Keep Growing FALL 2014
Member Magazine and Program Guide
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We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life.
OFFICERS
Robert F. Finke, Chair Timothy A. Dugan, Vice Chair, Science & Education John L. Howard, Vice Chair Thomas E. Lanctot, Vice Chair, Government Affairs Catherine M. Waddell, Vice Chair, Nominating & Governance Nicole S. Williams, Vice Chair, Finance & Investment Susan A. Willetts, Vice Chair & Immediate Past Chair,
Dear Garden Member,
and Chair, Audit
There is no denying the joy of summer, especially in an area as vibrant as Chicago. I love it when fall arrives, though. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, as summer winds down, excitement grows in anticipation of our autumn events. Suddenly it’s time for the Fall Bulb Festival, followed by the Spooky Pooch Parade, Trains, Tricks & Treats, and HallowFest. Visitors also flock to the Roadside Flower Sale, Autumn Brews, and Fine Art of Fiber. Read about all of these events inside this issue of Keep Growing—and then mark your calendars so that you don’t miss a thing!
Peter M. Ellis, Secretary Sophia Shaw, President and Chief Executive Officer Brayton Alley, ex officio Courtney Berlin Sharon Brady Neville F. Bryan John H. Buehler Kimberly Burt, ex officio Michael J. Busch Susan Keller Canmann David R. Casper Robin Colburn John C. Connery II Peter R. Crane John V. Crowe Jill M. Delaney James W. DeYoung Anthony L. Farino Peter B. Foreman John D. Fornengo Steve Fradkin Thomas C. Freyman Dorothy H. Gardner Steven J. Gavin Nancy Gidwitz Sue L. Gin Ellis M. Goodman John K. Greene Charles V. Greener Joseph P. Gromacki William J. Hagenah Caryn L. Harris Robert D. Hevey, Jr. Thomas B. Hunter III Jane Irwin Gregory K. Jones Todd Kaplan M. James Leider Benjamin F. Lenhardt, Jr. Laura M. Linger Daniel I. H. Linzer Alec Litowitz Anne Loucks Josephine P. Louis Jeanne K. Mason Molly C. McKenna Michael J. McMurray Barbara J. Metzler, ex officio William E. Moeller Homi B. Patel George A. Peinado Janet Meakin Poor Anne Pramaggiore Toni Preckwinkle, ex officio Bob Probst Arnold Randall, ex officio Susan L. Regenstein John Rugel Ryan S. Ruskin Robert E. Shaw Tom Skilling Maria Smithburg Harrison I. Steans Pam F. Szokol Collette Taylor Richard L. Thomas
LIFE DIRECTORS
Marilynn B. Alsdorf J. Melfort Campbell Barbara Whitney Carr Gary P. Coughlan Suzanne S. Dixon Thomas A. Donahoe Ralph F. Fujimoto James J. Glasser Florence S. Hart Pamela K. Hull Posy L. Krehbiel Bill Kurtis Donna La Pietra Mary Ann S. MacLean Robert H. Malott Mary L. McCormack Mary Mix McDonald Jeanine McNally Peter H. Merlin Jane S. O’Neil William A. Osborn John E. Preschlack Anne O. Scott David Byron Smith Susan Stone Howard J. Trienens Ernest P. Waud III Arthur M. Wood, Jr.
We would like to hear from you! Please direct comments or questions to editor@chicagobotanic.org.
