City: Chicago, IL

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (312) 595-5400

Address: 600 E. Grand Ave.

Description: Spring starts early in Chicago—at least indoors, with seemingly billions of blooms that turn Navy Pier’s Festival Hall into a glorious scene that would make Monet jealous. In fact, there are dozens of artistic gardens to see: from the feature gardens that follow each year’s changing theme to the tablescapes that offer flowery inspiration for entertaining, and the colorful horticulture competition, featuring the best-of-the-best houseplants, window boxes, and garden-geared photography. Need more motivation? The marketplace rounds up more than 100 vendors to plant ideas in your head for your own garden. Not quite the green thumb? Educational seminars inform and illuminate on everything from landscaping to organic gardening. And a Kids’ Activity Garden gives budding bloomers a place to express themselves. Entrance fee weekdays $15; weekends $17; children 4 to 12 $5 all days.