Chicago Botanic Gardens
Chicago Botanic Gardens
Hey Steemians. So despite my always present urge need to find a way to work for myself, I have to say that I do love my company and the awesome people I work with. Thanks to them I was able to spend my workday volunteering at the Chicago Botanic Gardens instead of sitting at my desk all day!
Every year my company sponsors our own World Environment Week focused on cleaning up the environment in some way, and this Botanic Garden volunteer day is a big part of it. Not only do we help keep the gardens clean by weeding planters, pruning old growth, and planting new seedlings; but we help with conserving plants for the future through their seed bank initiative.
One of the most amazing things about the Chicago Botanic Garden is how much focus is put on educating people about the environment, horticulture, plant morphology, and every other topic you could think of related to plants. They have even built a new learning center to further this goal to encourage kids to get outside and be involved with the environment.
The Gardens
Unfortunately, it was raining a majority of the time we were there today, so I wasn't able to walk around as much as I had hoped, and outside the photo above, most of the photos I took were of plants inside the greenhouse. The best time to see anything bloom in the greenhouses is January through March so there wasn't too much going on, but I did get these pics below.
I will definitely be heading back here as soon as I can, one of the new exhibits that they have put together is focused on Brazilian plants. Brazil is one of the most biodiverse places on our planet and the plants are a perfect teaching tool to show how amazing our environment is. I'm also hoping that they will have a couple of their Corpse Flowers in bloom!
Hope you guys enjoyed the pictures. Stay tuned for a follow-up post with pictures from the butterfly exhibit, there are some amazing pics I was able to capture!
Bonus pic of me and my coworkers finally getting inside after being rained on for an hour while weeding.
You look so happy.
And so do the plants!!! I love the symmetry of plants, so pretty such spiral such oh god its happening again. glazes over
Well done Sir. <3
Hahaha, I'll have to see if I have any others that I didn't post to share with you if you like that symmetry... ;)
I do indeed! fractals are glorious, and fractals that are produced by the ultimate machine of all (nature/the world) trumps any that are created by a machine. (imo)
Completely agree! I am going through my pics right now to see if I have any other nice ones for you!
Yay!!! I'm legit excited.
Nice beard...I bet @cryptobeard approves
Lol. I don't think I can compare to his, although I did make a pact with my wife that after the wedding I could grow it as long as I want...we'll see what happens when I get my haircut this weekend, it might go...it might not!
Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by mk40 from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, and someguy123. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network. Please find us in the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.
If you like what we're doing please upvote this comment so we can continue to build the community account that's supporting all members.
Congratulations! This post has been upvoted & resteemed by @philippinetrail on behalf of Team #minnowtowhale & the #minnowsupportproject. We thank you for any support to our members. (upvote, resteem, donate, delegate, or comments - everything is greatly appreciated!). Join us @ P.A.L. Net .
Hoping to head to Chicago in the fall, so I'm happy you've mentioned this place - I'm totally going to put it on my list! I love plants :3
If you are there in the fall it will be amazing, as long as you make it before the cold hits and all the leaves fall. If you can time it up right it is the most colorful time of the year to check out the gardens.
They are about 30 minutes north of the city but pretty easy to get to. Let me know if you want any other recommendations of what to do. Chicago is amazing...at least in the Spring, Summer and Fall...I love the place, but I can't lie Winter for anyone visiting can be pretty miserable...talking icicles forming on my mustache miserable.
Absolutely, and thanks! Looking at early September, so hopefully it will be okay. I'm a softy Vancouverite, but I survived a trip to Montreal in winter this year (barely. My eyelashes were freezing to my skin and we had to stop to duck inside every 5 minutes while walking so our lungs would stop burning) so maybe I could make it work...
hitting up one of the Kuma's is high on my list...
You definitely need to hit up Kumas!!! But only go to the one in Logan Square, the other one's are good...but the original is the best, something different between them for sure. Try and get there during an off time, otherwise you might be stuck with a 2 hour wait...
beautiful picture, especially the top picture, its so colourful, looking forward to the follow up post with the butterfly exhibit
I think the butterfly pictures are much more amazing, thanks for keeping an eye out for them!
i have visit it @mk40
If you can make it here I highly recommend it. Once you are in the gardens there is so much to see!
Very cool! I love having the chance to do things like that - and being able to spend a day there!? Lucky.
That's a great initiative your company is sponsoring and the orchids look beautiful. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the photos of the butterflies :)
Yeah, our company is pretty awesome when it comes to supporting the environment. We do a lot of manufacturing and almost all of our plants are ranked in the top quartile for being environmentally conscious. Plus, it gives me a chance to get out of the office for a day ;)
The butterfly pictures are awesome. Because of the rain they were a little less active so I was able to get some really good shots without having to chase them around the enclosure!
Your company is truly awesome and should be applauded for supporting the environment :)
nice :)