The growing season got off to a late start this year, but here in Glencoe, and throughout our Windy City Harvest urban agriculture sites in Chicago and North Chicago, we have made up for lost time and enjoyed plentiful harvests. Within these pages you’ll discover what we grew in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden and how we maximize its production—and you’ll find some tips on how to grow your own produce next year. You’ll also meet five urban farmers who completed the Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship program and are now harvesting their first season of crops at “incubator farms” on Chicago’s South Side. Some of our scientists have been spending time in the western United States investigating how interactions between flowering plants, pollinators, and predators affect diversification. You can read about their work on an evolutionary “love triangle” involving the evening primrose, hawkmoths, and Mompha moths on page 34. In other articles we introduce you to a new horticultural therapy program for veterans, announce the recipients of two awards, report on the progress of the Learning Campus, and explain what sustainability means at the Garden. There is much more, including our upcoming classes for adults, children and families, and teachers and students. If our fall events reflect the festive mood of the season, our fall gardens evoke a sense of peace. Chlorophyll-depleted leaves turn yellow and orange; grasses dry to brown and sway gently in the wind; everywhere the changing colors and textures remind us that it’s time to prepare for the winter that lies ahead. Autumn walks at the Garden are among my favorite, whether under a canopy of trees in McDonald Woods, among the last blooms of the gardens, or in the wideopen space of Dixon Prairie. I am always happy when people tell me how much they enjoy Keep Growing. At the same time, thousands of our members are also keeping up with the latest happenings at the Garden on Facebook and Twitter, and at mychicagobotanic.org, the Garden’s wide-ranging blog. I invite you to explore our social media offerings if you haven’t already done so. Wishing you an abundance of fall blessings,
Sophia Shaw photo by Richard Shay
DIRECTORS
Sophia Shaw President and CEO
Antiques & Garden Fair
Fall 2014 Features 2 Letter from the President and CEO Anticipating the Garden in fall 6 Fall Bulb Festival
Bulbs galore and family fun in the marketplace
9 Fall at the Garden
Spooky, exciting, tasty, gorgeous—come to all of our fall events!
20 Sustainability at the Garden
It’s a team effort, from recycling to building design
22 Hutchinson and Chicago Horticultural Society Medals Garden honors 2014 recipients 24 Learning Campus Designs are complete 26 Digital Badges Bridging formal and informal learning 29 Horticultural Therapy Veterans’ Program Helping veterans heal 30 Urban Agriculture Introducing our incubator farmers 34 Conservation Science An evolutionary love triangle 36 Ask the Experts Winter burn, struggling lawns, and more 38 Beauty and the Feast: The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden Seasonal highlights and tips 80 This Season in the Garden Fall favorites and carillon repair
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Keep Growing
Fall 2014
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12 Calendar – Late August to mid-November
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Keep Growing (USPS 130) is published four times per year by the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022-1168. Volume 5, Issue 3, August 2014. Periodical Postage Paid at Glencoe, IL, and at an additional entry office in Pontiac, IL. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Keep Growing, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022. Carol Abbate Wendy Griffiths Amy Spungen Will Haffner and Kathe Stoepel Fran Sherman and Renee Tawa Julianne Beck, Nina Koziol, Jeff Link, Tracy Marks, Helen K. Marshall, and Rochelle Rubinoff Bill Bishoff and Robin Carlson
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Bright fall foliage reflected in calm water beckons across the Serpentine, connecting Evening Island to the Lakeside Gardens. Photo: Tom Harris © Hedrich Blessing
INSIDE COVER SPREAD
The stately Linden Allée turns golden yellow in the fall. The main pruning of the lindens occurs in winter, with their tops angled so that all of the branches and leaves get enough sun. During the summer Guillermo Patino and other grounds crew staff maintain the trees with trimming.
Gill credit line
Exhibits. Page 18
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Harvest season’s highlight
Fall Bulb
Experience the best of the fall season at the Chicago Botanic Garden. See the colors change, feel the crisp air, and hear leaves crunching underfoot. Buying bulbs in October means planning for the coming spring and knowing that your garden will be ready!
