"Mum's the Word...! "

...And

as I recall, it was a place packed with fragrance and wonder.

I remember festive holiday flower shows there filled to the brim

with

colorful chrysanthemums and cheery red poinsettia.

I also remember meandering pathways ready to explore-

each

lavishly decorated with blooming "surprises" around every corner.

No matter how blustery cold or snowy it would be in Chicago

our floral hideaway warmed us to the core.

This magical place I speak of is the Garfield Park Conservatory,

in Chicago, Illinois,

home to rare tropical plants

and celebrating...this year...its 100th anniversary!

It has been called by many as Chicago's

botanical gem of "landscape art under glass"

and

is considered as one of our nation's great botanical treasures.

From November 2001 through November 2002 the conservatory hosted

an unforgettable glass exhibition by the world famous Dale Chihuly.

(Click here to view some of the extraordinary pieces exhibited.)

My post this late November day before Thanksgiving

is to honor the priceless memories of a little girl and her "mum"

and to celebrate

the fascination I have grown to nurture as an adult

in botanical art

and

meandering "zen-tangled" pathways.

...Finally,

as an interesting "aside"...

The Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens

here in Arizona has just now opened.

On December 6th I will be participating in a sketch crawl there...

and just like in the "olden days" I'll be

wandering those old meandering "pathways" again...

still looking for "surprises" along the way.

Fascinating how life works out...

isn't it???

"We do not remember days; we remember moments."

~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand