Chicago’s Lurie Garden in Late October
The Lurie Garden is dramatically beautiful right now, and an excellent vantage spot from which to view the lakefront skyline.
Judy took a walk this afternoon during a break from the work day, and snapped these pictures with her cell phone.
Grasses and foliage provide a tapestry of gold, tan, green, brown, red, and yellow. The contrast with the skyline is exciting, almost startling.
This is also one of the few spots where you can see some dramatic fall foliage in downtown Chicago. Those red leaves belong to sugar maples, I believe.
The flowers are no longer, but Lurie Garden is still a wonderful place to walk. People who work or live in downtown Chicago should go see it at least once more before everything is frozen, then covered with white.
What gardens if any do you enjoy in October?
gardeninacity 
I’ve never been to Chicago, but the grassy meadow look seems just right for it to me. That’s a lovely open space: kudos to whomever is responsible for the Lurie Garden!
Well, it was designed and implemented by Piet Oudolf, Robert Israel, and the landscape architects Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (at first I thought this was a single person). There are many, many things I dislike intensely about our last mayor (Richard Daley #2), but this was one thing he did that was really good for the city.
Is this the garden designed by Piet Oudolf?
Yes, among others – see my response above.
Brings back some great memories of when I spent a week working in Chicago. I was lucky enough to stay downtown and spend a weekend there. Such an amazing city. I was very taken with all the art and greenery.
Chicago is a great city to visit, you should try to come out here again! Let me know if you do! (After the new bean is settled, of course.)
How very beautiful, and as you say, a dramatic foil for the Chicago skyline. Thanks for visiting my blog Jason.
Seeing the tall steel and glass buildings rise up out of this wild prairie garden is a bit of a thrill.
still on my bucket list
Some day you’ll get there!
It is indeed very attractive. Besides, it looks as if it is probably not high maintenance.
Probably not compared to many other public gardens – but it does require some maintenance, some of which is done by volunteers.
We were down visiting Millennium Park last year and didn’t even know this existed until we stumbled into it. So beautiful and such a hidden treasure. Now we try to visit the gardens when we are in the area.
Definitely worth taking some time to see during a day trip to the loop.
Absolutely beautiful…love everything about it!
I figured this garden would appeal to you, especially at this time of year when the grasses take center stage.
My son is now not too far from Chicago and really enjoying exploring your city. I sent him your post.
It is a great city for young people.
Amazing garden in a city. The color are wonderful, Jason. I love Judy’s next to last photo with red maple leaves. I think Chicago is beautiful city!
Thank you, Nadezda. Those maple leaves are a fiery red, aren’t they?
Hey Jason,
Love the juxtaposition of the prairie and the modern architecture. So appropriate for Chicago. Thanks, Judy. BTW, wouldn’t you love to see the Highline in NYC?
She has seen it, though I have not.
Oh wow! I just love the softness of the swaying grasses against that skyline. Gorgeous.xxxx
Exactly, it’s a magical sight.
Fab planting – wish I could go and see it some day! At present I’m enjoying my own garden which is beautiful, I think, but I also get to see lots of gardens while out shooting for my work.
What a wonderful job you have! I am envious.
Great photos – this is the way to capture the whole thing. Today was sunny in Lurie and there were even a few nectar-hungry insects feeding off the last flowers. I love these colors too.
Thanks – amazing you can get pics this good with a cell phone.
It looks so midwestern. I was there in September a few years ago and loved it, especially that skyline as a backdrop.
One of these days I have to make it to North Carolina. Lurie is definitely a multi-season garden.
Your wife took some great photos. I love seeing the sky line. It’s so very different from others.
It’s a dramatic skyline, and mostly a very new one because the skyline keeps changing.
What a restful place to take a break!
I know, I have to make myself walk there more often before winter really sets in.
I’ve never been to Chicago and love the contrast of the soft plantings against the angular buildings. Beautiful!
What’s also gorgeous is when thousands of Salvia bloom in ealry summer. The skyline does make an amazing backdrop to the garden. Talk about a borrowed view!
Goodness are those shots AMAZING!! The large swatches of color just make me sing!!! It is ridiculous that I have not been down to see this garden…putting it on my list! Happy weekend to you Jason!
Maybe you could come downtown to see Lurie garden, then do some early holiday shopping.
A glorious garden! So, what’s this frozen and covered in white thing you’re talking about? Sounds scary and cold.
Oh, didn’t you know? It’s just vanilla ice cream. Delicious!
I agree with Patrick. it is a great juxtaposition of opposites. Do they cut the foliage down or let it through winter? It would be a winter wonderland with all that texture if the wind does not flatten it all.
That’s a good question, so I checked their website. Turns out they leave plants up over winter, and the plant palette was selected with winter interest in mind. Now I need to remember to walk and see the garden on mild winter days.
I bet it’s quite the wildlife oasis! Any idea how they manage to cut everything back? It seems like it would be an almost overwhelming task unless a mower was possible.
How lucky you are to visit the Lurie Garden in late October. I\
It’s a lovely garden in every season.
I am sure this is true, although, so far, I have only seen it in one season.