I made this friend, you see. His name is Herbert. Herbert had been living an uneventful life, shoved away behind a flock of seasonal plants and attention grabbing flowers at my local Jewel. But I could tell that he was destined for greater things.



There is a place in Chicago, where plants live the good life, and that's where we were headed.




Now, I can understand why you might be confused at this point. If you've ever been to the Garfield Park Conservatory, you know that they already have a large assortment of plants. However...




If you read the line "plants in a naturalistic setting rather than in groups of pots" you can understand why Herbert was drawn to be there. This room doesn't have a single potted plant!!! Herbert is a fighter for justice. He envisions a world in which potted plants can sit side by side with their more rooted siblings. Where they can share the same sunlight, and air, and learn from one another about other ways of life. He was ready for the challenge, so we just had to find the right spot...



After scouting several potential placement options, including ones that would highlight his presence, Herbert and I decided that the best move for the sake of longevity, would be to allow him to blend with his new friends.



See what a natural fit he is? There's no need to be biased against him simply due to his lifestyle. I mean, sure, he's not a fern - but the fern room is actually not ONLY filled with ferns - but also their allies (no joke! I read it on a sign!).

So I bid farewell to my happy friend. Good luck, sweet Herbert! Be strong!



And for those wondering where Herbert is in relation to the room, he's basically somewhere just slightly to the left of the person in the black coat.