Fall Bulb Festival
Festival Gardeners from near and far know that the best bulbs are right here at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s fall bulb sale. Families mark their calendars for an outing that includes outdoor activities for kids of all ages. On Friday, October 10, the spectacular bulb sale is open to members only, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the outdoor market is open to the public. On Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, the bulb sale and market are open to the public all day. The bulb sale takes place in Burnstein Hall, and the outdoor market and ever-popular straw bale maze are on the Esplanade. Vendors at the outdoor market will offer seasonal produce, kettle corn, handmade pottery, and much more. Admission is free, and regular parking fees apply. Listen to live music as you enjoy light fare and drinks, including cider and beer, which are available for purchase. The much-anticipated annual bulb sale features more than 200 varieties of specialty bulbs shipped directly from the Netherlands. The Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society sponsors the sale, which includes tulips, narcissus, amaryllis, daffodils, alliums, and many other bulbs. Custom tulip blends will reflect the spring planting this year for the Krasberg Rose Garden and Circle Garden. Members can buy larger quantities of select bulbs at a discount through the special members-only presale, available online at chicagobotanic.org/bulb. Garden horticulturists will be walking around at the bulb sale to answer any questions you may have and to offer bulb tips and suggestions. Garden staff favorites include snow-
drops (Galanthus), winter aconite (Eranthis), and several varieties of Tommy crocus that are less appealing to critters. Also for sale will be bulb food, potted amaryllis and potted paperwhite narcissus, mums, asters, peonies, and pansies. Visit the sale catalog before you come to the Garden at chicagobotanic.org/bulb beginning in September. “This is a great way to celebrate the season with your family,” says Jodi Zombolo, director of visitor events and programs. “Enjoy the outdoor market and shop for your bulbs. If your children are with you, involve them in the bulb purchasing at the sale and the planting at home. Then, reap the rewards as a family in the spring!” Families have fun visiting the Fall Bulb Festival each year. Harvest specialties available at the market include jams, spices, pumpkins, soaps, gourmet baked goods, chocolate, and cheeses. Children may participate in outdoor fitness activities and then stop by the family drop-in activities tent on the Esplanade for fall craft projects, which include leaf rubbing. All ages will admire the mountainous display of gourds. After a few hours at the Garden, visitors can bring their bulbs home, plant them, and wait for springtime blooms! The Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society is in its fourth year of “Growing the Future,” a $1 million pledge to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Proceeds from this event support fellowships for the plant biology and conservation graduate program, a collaboration between the Garden and Northwestern University.
Generously supported by
chicagobotanic.org/bulb 7
Roadside Flower Sale and Workshops Workshops: Monday, September 8, 1 – 3 p.m.; Tuesday & Wednesday, September 9 & 10, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1 – 3 p.m., Burnstein Hall; preregistration required. Sale: Friday through Sunday, September 12 – 14, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Burnstein Hall. Learn to create a dried floral arrangement, bouquet, or wreath in a free workshop. Proceeds of all workshop creations will benefit the Chicago Botanic Garden. Visit the Roadside Flower Sale to shop one-of-a-kind dried arrangements, wreaths, bouquets, and more, made from Garden flowers, pods, and grasses.
Autumn Brews: Seasonal Beer Tasting in the Garden Thursday, October 2, 6 – 8 p.m., McGinley Pavilion; ticket required. Welcome fall with a cold glass of beer, in European Oktoberfest fashion. Try a variety of seasonal craft beers and hard ciders in 2-ounce tastings; snacks and featured beer by the bottle will be available for purchase. Tickets are $30 in advance or $33 at the door; members get $5 off; must be 21 or older with valid ID to attend.
Spooky Pooch Parade Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Krasberg Rose Garden; ticket required for parade participants. Who will win top-dog honors this year? Join the fun in our annual Halloween-themed costume parade for dogs, with master of ceremonies Ed Curran from the CBS 2 Chicago’s Morning News. Just try to top last year’s winners, which included the dashing Milton, a 10-year-old lab/hound mix, who won the “senior” category for his snuggly sheepdog costume. Nonprofit animal advocacy groups and local vendors will answer questions and sell dog-related products. This popular event reaches capacity quickly, so register early. The parade fee is $19 in advance or $25 at the door; members get $5 off; regular parking fees apply. No ticket is required for parade spectators. The event will be held rain or shine; no refunds. 9 chicagobotanic.org
chicagobotanic.org 9
Fall Events
Antiques & Garden Fair
Fall Events
Fall Events
Fall Events Trains, Tricks & Treats Saturday & Sunday, October 18 – 19, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America; weather permitting; fee applies. Find seasonal surprises among the miniature scenes of America’s landmarks in the Model Railroad Garden, which will be decorated with spider webs, spiders, ghosts, and more. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume. Children can take part in a planting activity. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children ages 3 to 12; members get $1 off.
HallowFest Saturday, October 25, 5:30 – 9 p.m., & Sunday, October 26, 4 – 7:30 p.m., Regenstein Center, McGinley Pavilion; ticket required. Celebrate Halloween if you dare at “HallowFest: A Garden of Good…and Evil.” Experience family-friendly thrills and chills, including two stages of entertainment, fortune telling, face painting, a spooky snack shack, and a ride on the Howlin’ Express. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for ghost trains at the Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America. Tickets are $19 in advance or $22 at the door; members get $5 off. Regular parking fees apply.
