So nice to see the star magnolia trees blooming again. One of my favorites every year. Such shame they only stick around for a short time.

Still a bit chilly, but bright blue skies sure help when highlighting these beautiful forsythia branches. Always a welcome sight as Spring is finally blooming all around us!

These large cocoa beans are pretty darn cool at the Chicago Botanic Garden… still growing & ripening in the tree. Right there on the side of the trunk & branches??? And yet I prefer my chocolate processed with sugar added. Keep it “dark” but add some sugar. Thank you very much!

And while the floral beauty was indoors, Spring is in the air & it was perfect for a stroll through the mostly dormant gardens at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Sure, there was still snow on the ground… but that’s just Spring in Chicago! I was just happy to be outside playing in nature again!

And while the Orchid Show was the main reason I went to the Chicago Botanic Garden… you still can’t miss the arid cactus room. So many cool textures, patterns & symmetry going on in there. Impressive every time!

Well, it’s officially the “First Day of Spring” … and we woke up to SNOW!!!
More than an inch overnight. Welcome to Spring in Chicago!!!

Apparently there are still some fortune cookies to be found at Illinois Beach State Park…
if you’re willing to face the weather!

From Adam…
“Wow Gary, great hiding of the cookies this year! I spent 6 hours between the North and South Units yesterday on my bike and only found the one on the Poplar tree. Thanks for that, I knew I rarely saw that species there, so once I found the only grove of Poplars in the South Unit I was confident I’d find that one and did. Then last weekend Mom, the kids and I were out there with no luck until we finally tuned our senses & vision to that green moss/lichen and we found the one on the Willow Tree at the North Unit. I’m loving the ever-building excitement and attention your annual tradition is getting and the competition with other passionate hunters as a result! We will stick with our two for 2025, but always hoping to stumble upon one that remained unfound from a past year as well! Thanks as always for this annual thrill! Can’t wait for my birdhouse to be inhabited come Spring time! And if I do go for another fortune cookie hunt, I gotta locate that damned birds nest, it’s evading me so far and it’s killing me!”

Thanks Adam – glad you and the kids had a great time!!!
And now for that bird’s nest one…

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

A beautiful start to the day…

“Gotta keep searchin’ searchin’… find a place to hide… searchin’ searchin’!!!”
Let the games begin… and WELCOME TO 2025!!!

To celebrate, I’ve hidden 25 ceramic fortune cookies for people to find!!! Twenty-five for 2025… get it?! Anyway, they’re hidden all over Illinois Beach State Park. An annual tradition that started during the pandemic. And now every year, more & more people are starting to search for their fortune… cookies!

So new this year, I’m also asking that you find all you can, take pictures & selfies along the way… but try to limit yourself to taking one per person home for your collection. Let’s leave some there so more people can experience the fun of the search! Use the photos in this Reel for your clues… and let the searchin’ searchin’ begin!!!