Visit to Parque La Mexicana

 I just returned from a visit to Parque La Mexicana in Mexico City, Mexico. 

Amazing.  Simply amazing.  In the middle of January, this park was one of the prettiest, most maintained, clean, beautiful, incredible parks I have seen in a long time.  I can only imagine what it must be like in the spring, though honestly, it was so pretty it would be hard to beat.  

 The first photo is of a beautiful mass planting of the blue Agapanthus (all time favorite plant of mine) near a fountain and the second photo has the white Agapanthus paired with Magnolia Trees.  Swoon!!!

 Mass grass plantings- can't go wrong with that ever. 

 Parque La Mexicana sits right dab in the middle of Mexico City in an area called Santa Fe.  This area has some of the most architecturally unique buildings I have seen in a long time all in one place.  The buildings are both residential and office buildings and all are impressive.  The park itself used to be the city dump.  Yes, you read that right, the city dump.  Can you even imagine?!?!  And look at it now.  What an incredible transformation.  

 There are bike paths and walking and jogging paths that run throughout the park;  the path is made of recycled tires so it is nice and soft.  

 The pathways are simply breathtaking.

 More examples of the plantings- here with Santolina and blooming Sedum.

 Rosemary and grasses.

 There is an area for children to play with jungle gyms, swings, baby zip line and structures to play on.  There is a Starbucks, several restaurants as well as a PetCo.  Almost everyone walking has a dog (or two) and you can see people working on the gardens and beds all over the park helping to keep it pristine. 

 There is also a skate-park.

 And as if it wasn't already one of the most amazing things you have seen in a long time, there is also a concert amphitheater in the middle of the park.  Stunning.  Can you imagine???

 I think this was one of my favorite spots and view. 

 One of the ponds.

 A classic combo and one of my all time favorites- Agaves and grasses.  Love.

 And if that wasn't beautiful enough, it has Weeping Willows along the side of the Agave and grass patches.  It was like they knew my favorite plants and put them all together.

 This is a little stream that runs a long length of the park- it is so relaxing to sit and hear the trickling stream of water flowing as you sit in the incredibly comfortable benches.  

 I am constantly impressed with Mexico City and their beautification of their public spaces- they do mass plantings, sprinkle in art as well as change up seasonally all over the city.  This was my first time visiting this park and it will not be my last.  It was an amazing day, blue skies, perfect day to walk the path, grab a coffee and admire the beautiful park.

A Tour of Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

Visit to Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

We just returned from an incredible amazing trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago Illinois.   This was our first trip here and I can't believe we have not visited sooner.  This post will have to be in two parts as there are so many photos and I could turn it into three but will condense into two.  I cannot say enough good things about this place.  It was truly magnificent.  

 There are several houses at the conservatory and you wind your way through them oohing and aaahing the entire time.  Everywhere you look is perfect.  

 The conservatory is free to the public, which just means to me that they have wonderful donors and a wonderful support system and it shows.

 The beds are loaded with plants of all sizes, specimen as well as smaller sized plants throughout.

 The way they have laid out the beds clearly took lots of time, thought and planning and it shows.   The houses are clean, there are no dead plants anywhere and everything is happy and healthy.

 It is always fun for me to see plants that we use here in Austin in other climates- here is the Pride of Barbados, an old favorite of many here in Austin.  We have several planted outside the nursery, Vivero Growers,  in fact that continue to impress year after year.  

 The houses were so peaceful and tranquil- you could spend the entire day here.

 I loved this- a tribute to Aretha in one of the ponds.  She had just passed away when we were in Chicago and they wasted no time in organizing a beautiful tribute to honor her.

 The Desert House- oh my gosh.  There were so many things here that we so exciting to see.  

 Several large specimen items that we were both familiar with as well as a wonderful array of unique and rare cacti and aloe.

 The houses were approx. 25-30 feet high if that gives you any perspective as to how huge some of these were!!!

 The good ol' Yucca rostrata.  Couldn't not include him- another popular plant in Austin.

 I mean look at that!!!

 Everywhere you looked- and again, see how clean and healthy everything looks!

 Along the edges of the house were elevated beds filled with aloes, agaves and succulents.

 I posted about half of the photos I have from this house alone.

 We were so impressed.  We have visited conservatories all over the country and have never seen anything like this.

 My personal favorite of all the Kalanchoe family, here in massive specimen form.

 Everything was clearly happy.

 I was impressed at how well maintained everything was- that is not an easy task.  

 We have this Opuntia in our trough at the nursery, no where near as large as this!!

 I liked this combo- one I love the Oxalis in general, but also great color combo!!

 The Palms were so impressive.  This house was one of the taller houses. 

 Just perfect!

 Love this- the espalier apple tree with boxwood.  Perfect.

 More photos from the Desert House, it might have been my favorite house.....

 I loved all the combinations and pairings.

 Perfect Barrel Cactus planted alongside King Ferdinand and Queen Victoria's.

 Look don't touch.... these spines never come out.....

I hope you enjoyed part one of my tour.  Above is a rare yucca.  So much to see- definitely worth a visit!