Allen Frantzen and George love to garden and use garden pictures to keep track of what grows and what doesn’t as the seasons come and go, not to mention what plants are expected to come up, and where, once the snow melts and the ground thaws. They often visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens to photograph changes in the seasons.
The Chicago Botanic Gardens
Created and managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society, the Botanic Gardens were first opened to the public in 1972. The garden receives over one million visitors each year making it the second most visited botanic garden in the United States.
The Chicago Botanic Gardens are made up of 2,587,596 plants which include:
- 13,989 trees
- 879,087 bulbs
- 1,428,719 perennials
- 28,032 aquatic plants
- 65,987 shrubs
Here are a few pictures taken by Allen and George on a trip to the Botanic Gardens back in February of this year: http://allenjfrantzen.com/garden/Botanic16/feb16.html.
Allen Frantzen loves visiting the Botanic Gardens as way to gain inspiration for his own garden and to simply admire the great beauty and fresh air of the park. There are always tons of people around admiring the same beauty and nature of the garden from their own perspectives, coming from different life experiences, joys, and struggles. The Chicago Botanic Garden is the perfect place to spend a beautiful, sunny day in Chicago. People of all ages can come to the gardens and enjoy themselves in their own way. It is refreshing for Allen Frantzen to see so many people out and enjoying themselves through the beauty and serenity of nature.
Allen Frantzen Home Garden
Visiting the Chicago Botanic Gardens has give Allen Frantzen great motivation and inspiration when developing his own garden back at home. Each year he grows a variety of plants that provide great beauty and a sense of freshness to his back yard.
Some of the flowers and plants in his garden include:
- Clematis
- Roses
- Rhododendron
- Poppies
- Peonies
- Crabapple
- Tulips
- And More
Each year, Allen Frantzen attempts to try something a little different to change up the atmosphere of his home garden and really bring it to life. He loves learning about different types of plants and flowers and mixing and matching different colors and styles to create a beautiful masterpiece where he can sit and relax in the comfort of his own home. In his home garden, Allen Frantzen spends a lot of time reading, writing, chatting with friends and family, and simply reflecting on all life’s beauties and complexities.
Even the very process of gardening, growing, watering, and taking care of the plants is an act of relaxation and thoughtfulness for Allen Frantzen. During the snowy winter months, Allen Frantzen still has his garden on his mind, planning out landscapes and growing seasons for certain flowers. As soon as the spring weather comes along and the shining sun has melted the snow away, you can find Allen Frantzen out at work perfecting his beautiful home garden for himself and his family and friends to enjoy.