Fine Art of Fiber Opening night (with early buying privileges) is Thursday, November 6, 6:30 – 9 p.m.; then Friday through Sunday, November 7 – 9, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Regenstein Center. The quilts range from traditional to contemporary, and often have whimsical names (“Tutti Fruiti Two,” “Lady Bugs Watching Over Me,” “Mystery Mistake Quilt”). At this event, the area’s oldest and largest fiber arts showcase, the quilters, weavers, and other needle arts specialists can tell stories or capture a moment with their one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces. The Fine Art of Fiber features a boutique, fashion show, demonstrations, and exhibition, hosted by Illinois Quilters, Inc., North Suburban NeedleArts Guild, and Weavers Guild of the North Shore. No ticket is required, but regular parking fees apply. 10 chicagobotanic.org
Fall Calendar
Weekly Events
August
Mondays through Thursdays Summer Evenings with live musical performances continue through September 1. Visit chicagobotanic. org/evenings for more information.
Ongoing Focusing on Nature: Student Botanical Photography Exhibition through September 28; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Joutras Gallery.
Friday – Sunday, September 12 – 14 Roadside Flower Sale See page 9.
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays Kleinman Family Cove Family Drop-in Programs through August 31; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rare Book Exhibition: Ex Libris: Bookplates through the Ages through November 9; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Lenhardt Library.
Saturday, September 13 North Branch Trail extension dedication
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (select dates) Little Diggers through April 2015; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon; preregistration required; fee applies. Visit chicagobotanic.org/littlediggers for more information.
September
Saturdays and Sundays Garden Chef Series through October 12; 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Visit chicagobotanic.org/chef for more information.
Ongoing
Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden Family Drop-in Programs September 6 to 28; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit chicagobotanic.org/explore/fruitandveg for more information.
Rare Book Exhibition: Ex Libris: Bookplates through the Ages through November 9; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Lenhardt Library.
Daily Events Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden Family Drop-in Programs through August 31; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tram Tours through October 26; times vary; fee applies. Trams are wheelchair accessible. Visit chicagobotanic.org/tram for more information or call (847) 835-6895. Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America through October 26; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting; fee applies; extended hours on Wednesdays until 8 p.m. through August 27.
Focusing on Nature: Student Botanical Photography Exhibition through September 28; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Joutras Gallery.
Monday, September 1 Final Carillon Concert of the Season 7 p.m.; preconcert carillon tour and demonstration 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (every 15 minutes), Theodore C. Butz Memorial Carillon. Wednesday, September 3 Farm Dinner 5 to 8 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Saturday, September 6 Monthly Photo Walk 9 to 10 a.m.; meet in Alsdorf Auditorium. Nature Nights: Harvest Hike 5 to 7:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies.
Butterflies & Blooms through September 1; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting; fee applies.
Sunday, September 7 Farmers’ Market 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Esplanade.
Garden Plus members receive free tram tours and free admission to the Model Railroad Garden and to Butterflies & Blooms during the season on Wednesdays.
Illinois Mycological Association Show & Sale 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Burnstein Hall.
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Malott Japanese Garden Family Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday – Wednesday, September 8 – 10 Roadside Flower Workshop See page 9.
Tea 101: Getting to Know Tea 1 to 3:30 p.m., Design Studio; preregistration required; fee applies. Saturday & Sunday, September 20 – 21 Illinois Gourd Society Show & Sale 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Burnstein Hall and Runnells Courtyard; registration required for Adult Education workshops. Saturday, September 20 Coffee 101: Coffee Basics and Sustainable Production 1 to 3 p.m., Lakeside Room; preregistration required; fee applies. Free Library Talk: “Ex Libris: Bookplates through the Ages” 2 p.m. Nature Nights: Harvest Hike 5 to 7:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Harvest Ball 6 p.m.; ticket required; call (847) 835-6830 for more information or visit chicagobotanic.org/guild/harvestball. Sunday, September 21 Farmers’ Market 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Esplanade. Malott Japanese Garden Family Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Classical Concert 2 to 3 p.m., McGinley Pavilion; free. Saturday & Sunday, September 27 & 28 Central States Dahlia Society Show noon to 4:30 p.m., Burnstein Hall. Sunday, September 28 Classical Concert 2 to 3 p.m., McGinley Pavilion; free.
