One of my favorite places to get inspiration for my garden is the Chicago Botanic Garden. It’s one of the places I mentioned when I was recently asked, “What is Chicago known for?” If you know me, then you know I had to talk about Chicago’s gardens when asked that question. I love the way Chicago has lived up to its motto, chosen over 200 years ago: “Urbs in Horto,” which means “City in a Garden.”
The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the largest gardens in the Chicago area. It actually has many gardens—28, in fact, plus 4 natural areas. But that doesn’t stop me from adapting their ideas to my own small lot. Just like the Chicago Botanic Garden has its Japanese Garden and its English Walled Garden, I have my Stratford Cottage Garden and my Mackinac Island Garden.
My favorite garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden is the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Island. It employs organic cultural methods, like the victory gardens of the past. This garden showcases all kinds of edible plants and shows that they are beautiful and can be used in ornamental ways. It’s a great place to get ideas not only for my Slava Ukraini Victory Garden but also for my ornamental beds.
The Chicago Botanic Garden is certainly a highlight for gardeners in the Chicago area. But if you’d like to know more about other places to visit in Chicago, check out the Redfin article I was just featured in: What is Chicago Known For? Exploring the Windy City’s Iconic Attractions, Culture, and History.
The Gardener Wife 