History Blooms at Period Park in Madison, Wisconsin

 

Period Park in Madison, Wisconsin, invites visitors to an amble through a late 19th-century garden. Upon walking through Period Park, we felt transported to the carefully crafted and maintained gardens of the Gilded Age. Period Park provides a for a short pause in a stunning natural setting!

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Basking in Summer Blooms at Munsinger Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud, Minnesota

Admiring Summer Flowers at Munsinger Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud, Minnesota

Munsinger Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud, Minnesota dazzles visitors with a patchwork of beautiful gardens right along the Mississippi River. We quickly fell in love with the beautiful assemblage of plants and striking aesthetics of fountains during our visit.

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Appreciating Gardens, Chihuly Glass Art and Butterflies at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, Ohio

Wandering Through a Quilt of Gardens and Chihuly Art at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, Ohio

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, Ohio welcomed us to the brilliance and warmth of the gardens within its conservatory on a cold March day. The gray skies teased with a forthcoming rain, so we were glad to have such a beautiful indoor nature adventure ahead. 

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Winding Paths of Early Botany at Philadelphia's Bartram's Garden and a Trip Through History in Philadelphia

Bartram's Garden Shares the Roots of American Botanic Gardens and Another Aspect of Early American History

Botanical gardens in America find roots in Bartram's Garden in Philadelphia. Philadelphia played such a pivotal role in the history of the USA, it is no shock that roots of early American scientific inquiry can be found in the city as well. Bartram's Garden easily fascinated us while delighting us with the joys of nature.

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Captivating Nature Tableaux at Janesville's Rotary Botanical Gardens

Wandering Through Ever Changing Nature Tableaux of Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin

** Disclosure: Thank you to the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for hosting us and accommodating our visit. All opinions are 100% my own.

Brilliant blooms, pond serenity, thought-provoking Japanese garden paths, a gently rolling trail and more natural features captivated us during our visit to Janesville's award-winning Rotary Botanical Gardens. Our recent visit to Rotary Botanical Gardens was in fact our second visit and I was so thrilled to meander its paths during a different season. Our previous wander through the gardens included scenes of fall. So, we felt pretty excited to see the gardens fully abuzz during summer.

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How I Made Our Yard Into a Bird and Butterfly Haven

Hummingbird moth enjoying a swamp milkweed in my yard.

How I Made Our Yard Into a Bird and Butterfly Haven

Times are a bit tough right now but we do have lovely spring flowers to look forward to! Those who have been following for awhile, know that I love nature. So, it will not surprise you to learn that my yard has become a haven for birds and butterflies! In fact, I was delighted by about 100 monarch caterpillars throughout last summer. This is a great time to think gardens, so I would like to share what has worked for me!

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Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin: Winding Paths of Introspection

Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Bolz Conservatory in Madison, Wisconsin: Winding Paths of Introspection

During our recent trip to Madison, Wisconsin, we were blessed with nice weather rather unexpectedly. So, we joyfully added a nature jaunt to Olbrich Botanical Gardens to our trip. Visiting in late December, I was quite surprised that we could truly enjoy the outdoor trails but we did!

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Wandering the Gardens of Oak Park Conservatory in Oak Park, Illinois

Wandering Through Gardens Year Round at Oak Park Conservatory

Oak Park Conservatory in Oak Park, Illinois welcomes visitors to a nature oasis year round. The glass covered gem located in the Chicago suburbs was constructed in 1929 as a community effort to collect plants that residents collected as they traveled around the world. Consisting of a Mediterranean Room, Tropical Room and Desert Room, the conservatory certainly gives visitors a taste of different environs that easily transport you on a drab day.

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Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens in Rockford, Illinois: Tranquility in All Seasons

Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens in Rockford, Illinois: Tranquility in All Seasons

Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens in Rockford provided for the perfect nature oasis for this family on a cold winter day! Nicholas Conservatory is the third largest conservatory in Illinois and welcomes visitors to wander several paths and explore water features. We enjoyed a little time warming up in this tropical oasis!

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Longwood Gardens: History, Nature and Treehouses

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is an intriguing blend of history and nature. The land has long been inhabited as indicated by Lenni Lenape spears that have been discovered on the property. Centuries after the first settlers inhabited the area, Pierre du Pont purchased the land and soon began cultivating incredible gardens which would be the foundations of what we see today.

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Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois

We spent the last day of summer break wandering the tranquil environs of Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois. The balance between water features, natural elements, tea houses, foot bridges and sculptures had almost a meditative effect. We had a wonderful morning of reflection.

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Japanese Tea Garden in Geneva, IL

Tucked away in Geneva, Illinois is Fabyan Japanese Tea Garden. Fabyan Japanese Tea Garden is part of the Fabyan estate which was once home to wealthy businessman George Fabyan. The estate is on the Fox River and includes Fabyan Villa -- a home that was remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Fabyan Japanese Tea Garden and Fabyan Windmill. On this visit, we strolled through the Japanese Tea Garden.

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Native Plant Sales in the Chicago Suburbs

Planting native plants in your yard provide an excellent way to bolster butterfly and bee populations. Plus, I have found prairie natives can be quite easy to take care of. After all, they are especially adapted to the local environment! So while planning out your spring and summer gardens, consider adding some more natives. In my experience over the years, native plants tend to sell quickly. I have rounded up several local native plant sales on the horizon and each allows you to order ahead of time. I highly recommend pre-ordering if you are able to -- especially if you are looking for milkweed for the monarchs. Keep these sales on your list:

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Reasons to Join the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Gardens Program

Years ago, we fell totally in love the with The Morton Arboretum here in Lisle, Illinois. With the range of hiking trails weaving through striking tree groves, peaceful ponds for contemplation and impressive children's garden full of activities, we knew that we would be back many times and had to become members. We have been members for years now and I can honestly say it has been one of the best choices we have ever made! The Morton Arboretum membership is part of the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Gardens Program and we have certainly enjoyed the program!

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Capturing Serenity at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park {Grand Rapids}

When on vacation, you are fortunate to experience one utterly awe-inspiring moment. At Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we experienced several. A number of scenes and gardens captured our hearts and left us with us with special memories to take home.

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A Day in Savannah: Summer Road Trip Day 3

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Ahhhhhh.....Savannah! Such a beautiful, captivating city. We found so much peace walking through tranquil squares and along streets lined with graceful trees. We stayed in the Historic District, near the City Market, which proved to be an ideal launching point. We took a real relaxed approach to our visit and did not try to pound out too many attractions. If you allow it, Savannah is really a city that allows you to unwind and appreciate picturesque surroundings.

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Finding Peace at The Grove in Glenview and the Best of the Midwest Blog Hop

This month the Best of the Midwest is taking you to Gardens to enjoy the natural beauties in the Midwest. One of our favorite places to go all year round but especially in Spring and Summer is The Grove. The Grove is tucked away right off of busy Milwaukee Avenue in Glenview. The site is actually a National Historic Landmark and is comprised of land once owned by a noted horticulturalist, Dr. John Kennicott, and his son Robert, an explorer and naturalist. The preserve is home to Dr. John Kennicott's home as well as the Redfield Estate. Additionally, the preserve includes replicas of a school house, a long house and a teepee as well as a real log cabin moved to the site from Michigan.

While having a distinctly historic component, The Grove also is a stunning natural space. We often visit when we know we need a change of pace but do not have time in our schedule to go too far. Amazingly, The Grove is entirely surrounded by the busy suburbs of Chicago. When walking the grounds, though, you barely notice! Equally surprisingly is that the grounds never seem totally swarmed with people--making walks very pleasant!

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