Calendar &&Garden Antiques FairFair Antiques Garden
October Ongoing Rare Book Exhibition: Ex Libris: Bookplates through the Ages through November 9; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Lenhardt Library. Thursday, October 2 Autumn Brews See page 9. Saturday, October 4 Drawn From Nature: Annual Student Botanical Art Exhibition opens; through October 19; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Joutras Gallery. Monthly Photo Walk 9 to 10 a.m.; meet in Alsdorf Auditorium. Sunday, October 5 Classical Concert 2 to 3 p.m., Regenstein Center; free. Monday – Thursday, October 6 – 9 The Rhythms of Stone Garden Sculpture Workshop 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., McGinley Pavilion; preregistration required; fee applies.
Friday – Sunday, October 10 – 12 Fall Bulb Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, preview bulb sale for members only; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, bulb sale and fall market, Burnstein Hall and Esplanade. Saturday, October 11 Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Greenhouse Gallery. Sunday, October 12 Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Greenhouse Gallery.
Saturday, October 18 Spooky Pooch Parade See page 9. Weekend Family Class: Three Sisters 9:30 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19 Fall Photography with Allen Rokach 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Lakeside Room; preregistration required; fee applies. Midwest Daffodil Society Bulb Sale 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Burnstein Hall.
Sukkot Family Drop-in Activities 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden.
Midwest Fruit Explorers Show & Sale 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Burnstein Hall.
Wednesday, October 15 Planting for the Future Symposium 1 to 4 p.m., Alsdorf Auditorium; preregistration required; fee applies.
Trains, Tricks & Treats See page 10.
Thursday – Saturday, October 16 – 18 North American Japanese Garden Association Conference Regenstein Center. For more information and to preregister, visit najga.org.
Sunday, October 19 Farmers’ Market 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Esplanade.
Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society Lily Bulb Sale 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Burnstein Hall.
Saturday & Sunday, October 25 & 26 HallowFest See page 10.
Sunday Classical Concert Series 2 to 3 p.m. September 21 and 28, and October 5 The Chicago Botanic Garden and Chicago’s nonprofit classical label, Cedille Records, cohost a series of three free Sunday concerts this fall. Don’t miss these performances, the first two at McGinley Pavilion and the last in the Regenstein Center. September 21: Cavatina Duo (flute and guitar); September 28: Gaudete Brass (brass quintet); October 5: Patrice Michaels (soprano with piano and cello). Cedille, also the recording home of Rachel Barton Pine and Jennifer Koh, among others, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014.
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Calendar
November Ongoing Rare Book Exhibition: Ex Libris: Bookplates through the Ages through November 9; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Lenhardt Library. Saturday, November 1 Monthly Photo Walk 9 to 10 a.m.; meet in Alsdorf Auditorium. Weekend Family Class: Pizza Gardens 9:30 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m.; preregistration required, fee applies. Thursday – Sunday, November 6 – 9 Fine Art of Fiber See page 10.
Fall Wellness Classes at the Garden
Friday, November 14 Rare Book Exhibition: Succulents: Featuring Redouté Masterpieces opens; through February 8, 2015; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Lenhardt Library.
Fitness Walks
Yoga
Saturdays, September 6 – November 15, 8 – 9 a.m.; fee applies.
Yoga Master Class Fridays, October 17 to November 14, 9 to 10:30 a.m.; fee applies.
Meditation
Gentle Yoga Mondays, September 8 to November 10, 9 to 10 a.m. or 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; fee applies.
Sunday, November 16 Weekend Family Class: Play with Plants 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies.
Meditation Walk: The Cycles of Life Saturday, October 11, 8 – 10 a.m.; fee applies.
Tai Chi Tai Chi For Beginners: Sun-Style Tuesdays, September 9 to October 28 (no class September 23), 8 to 9 a.m.; fee applies. Tai Chi For Beginners: Yang-Style Tuesdays, September 9 to October 28 (no class September 23), 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.; fee applies. Tai Chi: Intermediate Sun-Style Wednesdays, September 10 to November 19 (no class September 24), 8 to 9 a.m.; fee applies. Tai Chi: Advanced Yang-Style Wednesdays, September 10 to November 19 (no class September 24), 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.; fee applies. Tai Chi: Advanced Sun-Style Thursdays, September 11 to November 20 (no class September 25), 8 to 9 a.m.; fee applies. Tai Chi: Intermediate Yang-Style Thursdays, September 11 to November 20 (no class September 25), 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.; fee applies.
