So in my last post I wafted euphoric about the glories of the Philadelphia Flower Show, but today I’m here to tell you that the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, running through March 15 at Navy Pier, is also good, good, good. Since you’re interested enough in gardens to be reading this, I just want you to know that if you miss the show, you’re going to cry bitter tears of regret later on.

The quality is high. They didn’t round up the usual suspects (daffodils, tulips and hyacinths)—and the designs are both lovely to look at and instructive. There’s a strong green theme with an emphasis on water—how to use less, how to recycle it, how to keep it out of rivers and lakes. This is a show to indulge your Inner Engineer.

While the major exhibits were sponsored by the region’s leading cultural institutions (Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago Botanic Garden, Lincoln Park Zoo, Museum of Contemporary Art), local garden clubs did some whiz-bang work as well.

The Wicker Park Garden Club, assisted by Garfield Park Conservatory, put together a huge display garden to demonstrate a transformed urban parking lot. And Garden Clubs of Illinois members from District 8 created a little humdinger that elicited both admiring gasps and chuckles. (No, I’m not going to spoil the fun by telling you what they did. Go see it for yourself.)

—Carolyn Ulrich,
   Chicagoland Gardening Editor