Chicago Botanic Gardens

I tell you, we couldn't have picked a finer day to visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens. The weather was crystal clear, the temperature was in low 80 - absolutely gorgeous. The flora and fauna were amazing too....

Young Mallard

Goldfinch on Sunflower

Weird Albino Grasshopper

Cicada on a Leaf

Bee on Flowers

Balcked Eyed Susans

Cool Yellow Caterpillar

Very Odd Statue

Young Grasshopper on Flower

Huge Snapping Turtle

Sparrow having a dust bath.

Path to Japanese Gardens

Waterfall near Japanese Gardens

Chipmunk Snarfing a Cicada

Dew Drops on Lambs Ears


Mamma Cardinal in Nest

Bee on a really pretty sweet pea flower

Sun behind a Hollyhock

Bumble Bee on a Flower

Hornet on a Flower

A Stroll in the Forest Preserve

You have to love nature at sunrise on a still pre-fall Sunday morning.

Pretty berries on a bush.

Cute little bull frog in the pond.

Great blue Heron on a tree swallow nesting box.

Some weird little flowers.

Sunbathing turtles.

Sweet Black Eyed Susan.

It is hard to see, but there is an Indigo Bunting in the tree.

A view from the top of the hill looking over he large pond. Way down there is where we saw the Heron, frong and turtles.

And interesting little copper colored bug.

August 9, 2008

Well, it has been 5 years since our first date and since Katie and I moved to Illinois. We couldn't be happier! So, of course, John and I celebrated by going back to the place we met on our first date - Buckingham Fountain! We ended up here after about eight hours of wandering around downtown and at Navy Pier. Here are some of the pictures we took - in no particular order.

Buckingham Fountain, much as it was the night we met.

This is the fountain out in front of Navy Pier - Looks pretty cool at night!

This is the Windy, a masted ship we took a little cruise out onto Lake Michigan.

This is my salty sea dog and love of my life!

This is Navy Pier from Lake Michigan near the dock.

Who are those wacky dwarfs in the mirror??

Near the Yacht Club along Lakeshore Drive.

Stormy clouds over the city in the late afternoon - the clouds were amazing!

A very very territorial seagull we met.

A little sparrow that picked up the light perfectly.

The Windy out on Lake Michigan near the lighthouse.

The clouds over the city at sunset.

John at the fountain at Fourth Presbyterian Church - a gorgeous courtyard!

The Watertower with the Handcock as a backdrop.

Who knew I owned a greasy spoon in the city!

Navy Pier under the clouds.

Awesome stained glass - there were about a million more in there too!