Introductory Yoga Wednesdays, September 10 to November 12, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m.; fee applies. Yoga Flow Beginner Tuesdays, September 9 to November 11, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or 6 to 7 p.m.; fee applies. Yoga Flow Intermediate Tuesdays, September 9 to November 11, 8 to 9 a.m.; or Thursdays, September 11 to November 13, 9 to 10 a.m. or 6 to 7 p.m.; fee applies. Gentle Yoga and Meditation Wednesdays, September 10 to November 12, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; fee applies. chicagobotanic.org/wellness
Wellness programming is generously supported by NorthShore University HealthSystem.
Members: Exclusive Travel Opportunity Don’t miss out on the Chicago Botanic Garden’s next travel opportunity for members, a trip to Florence and Rome, Italy, from September 15 to 25, 2015. Join us for an information session on October 16 at 6:30 p.m. R.S.V.P. by calling (847) 835-6937. 14
Looking Ahead
Wonderland Express November 28, 2014, to January 4, 2015 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; closes at 3 p.m. on December 4, 7, and 24; closed all day December 25; ticket required. Garden grounds remain open every day until 6 p.m. It’s a light show…a Greenhouse extravaganza…and a railroad fantasy land— with indoor snow! Mark your calendar for Wonderland Express, a holiday event for visitors of all ages. Trees twinkle with festive LED lights, and the Greenhouses glow with seasonal displays. And, of course, inside the Regenstein Center, miniature trains wind past replicas of famous Chicago buildings and landmarks, and other wondrous sites. The railroad garden includes mini-conifers and other plants. Wonderland Express is generously supported by ComEd, Discover, Grainger, and NorthShore University HealthSystem.
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’Tis the Season Get into the holiday spirit with special events during Wonderland Express. Family events include Christmas Breakfast with Santa, a Christmas concert, a Hanukkah concert, and Hot Chocolate with Mrs. Claus. For adults, festivities include a seasonal tasting of local spirits, wine, and winter brews called Holiday Cheers! Visit chicagobotanic.org/wonderland for more information.
All Aboard! Thursday, December 4, 6:30 to 10 p.m.; ticket required. The Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society presents this gala dinner, amid the festive setting of Wonderland Express. The Board is in its fourth year of “Growing the Future,” a $1 million pledge to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Proceeds from this event support fellowships for the plant biology and conservation graduate program, a collaboration between the Garden and Northwestern University.
At the Forest Preserves
Conservation Cup 2014 Residents of Cook County will come together this fall at the third annual golf outing in support of the Forest Preserve Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports innovative educational programming within the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Forest Preserve Foundation supports the protection and restoration of native habitats within the Forest Preserve District of Cook County by connecting residents of Cook County with this great natural resource. Specifically, the Foundation directs its funds to programs that engage underserved communities in programs within the Preserves, helping them make a lasting connection to nature and local biodiversity.
More than 150 participants are expected to join Cook County Board and Forest Preserve District Board President Toni Preckwinkle and golf legend Billy Casper for a spectacular day on the course supporting this great cause. This year’s outing will be held on Thursday, September 18, at George W. Dunne National golf course in Oak Forest. For more information on registration or sponsorship opportunities, visit forestpreservefoundation.org.
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Sustainability at the
Chicago Botanic Garden
Twenty-five years ago, Mel Huwe, then a foreman, used to watch his co-workers drive to a local recycling center to drop off papers and soda cans from the Chicago Botanic Garden. Good idea, he thought, but why not get a recycling company to pick up materials here?
Photo by Jose Torres
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These days, the Garden’s recyclables—which once fit into the car trunks of a few employees—are compacted, bundled, and loaded onto an 18-wheel semi-trailer truck, packed to the hilt, eight times a year. In 2013, the Garden recycled 93,875 pounds of material. The recycling program is part of the Garden’s larger, systematic approach to sustainability—the way we meet today’s needs without compromising the ability to meet the needs of future generations. “As the Garden continues to grow and attract a record number of visitors, we think about sustainability every day, in everything we do,” said Kris Jarantoski, executive vice president and director. “It is part of our ethos to think hard about the finite resources of our planet— how do we reduce the use of energy, water, and fossil fuels, and minimize landfill waste while continuing to offer visitors a rich experience?” Every building at the Garden has its own recycling area for paper and other material, noted Huwe, now manager of custodial services, events support, receiving and recycling at the Garden. The recycling effort also means that material is reused, whenever possible. For instance, the Plant Production Department’s staff washes and disinfects plastic pots with the help of volunteers who are recruited for one of nine annual pot-washing events. (The department’s regular volunteers handled the pot washing for 20 years until the job became too big.) The pots are reused in the production greenhouses, which supply plants throughout the Garden for seasonal displays, special events, and more.
