IWGS Symposium 7-16-09 Journal

Today was a fantasmic beginning to this weeks events. Highlights included much of the day at Chicago Botanical Gardens. A wonderful tour of much of the 6 miles of shoreline were visited. Hardy water lilies, bog plants, lotus and more including Japanese gardens, waterfalls, all among the other gardens and a great shoreline luncheon.  I got over 150 great photos. I met and talked with Tish Folsom of Springdale water gardens, leading the IWGS,  Rip Sokol and Lisa Giannino from two parts of Massachusetts, Verena Liechti &  Jim Purcell from Oregon, Warner Orozco-Obando of Auburn University, Brandon McLane of Florida Aquatics, Larry Nau of Churchville , Bergen Water Gardens, and many others. We stopped by Lurveys Nursery on the way home and attended a great evening dinner with Greg  of Aquascapes. He and his family invited us to a wonderful dinner in there backyard with absolutely amazing ponds and landscapes. Caterpillar

ButterflyFlower (milkweed) With Monarch Caterpillar Tropical Lilies, Floida Aquatics provided most water lilies present at Chicago Botanical and many around the country.