Under the glass roof

by Lorien E. Menhennett

Who loves a garden, loves a green-house too.
Unconscious of a less propitious clime
There blooms exotic beauty, warm and snug,
While the winds whistle and the snows descend.
— William Cowper, “The Task,” 1785

I read that verse on a placard at the Garfield Park Conservatory earlier this week. My family and I have been visiting this incredible Chicago greenhouse since I was little, especially during winter holidays. Under that glass roof, you’re transported to tropical and desert climates, despite the frigid temperatures outside. This year’s visit was especially special to me this year, as a New Yorker, with so little greenery around me. (And obviously, no backyard garden.) Here are some photos I took during our visit. Click on any image to enlarge.