Oz's Poppies

Remember that scene in the Wizard of Oz? . . . where Dorothy and friends finally see the great Emerald City, and step off the yellow brick road to run across a field of poppies?

I always wondered if the Wicked Witch really had to cast a sleeping spell on them, or if they would've caught a natural buzz from the flowers anyway!






The first flowers from the banana plant in the tropical greenhouse finally emerged. (See April's pics for an earlier shot.)


We came across a very upset mother duck, whose chicks became stuck in this a pool.


Some guy and I tried to help the little ones out, but they were to frightened and fast for us. (The botanic gardeners had already been notified anyway.)

A magnificent horse chestnut near the bridge to the Japanese garden islands...



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(Chicago Botanic Garden - 5/30/09)