Strolling the Lurie Garden

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 Travel season continued for me with a short trip to Chicago , business related and tightly scheduled. Every time I go to Chicago I tell my self that the next time I will take an extra day and do some touristy stuff, but it was not to be this year. Still, I always find a way to pay another visit to the Lurie Garden in Millennium park.I've blogged about this garden previously here, and here . Designed by a world class triumvirate of Piet Oudolf, Robert Israel and the Seattle firm Gustafson,Guthrie and Nicol, the garden was completed in 2004. I've visited several times and taken vast quantities of photos--this is a garden I never tire of. It remains in the top tier of gardens for me ; a space that presents a stylized version of the North American prairie .



  There are several routes that will take you into the garden, but access through the 'shoulders hedge is my favorite.



 Looking  thorough gives  you a tantalizing peek at what lies ahead. 






  Look down and you may forget you are in the middle of a great city...



 ...though  the counterpoint  between the skyscrapers and the meadow is one of the compelling features of the garden. In a city as architecturally rich as Chicago , the buildings are as beautiful as the gardens.




  As you move along the paths , different views are presented, with different light patterns -loose blocks and ribbons of grasses and blooming plants alive with bees, wasps, birds and butterflies .

















 This video made by the  design firm Gustafson Guthrie and Nichol , is both the Luries 10th birthday
card and a look into the design process and concepts.

Comments

  1. Kris PetersonAugust 17, 2014 at 8:09 PM

    Thanks for the bird's eye view of the Lurie Garden, which I've never seen. I enjoyed the peek into the creative process provided by the video too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksAugust 18, 2014 at 2:45 PM

      Hope you get a chance to see it someday Kris !

      Delete
  2. Mark and GazAugust 18, 2014 at 3:17 AM

    I'm glad you took the time Kathy, and shared your photos as well. The planting is beautiful for a public space and looks like it was at its prime when you visited.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksAugust 18, 2014 at 2:48 PM

      Probably is a peak time guys, but I would love to see it in fall sometime.

      Delete
  3. MichelleAugust 18, 2014 at 7:33 AM

    Indeed a beautiful garden. I've not been to it but would love to. Nice to have such a wonderful garden in the middle of the city.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksAugust 18, 2014 at 2:50 PM

      It's really interesting when you get inside the garden the city noise seems to fall away--probably an illusion !

      Delete
  4. danger gardenAugust 18, 2014 at 8:16 AM

    Chicago, someday I'll visit - until then thanks for the look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksAugust 18, 2014 at 2:51 PM

      Worth the visit just for the buildings !

      Delete
  5. DeniseAugust 18, 2014 at 12:53 PM

    We need a Fling in Chicago!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksAugust 18, 2014 at 2:54 PM

      We already missed the boat on this one Denise, I think Fling 2 was Chicago !

      Delete
  6. Deanne FortnamAugust 18, 2014 at 5:57 PM

    How gorgeous. Great pics of a great garden Kathy. TFS, I need to get out there sometime. I keep threatening to visit Marlene. Maybe I'll do it one of these days. What's the best time of year to visit this garden?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksAugust 18, 2014 at 6:03 PM

      Deanne, I have only visited in summertime, very late July or August. It . I thinks it's planted for all season interest --maybe it's time for another midwest IU !

      Delete
  7. Hoover BooAugust 19, 2014 at 8:50 PM

    We were there just as it was finishing. It looks even better now. Wonderful photos. I knew as soon as I saw the title of your post my eyes would be in for a treat. Also excellent of you to point out how alive with birds and insects the garden is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ksAugust 19, 2014 at 9:19 PM

      This time I was there 5pm-ish , but the time before I went just after sunrise..there were bunnies !

      Delete
  8. Hoover BooAugust 24, 2014 at 7:05 AM

    You okay? Saw the earthquake on the TV.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ksAugust 24, 2014 at 10:59 AM

    All ok Hoov, lots of stuff all over the place , and just got power back in the last half hour. Many messes to clean up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hoover BooAugust 25, 2014 at 1:03 PM

      Good news. Hopefully your area gets back to normal quickly.

      Delete

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