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Chihuly Garden and Glass

September 11th, 2014

Yesterday my mom and I took the water taxi from West Seattle to downtown and visited all the usual Seattle sights: Pike Place market, the Space Needle, etc.  We didn’t go to the original Starbucks as I don’t like their coffee, but the French bakery in the market is one of my favorite places. Ever since our first trip to Seattle way back in 1998 (our honeymoon), I’ve been visiting Le Panier for good coffee and palmiers whenever I am in town.
seattle 1
seattle 2
We decided to ride the monorail over to the Seattle center to visit the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit and we were not disappointed.
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle (1)
I wasn’t expecting it to be as spectacular as it was, perhaps, like most things, the photos just don’t do it justice. I’d seen photos and heard it was great, but I wasn’t prepared for the vivid colors and the intricacy of the work.
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle (2)
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle (3)
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle (4)
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle (5)
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 1
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 2
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 3
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 4
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 5
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 6
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 7
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 8
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 9
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle 10
Chihuly Glass Exhibit Seattle
After debating whether or not we’d enjoy it, I’m certainly glad we decided to go. It’s not a cheap tour, but it’s beautiful and worth the expense. I love glass art in the garden and hope to someday have some of my own.

What’s your favorite kind of garden art?

15 Comments to “Chihuly Garden and Glass”
  1. Marina on September 11, 2014 at 6:47 am

    Thank you for the lovely reminder of Le Panier, and the palmiers there, which were exactly like those of my childhood in Paris.
    We were in Seattle last year for our 30th anniversary, and long to go back, there is so much we did not see.
    So glad to see that you are having at least bits of blue skies!
    If I were there in the apartment we rented, I would cook a nice piece of halibut and cook a pile of wild mushrooms from Pike Street Market!

    Reply to Marina's comment

    • Susy on September 11, 2014 at 10:37 am

      It is just like the little coffee shop/bakeries of my childhood in Colombia as well, which has a lot of European influence. I grew to love cafe au lait and palmiers in Colombia, though we call them corazones down there.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. Nebraska Dave on September 11, 2014 at 9:15 am

    Susy, I’m glad you are having such a good time with your mother. My garden art has only been plans formulated in my mind. Some day I’ll be taking the miniature seven foot windmill to Terra Nova Gardens. It was given to me when my mother in law moved from a house to an apartment. I’ve always had in mind to make a scarecrow family. I don’t think they would scare away any birds or animals but just for decorations. I’m not one to clutter a garden with man made decorations. I like the natural nature look. I’m not sure that glass in a garden would a wise thing here with the constant summer threat of hail.

    Have a great Seattle garden touring day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  3. B.Y.S. on September 11, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    We went to Pike Place Market when we were in Vashon Island, WA. My Dad and I went to a Chihuly exhibit at Denver Botanic Gardens.

    Amy

    Reply to B.Y.S.'s comment

  4. Mary Schier on September 11, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    I’m enjoying reading about your Seattle adventures! I was there a couple of years ago when my husband had a business meeting in the city. I spent most of my time biking on Bainbridge Island and visiting a writer for Northern Gardener who had moved to that area to be close to family. Such a fun city — you’re making me wish I could get back there.

    As for garden art, I like things that are made by local artists. I have some metal sculptures and some interesting glass pieces that a friend makes.

    Enjoy the rest of the trip!

    Reply to Mary Schier's comment

  5. judym on September 11, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    Thanks for the tour. I love Chihuly’s work. We were in Seattle in ’99 but not long enough to tour the sites much. Someday we hope to get back and this place will be a definite stop! Great photos!

    Reply to judym's comment

  6. Jennifer on September 11, 2014 at 12:47 pm

    Thanks Suzy, your photos of the Chihuly exhibit are lovely!

    Reply to Jennifer's comment

  7. Jenelle Jordan on September 11, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    I was in Denver two weeks ago and had hoped to have time to visit the Chihuly exhibit at the Botanical Gardens there! So sad to have missed it! Thanks so much for sharing your photos! Got to experience a bit if his work through you!

    Reply to Jenelle Jordan's comment

  8. Jennie on September 11, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    We just moved from Minnesota to Vashon Island- so it’s been fun hearing of some great places to visit when we get a little more settled…if you decide to take a ferry to Vashon try eating at Mays, some amazing Thai food- they make the pad Thai table side :)

    Reply to Jennie's comment

  9. Misti on September 11, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    That looks like one of the better Chihuly exhibits that I’ve seen. I’m not that fond of Chihuly and have found his exhibits to be overrated at the gardens I’ve seen them out.

    I want that cup of coffee!

    Reply to Misti's comment

    • Susy on September 12, 2014 at 9:51 pm

      The indoor display was much better than the outdoor garden display, at least in my mind.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  10. DebbieB on September 11, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    Susy, you say that photos don’t do it justice, but your photos are FABULOUS. You are such a wonderful photographer!

    Reply to DebbieB's comment

  11. Amy on September 11, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    I LOVE CHIHULY! I have seen an traveling exhibit at the Grounds for Sculpture near Trenton NJ and the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City NJ has a wonderful collection. Although, WOW, Seattle looks like it tops them all. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

    Reply to Amy's comment

  12. Charlie@Seattle Trekker on September 12, 2014 at 6:26 pm

    If you have a real love for glass we have several glass blowing schools and programs here in Seattle…Most will let you in on the ground floor to watch them blow and shape glass. One of the best is the Tacoma Glass Museum. The last time I was there one of the participants in that class was the women who designed the Vietnam war memorial.

    Reply to Charlie@Seattle Trekker's comment

  13. Jennie on October 25, 2014 at 3:34 am

    I’m realizing that since we moved to Seattle (Vashon island) we should expect a steady stream of house guests- which I like since it helps me explore the Pacific Northwest…when my sister visited last week we took the ferry to Tacoma and visited the glass museum there- amazing.

    Reply to Jennie's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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