City Escape

Off the Kedzie stop along the Green CTA line in Chicago is a wonderful store called City Escape. "Escape" is definitely the proper word to capture the wonderful garden oasis that is a surprising discovery in the middle of the city. The store is huge and is filled with an array of plants, decorative garden containers, planting supplies and materials. I first visited the store towards the end of the winter and the mild and humid climate from the greenhouse atmosphere was relaxing and calming. At the beginning of May, the store formulates its outside front and back yards with temporary displays of large trees, shrubs, and ornamental cast iron urns. City Escape was so much fun to visit and I certainly hope to go back soon.

The Gardens of Versailles

The Gardens of Versailles are exceptional. Spending a sunny afternoon meandering around the huge property of Versailles was so breathtaking and entrancing. The garden is comprised of a major path or allée that features trimmed hedges, fountains, allegorical statues. Many other paths and smaller enclosed hedges spring off from the main path. The gardens also include several other tangent properties, including Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon. The most famous fountain in the garden is of the sun god Apollo rising out of the middle of a fountain with golden horses. When the fountain is 'on' with water flowing, the horses seems to be splashing and moving about. The entire garden is so spatially controlled and specific it wonderfully exemplifies the Rococo decorative motifs so popular at that time period. Versailles is the epitome and major influence of many other European gardens and palaces and it's wonderful to see many visitors continue to visit and discover how special it is.