Under the shade and protection of a great oak, a group of ladies passed around plastic containers of home-made specialties. Chattering away in a foreign language, their chopsticks moving to and fro with the cadence of their speech, they seemed excited to be here.

Near the entrance of the main building, the ticket kiosk for the popular site-seeing tram handed tickets to a group of senior citizens who promptly took their seats; their purses propped on their laps, in quiet contemplation of the great outdoors.

Inside, curators managed the surprisingly large crowd for this cold, Spring Thursday, issuing tickets and brochures of the myriad upcoming events at the gardens. A quick glance and I was promised an April filled with spring planting seminars, visiting chef demonstrations, tai chi and yoga classes, and antiques and garden fair. The gift shop salesclerks bustled about fetching items from high shelves, handling delicate treasures, such as blown-glass hummingbird feeders, and informatively offering suggestions on planting bulbs.

Across the way, the café, filled with a lunch crowd who appeared to come here just for the food, dished up homemade soups, foccacia sandwiches, tempting pizza, salads and French bakery style desserts for a reasonable price. Diners were already taking seats on the sun-drenched outdoor patio where swans plied the pond in an effortless water ballet.

You'd have thought from all this that it was mid-summer, but in truth, it was still downright cold. The natives didn't seem to mind. Birds were singing, herons flew conspicuously over the field of daffodils that covered the distant hill on their way back to the wet prairie. The blooming season had officially opened with a grand celebration of life.

Considering that the blooming season in Chicago is relatively short, it's impressive to consider the overwhelming support this world-class park receives. Nearly one million people visit the Chicago Botanical Gardens each year and its 23 floral display gardens situated on over 385 acres in Highland Park, Illinois. It's no wonder. The extensive programs offered along with and devoted work of volunteers ensures that this grand garden always remains well traveled and utilized to its fullest potential.

But it’s the gardens that inspire the interest and devotion. The circle garden, which excites gardeners and delights everyone else with its brilliant display of year-round blooms, the walled English garden that appears taken from the pages of a Victorian novel, the Japanese gardens with three islands, authentic teahouse and picturesque bridges all offer a sense of serenity and wonder. Nearby, the waterfall garden, which cascades down a meandering path and splashes majestically into the lake, arouses the senses again with its energetic displays.

The diversity of visitors during my visit speaks for the universal appeal of the gardens. Braving the cold, couples and girl friends, seniors and school children, people of all races and nationalities, strolled the grounds, marveling once again as I did, that spring had really returned to Chicago.

The Gardens are located 25 miles North of downtown Chicago on 385 mega acres of land with 75 lagoons and nine islands! It is open almost every day, even in winter, from 8 a.m. until sunset. There are special events,like the Monday night bell choir in summer where they have extended hours. Entrance is FREE, but parking fees are $7.75 a car ($ 5.75 for seniors). How many people can you pack into the car ??

There are a little over 23 sculpted and prepared gardens for you to enjoy, and all of them are vastly different from each other. Winding paths meander all over to allow you to just wander and enjoy the beauty all day long! There's a tram ride that I recommend you take first for an hour long overview and a little more information about the collection as well as the current Garden extension plans. ( It's a growing project!) The driver will point out some of the most unusual plants or trees along the route. It leaves from the entrance every hour from 10:00-3:00 and will cost about $ 4.00 for adults.

Many people will stop in the Garden Cafe near the entrance to pick-up a picnic lunch or dinner that you can take with to find your favorite spiritual spot to enjoy your refreshments. You can also grab breakfast or lunch right there at the cafe where you can sit out on the patio in warm weather right above a little lagoon.

Want to know my favorites? Sorry, it's a long list! I love the aquatic garden,the Japanese Garden with the tea house and the carefully worked and sculpted plant material, the waterfall garden with the combination of rocks, splashing water and plants, the Heritage garden with the display of plants used medicinally throughout the ages, the prairie garden showing what the midwest really looked like eons ago, the research garden where different plants are being studied by the staff for introduction to the midwest(the new and upcoming stars), the Wildflower garden with the bronze sculpted butterfly fills my vision with color like a Monet painting,and the miniature evergreen collection placed by a friend of mine who has one of the worlds largest collections of rare evergreens. This all leads up to my all time #1 place of spiritual peace....a place that taps into my " Jane Eyre" sense of self....and that is the English walled garden. It's a secret garden, indeed!

Before you leave, check-out the Master Gardeners plant information booth ( or you can call them at any time) for help in choosing plant material, for information about any possible plant growing, and for help with sick plants that you have in your own garden. I can't tell you how many times I have called them for their expert help and advice!