After many cold days
Connie and Karl and I
go to the place he always
goes on a cold day in
February. For an hour
we bask in the humidity
and the color and then
we have to leave, but
then we go to a place
called the Bang Bang
Pie shop and then it’s too
bad we have to leave
before I have made
up my mind to try the
caramelized, maple syrup
dipped bacon strips.
Azaleas at the Garfield Park Conservatory
Goldfish at the Garfield Park Conservatory
Connie and Karl
Some of my favorite Chicago winter days included a visit to the Rookery and the Lincoln Park convervatory. Just the smell of the humidity and plants! mmmmmmmmmm
Carmelized, maple syrup dipped bacon strips!!?? Shaking myself like a wet dog, I say (and so does my son): Actually that sounds pretty good.
I was born in Chicago but never lived there. I live in the sunny Southwest. Humidity is almost unknown here in Tucson. We have the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Lovely flowers there in the conservatory, lovely koi.
Thanks.
Mickey, I have tried carmelized bacon strips at other places and they are a great treat, even though I believe they affect your karma adversely. n
The Oak Park Conservatory is nice too – small – but they have a stream with fish and turtles as well as birds and a talking parrot named George. And a wonderful restaurant called Taste of Brazil around the corner!
47 years ago I went from Seattle, which has a lot of humidity, to Chicago, which has none in winter. About the time my skin was splitting apart I discovered the U of C conservatory and spent days inside for the watm, moist air. Alas, in summer Chicago has way too much humidity.
I have to agree about the Chicago humidity. I went with a group to the Garfield Park conservatory last summer on a very hot humid day – the conservatory was wonderful as always but I enjoy it more in winter. when I lived near the Lincoln Park conservatory in the city it was a great escape in winter and the outdoor gardens equally wonderful in summer.
A few decades ago, on a cold snowy day in Chicago, a young teacher decided to take her class on a field trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory. It was a warm and wonderful place that she’d hope the children would find as enchanting as she did. And amongst all the beautiful flowers and trees blooming in the middle of a Chicago winter the kids did indeed feel a certain magic about the place. Upon returning to school however, it was discovered that two little ones were missing, and although everyone searched high and low , the two youngsters were never found. A great mystery was born. And now on another cold snowy day in Chicago people still wonder. What ever became of little Connie and Karl.
Lamont, that was wonderful! I used to get lost all the time on school outings. I would wander off, and then I would be found. I wandered off in Toyko and was never found.
Did you happen to run into Bill Murray? Oh and thanks a bunch for the complement.
Humidity in Seattle in the winter?? Maybe 47 years ago, but not now. Rain, yes! But as someone with frizzy hair, I can attest to the almost-year-round lack of humidity here.
Having said that, I need to get myself to the Volunteer Park Conservatory ASAP!
Nice pictures Connie. What a great idea on a winter day. If you need any volunteers to go to the pie shop, I’m in!
Who would have thought it was February. Everyone doing fine. Next time you are out here, give me a buzz and I might be able to join you.
Will do, Leesa. I did not realize that I was that the Conservatory was close to you.
Beautiful; however, not a good place right now. Big Storm!!!!!
Those aren’t just goldfish. Those are carp!
Roz, aren’t they coy? or Koi?
Lovely!
I shivered seeing you wrapped up in your winter coats at the Conservatory, Connie. Even though it has been in the 40′s in the last several mornings here in Oaxaca because of cold front #31, it has been in the 80′s in the afternoons. When I taught at Lucy Flower High School (a neighbor of the Conservatory), I used to take my lunch bag over to the Conservatory to escape the reality of winter for one hour.
The Conservatory sure chased the chill away for us, Bill. Then, four days later, 6″ of snow fell and broke the spell.