Chicago Gardens

It is this time of year in Chicago that you start wishing spring would come. After many days of snow and cold you cling towards the idea of sunshine and warmth. I have found my sunny paradise in the middle of a Chicago winter at the numerous gardens throughout the city. In the heart of Lincoln Park, a north side community located along the lakefront, you will find the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. At the Lincoln Park Conservatory you can immerse yourself in an indoor topical paradise surrounded by plants from all over the world. You will find everything from palm trees and ferns to flowers. Close-by, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, offers an incredible live butterfly exhibit. It also offers demonstrations and learning exhibits for the whole family. If you are willing to travel just north of the city, you can experience the Chicago Botanic Garden. This garden located in nearby Glencoe, is my personal favorite. They offer, through out the year, amazing displays of greenery and numerous learning opportunities. In the winter, you can catch an art exhibit, explore the greenhouses and even get a cooking lesson with a professional chef. This winter, instead of waiting for spring, do what I do, make your own sunny paradise at one of the many gardens Chicago has to offer.