Let's relive the weekend! Michelle, this is great-I have some totally different shots from day two that I'll post tonight. Unfortunately I ran out of space at Picturetrail and have to keep deleting stuff to get more to fit.

BTW, EP is lurking...Hi EP!

Sue

Whoo hoo...more pics! :-) Those containers are so *lovely*! I had heard about the containers at CBG from some of the other idylls...

I *too* loved Northwind...wish it were closer to my home! :-) And wasn't that Rich a hoot? And so generous too.

Looking forward to more pics...

Thanks Michelle!

Ei

Michelle, wonderful photos, thank you for sharing them. The containers are monstrous! I love the garden gate, urns and other decor.....it looks like the Idylls went to some awesome places.

Thanks again,
T.

Northwind was indeed very special! But the photo to remember the entire weekend is the last one. I'll remember that day always. Prairies forever!

Yes, GB, I am so bummed that I don't have the memory of wandering through the prairie too...I *know* I missed something very special and it really bums me out. Your picture is stunning Michelle...I love the tall grasses with the stars of white flowers dancing in the sunlight! :-) Ei

Great photos, Michelle. And Ei, I agree w/Bug -- the prairie walk was indeed so very special and interesting!

Hi EP! We know you were with us in spirit!

Not many of my photos turned out. Here are a few:

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Michelle -- great minds think alike! Deanne, this reminded all of us of you!

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Does anyone remember the name of this allium?

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We're thinking of adding a water feature. This one was gorgeous:

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This guy didn't look real but was:

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How about using this in the garden? It looked great.

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"When Pigs Fly" from Rich's Farm:

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Yeeee haaa - Im loving the IU3 all over again!! Terrific pics, people (mine are at the developers)....
Wish I were back in Illinois!! (when pigs fly???)

-Cindy

Honey -- it's allium angulosum ("mouse garlic") -- I bet we'll all be growing it in our gardens now - loverly plant!!

--Cindy

I bought one and brought it home in my cooler-Allium angulosum 'Summer Beauty'. I haven't seen it at my local nurseries so couldn't resist the purchase.

Great photos everyone! We just got home a few hours ago and I haven't even taken my camera out of the case yet.

Honey, I do have your umbrella! I'll email you to get your address so I can ship it to you.

We had a great time and I look forward to seeing more photos over the next few days!

Monique

I'll just add a few because these threads are already getting photo heavy.

From Rich's Foxwillow Pines...

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Northwind Perennials...

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Prairie walkers...

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The rest are linked below.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Day two

Gorgeous Pics Sue! I especially love that last one looking back at "V's little house on the prairie". Great seeing everyone's pics, remembering what I saw and even what I didn't see...I swear I never saw that "column bench" the one where Monique & DH are sitting! How could I have missed something so large?!? Thanks again everyone for sharing! Ei

I agree w/Ei, Sue. I particularly love V's house, so perfect for the prairie!

I really enjoyed our visit to Fox Willow Pines-Rich,the owner was very charismatic with his knowledge,humor and philosophical illustrations in regards to what gardeners bring to the world and each other. He's the guy pictured below.
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People concentrating on a speaker don't make the best photo subjects but I like this shot of Ei(not paying attention lolol).
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The place was crawling with paparazzi...this shot of Sue was taken just before I stuck my tongue out at her...I'm almost afraid to see what other shots were taken: )
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The place was beautiful and made me think more outside the perennial box...I could easily become addicted to conifers/trees after seeing this place...I just need more space and more money; )[I could be Chris' worst nightmare]
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I love this tree...who can tell me its name-I do need to know.
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Isn't this a gorgeous combo?It's Fagus sylvatica'Purpureum tricolor' and a Picea(not sure which).
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Since I was shooting more than listening I don't know this one but look at the black cones-they were darker in real life!Just stunning.
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This one's for Mary(if you need another shot I have one that has a more focused shot of the uppermost branches too)
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These few are from the Prairie-light was getting scarce so I didn't get as many as I wanted to. I so enjoyed chatting with V's BIL & SIL. Her BIL declared it safe for V to travel with the Idylls in the future after spending time with us.[little does he know those were actors and we are all a bunch a 14yr old boys..LOLOL]
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Lynn wanted a pic of this moth...Hey V-when you aren't busy; )could you say off hand if you know this little guy? I do need to come visit you again because I would love to get more fauna pics from your prairie paradise.
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I crack up because when anyone sees a creepy crawler they yell "BABS!" so I will get pics.
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Isn't this pretty? This the view off to the side of V's deck area in the backyard.It was even better in reality.
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~Babs

Babs - those are just gorgeous.

