The City of Chicago's motto is "Urbs in Horto", which means city in a garden.  Our city is home to a vast number of beautiful gardens, and many of those are located in Chicago's parks, providing visitors with sights and smells throughout the year. With close to 75-acres of gardens currently enhancing Chicago’s parks, visitors will get a colorful display of flowers throughout the spring, summer and early fall seasons.

Since the development of Chicago’s earliest parks, gardens have been an integral part of the Chicago Park District and are a top tourist attraction. Chicago’s front yard is a spectacular site to see beginning late April and throughout the summer and early fall. Chicago Park District gardens are planted for the summer by June 15th, and most hold their color well into October.  Earlier in the year, look for spring plantings at a few parks, including Grant Park.  These gardens are at their peak mid-April to mid-May.  Visit the following outdoor gardens display featuring thousands of flowers surrounded by sculptures and waterfalls.