The Chicago Flower & Garden Show

I heard about the Chicago Flower and Garden Show from a gardening magazine I love, Chicagoland Gardening.

I have found this magazine to be uber helpful, so when it recommended checking out the show, I was sold.

Well, I finally made it to the show a few days ago, and I’m sorry to say…it kinda sucked. First off, it’s located at Navy Pier, which is basically Tourist Central. I don’t have anything against popular attractions if they are good or interesting to look at or historically significant or whatever, but seriously this place is like Mall of America. It’s loud and crowded, packed with chain restaurants and cheesy themed kiosks selling cheapo souvenirs. Just ugh, you know?

The garden show itself is held in a building way at the end of the pier, not that there are any signs telling you that. But once I finally found it and paid for my ticket, I walked in–and, at first, was genuinely wowed by the displays of beautiful flowers and waterfall garden features. Maybe all the effort was worth it!

But then I kept walking and saw that many of the booths weren’t selling or displaying anything plant-related at all. Here’s a guy selling outdoor heat lamps. Here’s a lady selling vibrating massage pillows. There’s a woman selling blenders. And there’s another selling knives. It was like walking into a warehouse where 50 loosely-related infomercials are happening simultaneously.

To be fair, there were people selling flowers, too. Some were selling bulbs and seeds. There was a beautiful selection of cut flowers–in water and in vases. But all of them were ridiculously expensive. Just completely overpriced.

I don’t know, man. The whole thing ended up being really depressing. So, mental note, Chicago Flower and Garden Show pretty much sucks. That was definitely a one-and-done-type situation for me. Oh, well. They can’t all be winners.