Late spring in the Chicago Botanic Garden was a world of color. Flowering crabapples, rhododendrons, peonies, tulips, and hundreds more varieties of flowers were all in bloom.
Above is an urn with "Mandarin Lights Rhododendron."
Rhododendrons and azaleas are in the same family. This is "White Lights Azalea."
"Mist Maiden Rhododendron" was one of the most elegant with lush petals of white
fading into pink and rose.
"Mist Maiden Rhododendron"
"Ice Queen White Rhododendron" This bush was in the English Walled Garden.
"Northern Hi-Lights Azaleas"
Rhododendrons and azaleas are usually warm climate flowers and you find them in
Maryland and North Carolina and Georgia. But efforts have been made in recent years
to develop varieties which can withstand the cold winters of Chicago, or to find varieties
in cold climates around the world. These azaleas from Koreau are doing well.
They are on the Japanese Garden Island.
to develop varieties which can withstand the cold winters of Chicago, or to find varieties
in cold climates around the world. These azaleas from Koreau are doing well.
They are on the Japanese Garden Island.
Early Compact Korean Rhododendron; hardy to Chicago climate.
Pale lavender azaleas.
Pink peony. Usually I miss these flowers because they bloom after the tulips and early
spring flowers. But this year I was fortunate, and a number of peony bushes were
blooming in the Garden. This blossom is nearly 10" in diameter.
These are Chinese Tree Peonies. Their name is a misnomer, because they grow only four
feet high. But their woody stems survive through the winter; they do not die back to the
ground in the fall like bush peonies or garden peonies.
feet high. But their woody stems survive through the winter; they do not die back to the
ground in the fall like bush peonies or garden peonies.
A cluster of pink peonies.
Beautiful rose-hued peony. These are some of the largest and most lush flowers
in the Garden.
in the Garden.
Peony Bush in bloom.
Deep rose Chinese Tree Peony. The contrast of the dark color of the flower and the
light color of the leaves is very dramatic.
light color of the leaves is very dramatic.
"Winston Churchill" Narcissus. Many varieties of daffodils, narcissus, and jonquils
had finished blooming, but late varieties, like this one still filled beds.
had finished blooming, but late varieties, like this one still filled beds.
"Lemon Chiffon" Narcissus with small yellow throat.
Flowers were planted in pots as well as the grounds. Here is a pot of purple Persian Buttercups / Ranunculus along with a few tulips.
Chicago certainly has one of the largest collections and most varieties of Persian
Buttercups / Ranunculus of any garden. They are beautiful as individual specimens
as well as full beds of flowers, and they come in every color. They are hardy,
long-lasting, and easy to grow.
Lavender Persian Buttercups.
Pink Persian Buttercups. They come as single flowers, doubles, and more.
White Persian Buttercups, which are often used in bridal bouquets.
The foliage is feathery and light.
The foliage is feathery and light.
Peach Persian Buttercups
Yellow Persian Buttercups
White Persian Buttercups with black centers.
"Yellow Lupine" were blooming in the English Garden. These tall stalks are
four feet high and they bloom for a long time.
four feet high and they bloom for a long time.
Purple and Blue Lupine were blooming in the Heritage Garden. Lupine come in
every color, so you can easily choose the background color for your garden.
Planters of many kinds are found around the gardens. This one is at the entrance to
the Enabling Garden and features pansies, sweet alyssum, and snapdragons.
The Enabling Garden demonstrates how you can have a garden at home without having
to bend over or kneel on the ground. It has raised flower beds of many kinds.
Tulips come in early and late varieties. This was late spring, so we got to enjoy the large,
brilliant late blooming tulips like this "Dordogne Triumph Tulip" mixed with "Apricot
Moroccan Toadflax."
Dordogne Tulips and Moroccan Toadflax.
"Roi du Midi" yellow tulips.
Queen of the Night" black tulips make a wonderful contrast with bright yellow
and orange tulips.
"Antoinette Tulips" were a special variety this year which open as bright yellow with
white edges, the way I saw them on my first visit. By two days later, when I visited again,
they have changed to deep yellow, pink, orange, and tangerine. Every one is different
and burning with color.
"Antoinette Tulips" in changing mode.
One of the other unusual tulips was the "Ice Cream Tulip." This starts out as a tight bud in
pink and green. And then it opens, like an ice cream cone, and a big, thick pure white
tulip with many petals emerges out of the center. It is luscious enough to lick!
"Ice Cream Tulips" fully open, with yellow centers.
"Ballerina Lily Tulips" are large, tall, late tulips with stripes of orange and deep rose.
Their petals flare open like lilies.
A bed of "Ballerina Tulips" along the wall by the Rose Garden.
Ballerina Tulips in front, then Blue Stock, and then Dordogne Tulips.
Orange Balloon Tulips, late blooming and large and round.
Visitor beside "Mandarin Lights" rhododendron bush.
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every color, so you can easily choose the background color for your garden.
Planters of many kinds are found around the gardens. This one is at the entrance to
the Enabling Garden and features pansies, sweet alyssum, and snapdragons.
The Enabling Garden demonstrates how you can have a garden at home without having
to bend over or kneel on the ground. It has raised flower beds of many kinds.
Tulips come in early and late varieties. This was late spring, so we got to enjoy the large,
brilliant late blooming tulips like this "Dordogne Triumph Tulip" mixed with "Apricot
Moroccan Toadflax."
Dordogne Tulips and Moroccan Toadflax.
"Roi du Midi" are tall, single late tulips with "Belarina Nectarine Primroses" below.
"Roi du Midi" yellow tulips.
Queen of the Night" black tulips make a wonderful contrast with bright yellow
and orange tulips.
"Antoinette Tulips" were a special variety this year which open as bright yellow with
white edges, the way I saw them on my first visit. By two days later, when I visited again,
they have changed to deep yellow, pink, orange, and tangerine. Every one is different
and burning with color.
"Antoinette Tulips" in changing mode.
One of the other unusual tulips was the "Ice Cream Tulip." This starts out as a tight bud in
pink and green. And then it opens, like an ice cream cone, and a big, thick pure white
tulip with many petals emerges out of the center. It is luscious enough to lick!
"Ice Cream Tulips" fully open, with yellow centers.
"Ballerina Lily Tulips" are large, tall, late tulips with stripes of orange and deep rose.
Their petals flare open like lilies.
A bed of "Ballerina Tulips" along the wall by the Rose Garden.
Ballerina Tulips in front, then Blue Stock, and then Dordogne Tulips.
Orange Balloon Tulips, late blooming and large and round.
Visitor beside "Mandarin Lights" rhododendron bush.
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SO happy to see pansies. Thank you,
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