In the midst of one of Chicago's coldest and snowiest winters on record, some springtime therapy is heading to Navy Pier.
The annual Chicago Flower & Garden Show runs March 15-23 and will feature more than 25 displays of garden goodies, from blooming flowers and trees to fruits and vegetables. Beginning in 1847, the show is a longstanding Chicago tradition.
This year's theme is "Do Green. Do Good." with a focus on sustainability and the universal benefits of gardening. The show emphasizes not only what you can grow in your garden, but also how you grow it. There will be demonstrations and seminars for all types of garden enclosures, including compact urban gardens, vertical gardens and indoor gardens.
There will also be cooking demonstrations presented by Mariano's using fresh, garden-grown foods. Chefs from some of Chicago's top restaurants, including Harry Caray's and NoMI Kitchen, are giving the demonstrations.
You can bring the kids along, too. The Kids' Activity Garden provides children with hands-on entertainment. They can meet garden critters like worms and tarantulas and make various flower-themed crafts.
To top off the week of gardening is a cake-decorating competition, where local bakers will craft garden-themed edible works of art.
Tickets are available online at chicagoflower.com or at the Navy Pier box office. Prices range from $15 to $19 for individuals. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the final Sunday.
