool in the Spring… and now there’s some pretty cool seed pods too!

It’s always good morning when the peaches you get at the Farmer’s Market are finally ripe!

When I got up this morning and went outside to start my morning ride, I was welcomed by a beautiful scent & a “glowing” white flower in the darkness. Apparently, it’s a Datura “Devil’s Trumpet” plant that only blooms at night. I had kind of forgotten that I planted this earlier this Spring. But it was a very welcome reminder this morning!

There were also a few other beautiful surprises this morning in the garden. Some colorful purple cleome blooms and fragrant lantana blossoms.

Jack-In-The-Pulpit above… and Lily-Of-The-Valley below…

When I got back from my morning ride, the sun was just starting to hit the garden. So I took a short breather to enjoy the Spring flowers popping up… as well as my stamped totem pole!

I keep hoping that Spring may actually be here…
Still covered with last year’s leaves, I did a little uncovering this morning  and found a little sign of Spring popping up in my backyard flower pot garden! One step closer…

Spring has finally “sprung” in Chicago… even if it’s just inside the Chicago Flower
& Garden Show at Navy Pier. It was such a great “retreat” from the cold with beautiful
colors, smells, patterns & textures! A sign that Spring may actually be on it’s way!

Not only were there tons of beautiful flowers… but there were also piles of tulips!!!
A full color palette of petals. Who knew there were so many different kinds of tulips?!

But one of my favorite things were the vertical wall gardens. Especially because there was
a lot of colors & textures all in one place… each vying for a special place in the sun!

After an incredibly “windy-&-crashing-wavey” bike ride… I showered, changed
and head off to work. But as I was leaving, I noticed this beautiful little plant blooming
in my front garden. I’ve never seen it before. And to be quite honest, I have no idea
what it is nor where it came from. Either way, it’s a beautiful surprise in my garden
that has pretty much withered away for the upcoming Winter days! To me, it kind of
looks like an orchid… but who knows?!… anyone???