Last winter I visited the Lincoln Park Conservatory here in Chicago. This building is next to the Lincoln Park Zoo; what a spectacular area of the city!
Among the flora and fauna I encountered that day, I came upon a room filled with poinsettias! Talk about captivating! I had no idea there were so many colors of this type of plant. When I was a child, we always had red poinsettias at Christmas. Here I was in a public, poinsettia wonderland, feeling quite bemused at my findings. This may sound rather strange; silly perhaps, but I felt as if I had discovered a well-kept secret! So, all poinsettias are not created equal! I saw red (naturally!) poinsettias, white, light pink, rose pink, blushed pink, spotted, and some poinsettias a color the likes of which I’ve certainly never seen before!
Being somewhat of a traditionalist (or perhaps the more appropriate term would be, “person in the dark all these years”) I found my favorite poinsettia of all time (red, wouldn’t you know):
Here is another, “FMI” (for my information, since I didn’t know this either): this poinsettia looked like a tree! And I asked myself (because there was no one else at the moment to clarify my pondering perceiving) is this the way ALL poinsettias grow if left to their own, wild devices? I have no idea; perhaps you can shed some light on these plants for me!
Ah, the, “Canadian Content” you knew it might show up, didn’t you? And show up it did (literally):
I was thrilled to see a model train coming ’round the bend, as it were. I thought I spotted the word, “Canadian”, but I wasn’t quite sure, so I waited for the train to travel around the circuit, camera poised, and there it was! “Canadian Apples”, next to the “Fluid Recycling Services” tank. Hhhhmmm, best not to mix up the two; I don’t know about you, but I don’t quite think I’d take to the idea of recycled apples.
But I digress; we were talking about poinsettias, weren’t we?
Now how on earth did that train show up again? Ah, note the sign, “Please Do Not Touch the Trains!” Gee, that is some heavy-duty fence ‘stickage’ they have protecting the recycled apples, don’t you think?
Perhaps I should simply stick with red poinsettias; clearly at this point, I am way off track!!
A place I’d like to visit.
I will give you a personal tour and all I ask for is a cup of Timmies (you knew I’d say that)! 😉 Cher xo
So cool Cher!!! Thanks for this post, really made me smile. Hope you’re having a wonderful day!!! Big hugs. xo
Ah, thanks dear Donna! That is terrific! I hope you are having an equally wonderful day, my dear!! Big hugs, Cher xo
Fun post. I think I am accurate when I say thst my dad worked at the Lincoln Park Conservatory when he was a youngster.
I am not a poinsettia person, but if I were, red would be the only way to go. And lastly, can we please keep the apples away from industrial fluids?
Hi Bruce! Thank you so much! Oh did he? Isn’t that cool! Well you have made me feel much better! *LOL* Truly, I felt rather embarrassed when I strolled through the poinsettias; I mean, where on earth have all of these colorful plants been? But thank you, red it is!! *LOL* I quite agree; leave those apples alone!! Cher xo
Ahh!! I want that train set and a garden too thx! 😁
*LOL* ANDY!!! What about the poinsettias? 😉 Cher xo
erm.. I’ll pick presents over it lol
Hahaha, yeah, I kinda figured you’d say that! ;-P
Thanks for the report, Sharing Cher! 🙂 Lincoln Park is a terrific part of the city. I really have to make it down there to see the Conservatory. Wow! Yes, poinsettias can grow into very large bushes in tropical areas. I saw some bushes in one garden in the Philippines that were more than 6 foot tall. Very exotic!
*LOL* Thank you, Mike! It really is, isn’t it? Oh yes, you absolutely should. It’s wonderful, and free! Well thank you, Mike; I do hope everyone is reading your comments, as clearly (at least I think?) I am not the only one who didn’t know about this. Wow, and really, we don’t think of poinsettias that way in this part of the world, do we, Mike? Cher xo
So beautiful, the poinsettias! Delightful reading, thanks Cher 🙂 Love, Iris
Ah, they are beautiful, aren’t they, Iris? They are the epitome of the holidays, I think. Thank you so much, my dear! Love, Cher xo
Flowers and model trains…what a great combination. Thanks for sharing, Cher. 🙂
Awh, bless! Thank you! I think it’s a great combo, too! Cher xo
Beautiful flowers Cher, but I also have to say that the child in me wants to play with the train. 🙂
Well dear Don, truth be told, I was rather tempted (but being the good Canadian that I am, I obeyed the sign)!! Cher xo
Great photos, back home in Michigan the Canadian National railway ran through my town several times per day on tracks they own. Amtrak shared the line but is owned by CN, Guessing you have your keyboard set to American English aye?
Hi John! That is very cool! Good ‘ol CN! *LOL* Why yes, as a matter of fact, I do! 😉 Cher xo
Reblogged this on georgeforfun.
lurvely 🙂
back on my sofa 🙂
Yeay! Brilliant, dear Niki!!! Cher xo
A beautiful post. Though can I say; It has taken me years to get over my phobia of poinsettias. many years ago I did a horticulture course and spent hours in Glass houses tending these plants and by the end,I never wanted to see another poinsettia ever again. Though you have ‘wetted my appetite.’ I think your blog is thearaputic 🙂
Awh, my dear, I can see how spending hours upon hours literally in a glass house could result in a tumultuous relationship with poinsettias! I know I’d feel that way! *LOL* But I am happy you found this little post a welcoming read! Bless; that is so sweet of you to say!! Big hugs to you, Cher xo
Wonderful post. I want to visit but I am going south. I liked your photographs very much. Hugs, Barbara
Ah, bless you dear Barbara! Maybe another time you can come and visit Chicago! It’s a lovely city! Thank you!! Hugs, Cher xo
Reblogged this on IdealisticRebel's Daily View of Favorites.
Love the pics! Beautiful.
Thank you, dear Kitt! Cher xo
Lovely post. We visited the conservatory nearly two years ago, but I don’t remember poinsettias (perhaps they changed the display). We used to give our next door neighbour a red poinsettia every Christmas, then, about fifteen years ago our local garden centre suddenly sprouted all the colours in your photos. I love the variations, i must say. The bare-stemmed poinsettia tree looks contrived, like a standard rose, but I am sure that they do grow into shrubs or small tree in the wild. The train is a happy bonus.
Thank you, Hilary! I wonder if the conservatory changes their displays each season? I honestly felt rather foolish in my lack of knowledge about the many varieties and colors of poinsettias. Red it was for us, too! I thought the same thing you did about the poinsettia tree; however, yes, I am sure you are correct! When we purchase poinsettias in the store, they look much different, don’t they? Ah yes, the train was a surprise!! Cher xo