A Trip into Nature at Chicago Botanic Gardens 

The "Chicago Botanic Garden" visitor center entrance, a large brick building with a dark roof, has a sign above the main doors and people entering and exiting.

Summer means it’s finally time to ditch the coat and bring out the shorts. It also means it’s the perfect time to visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I love Chicago, but as a suburb gal sometimes, I need a break from the sky scrapers and cars. Trees, flowers, maybe a nice hike somewhere. I know we have the quad in Lincoln Park but that does not quite cut it. Luckily, the Botanic Gardens is a quick car ride or  Metra train away. 

And let me tell you: This is a garden! My friend and I hit every display, and I clocked us at walking over 5 miles. The displays are broken up into different segments, such as a Japanese garden (with a real waterfall,) a rose garden and an English garden right out of Bridgerton. 

A person with long brown hair stands facing away from the camera, looking towards a building covered in vibrant pink bougainvillea flowers
A close-up aerial view shows water lilies with green and reddish pads floating on a pond, with a single pink water lily blooming in the center.<br />

Talk about photoshoot ready! You can really have a field day taking photos here… and I may have done just that. I photographed every rose imaginable, every dainty lily pad, and so many other fantastic flowers. And that’s not to mention the adorable fish in the ponds; we even spotted a turtle! They also have these amazing green rooms with cacti and succulents galore.

There are also lots of spots to just sit, relax, and take it all in. One of my favorite spots was at the top of this waterfall where there was a small pond, with benches in the shade. The best part was that we could look out and see almost all of the Botanic Garden.

A multi-tiered waterfall cascades over rocks surrounded by dense green foliage and trees.
A healthy tomato plant in a blue pot with a garden tag from the Chicago Botanic Garden visible in the foreground."

Not only are there a lot of spots to admire plants, there are some more interactive parts too! My friend and I were there on one of their seedling days. Each month the garden gives away a little seedling plant, and I got a tomato. And it is slowly but surely growing. They also host farmer market days, different seasonal festivals, and a light display in the winter!

Another cool thing is the model railroad gardens, where they have a pathway that walks through a miniature scene of the United States and American landmarks, with different trains running through. With each section having its own different plants, the garden is a work of art in its own right.

A miniature "HOLLYWOOD" sign made of white letters is nestled among green plants and trees, with a model train track and cars in the foreground.<br />
Two smiling women, one with long brown hair and glasses and the other with short pink hair and sunglasses, pose in front of a wooden shelf display with potted plants and a backdrop of blooming pink roses.

The gardens offer a great break from Chicago city vibes. It makes a really fun day trip. I mean, what else screams summer break like a peaceful stroll through nature?

                                    ~Sienna

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