While I was in town for the IGC Show in Chicago, I got to visit the Morton Arboretum in the west suburbs of Chicago.  It was such a treat to get a glimpse of the many beautiful gardens and trees that this arboretum hosts.  The day we visited we only had a few hours so I didn’t get to see nearly as much as I would like but it is on my agenda to return to next summer for the full tour.  Here is a small peek at the some of the beautiful plants we saw at the arboretum.

This is hypnotic perennial hibiscus.  Few things can survive our Iowa weather like perennial hibiscus.  They can take the wet spells, the dry spells and the hot spells and will reliably produce big beautiful flowers.  If you haven’t added one of these to your gardens yet, it should be on your wish list.  Some of my favorite varieties are Cranberry Crush, Sultry Kiss, and Party Favor.

Little lime hydrangeas are one of my absolute favorite plants! Little limes are great plants because they stay nice and compact at about 3-4′ tall and wide.  They have nice sturdy stems that support the beautiful flower heads and I love their transition from green to white to light pink in colors.  The arboretum made use of these frequently throughout the gardens and I believe everyone should have at least one of these beauties in their garden.

A closeup of little lime hydrangea blooms.

Every time I look at this picture, it brings a sense of peacefulness to me.  Green is such a soothing color and the textures of the leaves with the grass is just beautiful.

Look at this huge awesome trunk on this Weeping European Beech.

Weeping European Beech tree.

An amazing clump of bald cypress trees growing together, I love the soft texture of their leaves.

Yowsers! I love the color combinations and textures used in this annual planting.  It includes exotica cordyline, asparagus fern and red dragon wing begonias.

A massive planting of Chelone (Turtlehead).

A potful of cuphea llavea.  Beautiful.  This is an annual I definitely want in my pots next year.

This plant was gorgeous- Split Second Morning Glory, it climbed high into the sky on the provided trellises and had blooms galore.

Berry Canary Digiplex (Foxglove).

I’m always a sucker for good bark on a tree.  This Katsura tree is no exception with its shaggy bark.

Katsura tree.

This is cassia popcorn plant (Senna didymobotrya) that has been used in a planter. When you rub the leaves of this plant they are said to smell like buttered popcorn.  The plants will typically grow 6-10 feet tall in the Midwest and are a tropical or annual but may be wintered over indoors. I love their compound leaves and striking yellow flowers.

Beautiful and unique piece of garden art floating in the sky at the arboretum.

Lego displays were in various places throughout the Children’s Gardens.

Very unique summer planters.  In the middle is a blue agave.  The two smaller planters have purple queen, orange moss rose and blue chalk fingers.

Anemone robustissima, fantastic late summer-early fall bloomer, a must have for every garden!

Summersweet Clethra.

Allium.

This pot below has redhead coleus, purple queen, alyssum and lysmachia.

If you have been to the Morton Arboretum, please drop me a note and let me know what I should see upon my next visit.