I think the photos in his books do not do justice to the real thing. The Lurie Garden is absolutely gorgeous now that the grass has grown and is showing its distinct colors. I especially love it when it undulates in the breeze. Just breathtaking. :-) I wish the grass & plants were labeled. Such variety and such distinct forms. I only know some of them and I would like to know what others are. Small & discreet labels would be nice.

The garden did not look well at all last year when those young perennials baked in the sun. Only the grass looked good. Many perennials died before the summer was over. I also saw a vast number of them replaced this spring. Now most are simply wonderful and I finally understand why such varieties of Salvia and the mute colors. The beauty is so subtle it took me along while and until the grass began to bloom to see how it all came together.

I still don't quite understand why those shade loving plants were chosen for the upper part of the garden, though. They look rather unhappy in full sun like that.

Yes, I agree the Lurie Garden was (is) beautiful. I especially loved the way the late afternoon sunlight gave
the flowers a sort of golden, hazy look. As far as the plants not being labeled, I actually found a lot of them featured in his book. Plus when he gave the garden tour, I kept asking him what plant was what. He was very nice and said if we wanted to know more about the plants, i.e. varieties, just ask him. They also had vendors selling plants featured in the gardens. I bought Digitalis ferruginea and Rueilla humilis - two plants that I really admired in the Lurie Garden. Now, if I could only find the Monarda, "Scorpion", featured in mass in the gardens.