Two days ago it was literally snowing in Chicago. Today it’s warm & sunny… like 70-degrees… and I have “green things” coming through in my garden! Spring officially begins in two days… and we have a forecast for more snow & rain! Welcome to Springtime in Chicago!!!

Bright & sunny… with the Sunday sunshine playing nicely on the orchids in my dining room!

Another “floral surprise” today… my Thanksgiving Cactus has decided to bloom all over again?! This is the exact same cactus plant that was in full bloom for my Holiday Home Show back in November!!! Guess it got tired of just sitting around being green? Time to show off a bit!!! And again… I think it’s all about the handmade flower pot that keeps the plant happy. Just sayin’…

Look who decided to pop open & greet the day today! My first re-blooming orchid of the season! Hopefully a few more orchids will start blooming in the weeks to come. Always fun to have an old orchid re-bloom at home… I’m sure it’s the handmade flower pot that makes the difference!

Christmas may be over… but Winter goes on forever! And here’s a cute little snippet of holly & berries from the bush in my front porch. A cutie-patootie vase with a little Winter freshness.

It might be freezing cold outside, but the sun streaming in through my dining room window this morning is giving me just a little of that tropical feeling. Wishful thinking…

While not the healthiest leaf on the plant… trying to propagate in water… this monstera leaf is pretty striking in vibrant color & subtle texture. Perfect for another natural Texture Tuesday!

#texturetuesday

On another dreary gray & rainy day, I felt I needed to escape to somewhere “tropical” even if just for a couple hours. So I spent the morning relaxing, chillin’ out & taking in the colors & textures of Garfield Park Conservatory. Such a great way to jump-start my day with beautiful flowers, fantastic textures, koi ponds, Chihuly glass installations & Mother Nature’s magic all happening under the glass roof. A much needed break from gray & gloomy!!!

This Fall my cousin Kim came over & we planted a LOT of new plants in my front garden. This is my first time trying hellebores & I’m kind of excited to see them flowering at the end of Winter. But I just saw these cuties this morning. Are they going to bloom too soon?… or are they just getting ready to impress me in very Early Spring?! Novice gardeners want to know!!!

One of my friends stopped by my SECOND HOLIDAY HOME SHOW this past weekend & purchased a little cactus in one of my little pots. He sent me a picture of its new home… it’s kind of the “Where’s Waldo?” of houseplants! Thanks Eric!!!

And just in case you’re wondering… this is what “Waldo” looks like.