I don't think we have the group shot posted yet - here we are in front of Steel Heart where many of us made some neat purchases. Ei is holding hers.

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Rich from Fox Willow Pines was such a character - I don't know which I enjoyed more - hearing him or seeing his incredible gardens. As well as having us all in stiches, Rich was very moving when he talked about his work with the charity Heifer International. He donates all of the money from his perennial sales to this organization, some $40,000 per year, to help combat world hunger. Certainly food for thought.

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One I couldn't resist - Mystic is a VERY friendly dog - here he is greeting Les

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The prairies at V's will stay in my memory for a long, long time.

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Mary

Yum!Mystic is a juicy kisser eh,Les?

Mary thanks for posting those great pics! I like the prairie one too-in fact I wonder if V could give us a list of plant names that she's got growing in her prairie. I think the wine made me a little absent minded: ) There was a purple one(not the monarda)that I asked about...and can't remember now.

I love the group shot-thanks since I didn't get that shot.

~Babs

I thought Kimball & Bean was quite theatrical -- a few shots I liked:

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Northwind Perennials was way cool - wish I had nurseries like this in my area:

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LOL Babs...There must have been something "bright and shiny" in the other direction that caught my attention! :-)
Gorgeous pics! You *are* the master of creature pictures! That picture of the prairie with the monarda in the corner is exquisite (new word)! Definitely framing quality! I loved those pine cones too.

Mary what a nice summary of our Day 2 visit. That Rich was really a very interesting man; wasn't he? I really enjoyed listening to him talk! Love, love, love the "whole group shot". That will be going on the wall upstairs! :-)

Cindy I loved Kimball and Bean too (even if I can't afford them). I loved the bee skeps placed about the property...it for some reason reminded me of a take on Stonehenge. :-)....very cool!

Thanks everyone for sharing these, it's so wonderful to see them all and remember our visit together!

Ei

Ei, I'm waiting for your friend Dotti's silo photos! :-) Wasn't that just so cool? I'll never convince DH, but that won't stop me from trying!

Day 2/Saturday also had a great itinerary. After breakfast on the square (I saved myself for lunch), we headed to a bunch of unique nurseries and antique shops.

RichÂs Foxwillow Pines

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Sorry Marian, at least this one was unplanned LOL
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Abies koreana ÂNanaimoÂ, with violet cones (produced freely when young according to the web)
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Northwind Perennial Farm in Lake Geneva, WI (we went back on Tuesday to buy a couple more perennials since we were staying in the area with friends)
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"Ouch, I thought these were comfy cushions not stones"
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VÂs praire walk-what a pleasant surprise to find wine, cheese, & sausage in the middle of the stroll thru their property-I LOVED it!
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Forgot to mention that we stopped back in the square for lunch and a few of us ate at La Petite Creperie among other places. Yum!

Here is a link that might be useful: IU3-day 2 (Monique's photos)

'bug, is this the silo picture you wanted?

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Ooops, I forgot I had Monique take a picture of me in that pot...lol. I really liked those stepping stones that looked like sofa pillows too. It's a good thing I usually have to fly to these idyllunions or I'd be broke by the time I get home. If we decide to have it in the Philly area next year I will be driving. Better start saving now.

Sue

YES Michelle, that's the very one! Your DH has me working on a million dollar barn renovation! LOL!
Anyway, wasn't that just so neat??? Love that place with its fabulous imaginative atmosphere.

I have a couple more Northwind shots to share.

Can you see the little garden nymph hiding inside the shed?
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I really loved the layout and presentation of garden plants at this place and the wonderful structures throughout the trails.
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Look how in sync these two are: )
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V and DH politely humoring the cwazy photographer; )
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I thought this was a cool shot of the impending cloud burst that happened just after I got the pic lol.

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Hope you enjoyed the show; )

~Babs

The cwazy photographer got a very nice pic of me - you can follow me around any time! Oops, scratch that, if you follow me all those pics will be bum shots!

V. (who has stolen the photo!)

I haven't commented here on all the great pics...but I am enjoying them all! Thanks to all who are sharing, I know it is a lot of work.

: )Glad you approve of your portrait,V! I don't think it's me that you need to worry about as far as following bums go...it's that Taryn chick we have to look out for LOL.(I might have an uncropped version if you'd like that too-and I have a second pose-I could email them to you)
I just loved the backdrop of the sitting deck there...it would fit perfectly in my yard-I wonder how much that would cost to ship it if they were selling it....: )

Thanks for stopping in Marian!

~B