The show, which was little more than floral decorating in the past- if I'm being honest, has been moved from the 1st floor to the 9th floor at the State Street store. This has brought a dramatic change. It looks like a real flower show with a display garden you can walk through. It's an experience of sights, sounds and scents. I'm a big fan of topiary; I judge flower shows by whether or not they have topiaries, and how large they are. In previous years I was charmed by the giant flamingos at Macy's, and I'm glad that this year there are two giant toucan bird topiaries at the show. Several of these were created for Macy's flagship stores across the country, but Chicago is the only location with two of them.
You enter the show through a proscenium that depicts Carnaval in Rio de Janiero, and begin the garden tour in the arid gardens. It's a wonderful collection of cacti and succulents amid a backdrop of colonial architecture.
From the desert gardens you can enter the lush, jungle interior and see vignettes like this tropical hut. You almost expect to see some villagers walk in and lay on the hammock.
There's even a tropical waterfall in the gardens. To get the design of the waterfall right the show's designers visited the Garfield Park Conservatory and studied the waterfall in the Fern Room to get it just right. A bulk of the plants from the Brasil garden show will be donated to the Garfield Park Conservatory after the show closes.
The slum gardens of Brazil were explained to us before we actually got to see them. The moment I heard "slum" I cringed internally because I was expecting poverty pimping. Once I saw what the slums looked like I felt foolish. Given that the flower show pays homage to the country's Portuguese heritage by using the Portuguese spelling of Brasil, my concern of how they'd represent the poor areas proved to be unfounded. The slum garden (not fully pictured) is very tastefully done.
Another sign that Macy's was careful and respectful of the theme is the nod to the country's present and future in this modernistic garden.
The plant selection consists of 5,500 tropical plants and 60 specimens of trees, representing more than 200 species. I won't show you all of them because you have to experience the gardens for yourself. But I will say that I was blown away by the colorful bromeliads the show is covered in.
After touring the flower show, which is more like a conservatory mixed with a natural history exhibit, you can head to the Walnut Room where the second of the toucan topiaries can be found and dine one Brazilian flank steak from March 25th through 31st and grilled pork churrasco from April 1st through 7th. The Brazilian wines and other food items are offered throughout the store. Brasil: Gardens in Paradise is located on the 9th floor of Macy's on State Street and is free to the public. The flower show runs from March 25th to April 7th. I highly recommend it. If you go to the flower show in your area this weekend I'd like to hear how different the setting is compared to the one in Chicago.
I'll leave you with one more picture of the toucan topiary. 30,000 Brazilian button flowers comprise the beak. 7,000 black Brazilian strawflowers comprise the stripe/ring around the beak.30,000 dyed magnolia leaves create the "feathers." Man, I wish I worked on the Macy's flower show so I could take home of the toucans.
This looks like a great show, tropical is really in, but I wish the prices were a little better for all of those exotics. The Walnut Room brings me back to my childhood, how special it was to eat there.
ReplyDeleteEileen
This year it is a great show. I was stunned when I saw what they managed to accomplish in the new location on the ninth floor. Speaking of the Walnut Room, I should take my nephew there.
DeleteNow there's a Macy's show I will make an effort to attend. The bromeliads look like fireworks! And I love that most of the plants will go to GPC afterwords. This kind of event goes a long way towards helping Chicago forgive Macy's for, well, existing, on State St. Good job, Macy's! (and to MBT, too, for the nice post!)
ReplyDeleteLOL. I was thinking the same thing. I definitely want to go back and see it when it's all planted out. Since we didn't have a meetup this year at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show this year we should try to get all the local garden bloggers together one Saturday or Sunday before Macy's flower show ends.
DeleteWish Macy's here did something. Instead, we have a sale. Those are lovely "rooms" and who can resist the toucans? thanks for being our man on the spot.
ReplyDeleteToo bad you don't have a show like this at your local Macy's. It's a fun thing to go to around here.
DeleteIt was photos on your blog back when the theme was flamingos that INSPIRED me to attend--all the way from Ann Arbor. So there. I esp. adore the rock wearing duct tape suspenders and am super bummed I can't see it in person. :(
ReplyDeleteI remember that ;0)
DeleteBeautiful! Wish I could see it in person, but your pictures really help ease the pain :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the pics Garden Broad.
DeleteWish I was there. I think it's so interesting you judge a show by its topiaries -- which, when I think about it, makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the recap, and the toucan photos!
ReplyDeleteWell, any show that has topiary is a flower show that doesn't take itself too serious, is what I think. If the show is too good for topiary it's too good for lowbrow people like myself who love their whimsy.
DeleteStunning, wish I could see it in person. These photos remind me of all the years I spent in South America, such a lush beautiful landscape! I especially love the tucan.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that about you. After all these years of knowing your blog and I learned something knew. :0)
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