Chicago Botanic Garden - Malott Japanese Garden Summer Festival

This event was on my calendar for some time now.  It was because of my Facebook connection to Michael Firman that made me aware of it, and I am very glad . . . thank you Michael and Facebook!

I like the outdoors, the nature we preserve to enjoy.  This was my first time to Chicago Botanic Garden, let alone to the Malott Japanese Garden Summer Festival that took place this weekend.  So my challenge was to capture this experience to bring to you.  I hope you will feel that experience.

I chose to leave a little earlier to get there, because I realized this day there was going to be a Taiko drum performance.  I wanted to desperately see it, however traffic threw a wrench in my timing and I was late, though I did get to see and listen to the end.  Here are some photos.

After the drum performance, I toured around the pond that was nearby.  Here are just a few photos from the Chicago Botanic Garden.  There is much more to see that I did not have time for, and therefor will be going back some time soon.

You hear it all the time . . . "do not feed the animals".  There are many reasons why, but it does make for some good photos ops.  This duck was so comfortable coming close looking for handouts that it was probably more curious why I was not participating in the feeding of the ducks like the other visitors.  Not even my noisy camera scared him (or her).  What was even funnier were the fish.  They all came up and followed you round the edge.  When you stopped walking, they all parallel parked like they were at a drive-in waiting to be served.  (So perfect I kept pointing it out to everyone, and did not take the photo - rats!)

Even the bees were tame.  There were enough flowers keeping them busy, that you could stand right next to them and they did not feel bothered.  Not that I am asking for anyone to take any risks . . . this was just my experience.

Now for the Koto harp performance.  This was really cool to see and listen to.  I have a deep respect for people who honor tradition.  So this entire event was moving.

For me, one of the highlights was the duo featuring these next two ladies . . .

I could not decide what photo to use, and found I liked them all.  So here is a short series that I hope will give you the sense of peace that was surrounding this day.

One last photo of nature . . .

Needless to say, these photos are shortcomings to the actual experience.  I really enjoyed the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the pleasure of experiencing the Taiko drums and the Koto harp performances.  The artists gave to us, and I hope I captured that for you.

Chicago Botanic Garden

1000 Lake Cook Road

Glencoe, IL  60022

www.chciagobotanic.org

Chicago Koto Group

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