I hope you all are having a great summer weekend. We are enjoying beautiful summer weather here in northern Illinois. The humidity is low, the sun is shining, and for July the temperatures are staying on the cooler side.
Yesterday, I got my promised Mother’s Day visit to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. We usually go either at the beginning of the growing season or towards the end in late August, so this time was a little different.
Today I’ll show you the photos from our first stop at the gardens. Please excuse the quality of my photos; it was a very sunny day. The Butterflies and Blooms exhibit was moved this year, so we actually noticed it and decided to check it out.
This exhibit is a large screened in enclosure with butterflies flying all around. Flowers that butterflies particularly love are planted everywhere.
The butterflies will land on you too. I was told that they seem to love white the best. I was wearing a darker colored top, so they left me alone, but landed on my daughter’s shoulder.
These little feeding stations are set up throughout the exhibit. I think these two are dining on banana.
The chrysalises are purchased and hung on wooden dowels until the butterflies emerge. Here is one that is almost ready to fly free.
This visit to the Butterflies and Blooms exhibit at the Chicago Botanic Gardens was perfectly timed (not planned though) to show you Talyssa and Gracie’s new ensembles. I don’t usually make two at the same time for Kaye’s MSDs, but the fabrics are from the same collection and begged to be made into coordinating sets, so I did just that. I hope you like them. By the way, both sets are the same size so can fit both the 17″ and 18″ MSD bodies.
As you can see, Talyssa found her own butterflies in the garden.
And Gracie, found a little house wren that she befriended.
Gracie’s “Nature’s Delights” and Talyssa’s “Garden Surprises” ensembles will be available tonight (July 10, 2016) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com. Check the “Shop What’s New” page at that time for more details.
Cindy Rice Designs 
Dear Cindy,
What a great way to spend the day. Here in the East I am a regular visitor to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square PA. A must-see if you are ever in the area. As for the girls outfits; wonderful as always. You know I pay close attention to your embroidery and it was fun to see the butterflies and birdies. I couldn’t tell how you did the birds. No mater, they were delightful as always.
Happy Sunday,
Marian
Hi Marian,
Thank you for the Longwood Gardens suggestion. I’ve heard of Longwood Gardens before; they must be wonderful. I will definitely keep them in mind if I travel out your way. The birds on Gracie’s sweater are appliqued in wool felt. Thank you, Marian! Hope you have a great Monday!
Thank you for this very interesting visit! Butterflies are beautiful!
I love the fabric you used! Both dresses are very beautiful!
Congratulations!
Here it is very hot since a few days, but the storms are coming!
Have a good Sunday!
Warm wishes.
Hello Catherine,
I enjoyed seeing all of the different butterfly varieties; they are so colorful. Usually all that we see in our gardens are the basic tiny white ones. Thank you for the compliments on my new dresses. They were fun to coordinate and put together. Monday has started out hot and humid here today too. Everything is getting so very dry and brown. We need the rain badly! Hope you are enjoying your Monday!
Guess I will have to add the Botanic Garden to my list, should I ever get to Chicago. Looks like a wonderful place.
The new outfits are adorable with the butterflies and birds. Such a great idea for the matching embroidery. I think the girls are going to be hiding out so they can keep their dresses! You are so talented and creative to be able to continue to come up with such exciting things.
Weather has been great here also. Cools off at night and about 83 and 85 tomorrow. Perfect for me. Think we’ll take a drive to the coast. Maybe tomorrow. Love to go out when it isn’t foggy and have lunch. Some good places to eat at Bodega Bay.
The Chicago Botanic Gardens attracts a lot of tourists; I often hear other languages being spoken. Thank you, Joy. I cannot take credit for the cute fabrics I use. The prints are great starting places for the outfits. Gracie has already lost her outfit, but talked the younger Talyssa out of hers. lol! It sounds like you live in a place with lots to do… all year round! Have a great Monday!
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