CheekyChicago

Gardening is so not for your grandma anymore.  With the “Go Green’ movement in full swing, planting herbs, shopping locally, cooking organically, growing flowers, and potting plants is oh-so-trendy.  And Macy’s – the trendsetting entity that it is – is all about going green this month.  From March 28 through April 11, hit up the State Street shopping mecca for their annual Flower Show.

Although an America’s Next Top Model weekend marathon (or Keeping Up With the Kardashians, for that matter) is very tempting this last month of winter, put on your parka and venture downtown for a visual, sensory spectacle.  Instead of shoes, purses, jewelry, clothes, and make-up comprising the store, Macy’s entire first floor is covered with 15,000 potted plants (take that, Chanel); local chefs (aka culinary rockstars) will bust out their chopsticks, pots, and pans for cooking demonstrations; kids can build their own greenhouses complete with worms, and learn how to grow lettuce in a bag; heck, there’s even a real hot-air balloon in the first floor atrium and a 16-foot tall bird cage in the Walnut Room.  Suddenly, Tyra (and Kim) are looking a little shabby.

And for the Martha Stewarts out there, Macy’s Visual Director, Jon Jones, will be setting up his “Green Tablescapes” using furniture, dishes, and potted plants (which are even greener than cut flowers).  Instead of the age-old ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,’ Jon is going for the  something old (used or antiquated furniture), something new (trendy dishes), and something green (plants).  Last year’s Tablescape was inspired by television’s The Tudors; this year, mid-century modern.

Because it takes the Flower Show landscapers an estimated 1,600 hours to complete this full-store floral masterpiece, we should probably dignify their work with our attendance.  And, of course, it never hurts to be a little green.  We’re getting Spring Fever just thinking about it…