Sustainability
Antiques & Garden Fair
Other sustainability efforts hinge on the participation of visitors. In 2013, for example, thanks to visitors and the Garden View Café, the Garden diverted 38 tons of waste from landfills through composting and recycling. On World Environment Day, visitors bring electronics, plastics, and other material to the Garden for recycling. And visitors who fill their own water bottles at the Garden can gauge how they’re helping—new drinking fountains in the Visitor Center feature a digital counter, showing how many water bottles have been filled (and kept out of landfills). On a broader level, the Garden’s sustainability efforts include the development and preservation of green space. “Chicago Botanic Garden scientists are now internationally known for creating practical land and water management tools and solutions to address environmental challenges— like managing plant populations and protecting fragile plant and soil communities—especially within humanimpacted landscapes,” said Sophia Shaw, the Garden’s president and CEO. Other sustainability efforts throughout the Garden include the following:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle • All copier paper comes from sugarcane. After the cane is crushed and processed to make sugar, most of the waste is converted into paper. • The Garden’s Mechanical Department recycles scrap metal, tires, oil filters, and batteries. • In 2008, the Garden’s café stopped selling bottled water, and In 2011, it began composting food scraps and appropriate materials. • In 2012, The Garden began recycling corks from events and from the public. More than 130 pounds of cork were recycled in 2013.
Gardening and Landscaping • Water used on the Garden’s grounds comes from our lakes. At the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden, water is collected in a cistern below ground. • All landscape waste is either recycled or reused. • The Garden has used an integrated pest management program for more than 20 years. The program dramatically reduces the use of pesticides by using labor-intensive solutions to address pest problems.
Building Design and Use • The Plant Conservation Science Center earned a gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. The high rating certifies that the architects and builders used sustainable design and construction standards meant to protect the environment and enhance communities. • Trees from the Plant Science Center’s construction site were used in the planters and a library wall. Bits of ground tires were used in some floors, and metal shavings are part of bathroom countertops. • The Garden’s renovated café was sustainably built. For instance, the Garden used recycled material in the tabletops and ceiling tiles; paints and adhesives with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs); photocell sensors to adjust the lighting, based on ambient light levels; and LEDs and other energy-saving lighting throughout.
Energy • In May, all lights in the parking lots were switched to energy-efficient LED lights. • An electric vehicle charging station – with two electric car chargers – is available for public use on the southeast corner of parking lot 1. • The Plant Science Center provides dedicated parking spaces for hybrid vehicles and carpool participants. • The Children’s Growing Garden includes a tool and potting shed with solar panels on the roof. At family drop-in programs, visitors can learn how solar energy is generated (and about other sustainable practices such as composting and rainwater collection).
• The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, which opened in 2009, features a green roof garden that underscores the Garden’s commitment to plant conservation. Combining practical benefits with aesthetic appeal, the green roof garden serves as a living laboratory. Photos: (Left) Mel Huwe oversees recycling at the Garden. (Left and top right): Solar photo voltaic panels atop the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center’s green roof provide 5 percent of the building’s power. 21
chicagobotanic.org/sustainability 21
Garden News
Medal Recipients Honored at Garden Ceremony Josephine P. Louis and Allan Armitage, Ph.D., each received a medal of honor at the Chicago Horticultural Society’s annual meeting in June. Chicago Horticultural Society Medal
Hutchinson Medal
On June 5, Josephine P. Louis was presented with the 2014 Chicago Horticultural Society Medal, which recognizes outstanding leadership or professional accomplishment that has been significant in furthering horticulture, plant science, or conservation. “This honor means a great deal to me,” said Louis. “I’m accepting the medal not for me but for my family.”
Dr. Allan Armitage, professor emeritus of horticulture at the University of Georgia, Josiah Meigs distinguished teaching professor, and American Horticultural Society Liberty Hyde Bailey recipient, received the 2014 Hutchinson Medal on June 5. The medal recognizes outstanding service of enduring benefit to the Society involving leadership, devotion, and courage.
A member of the Chicago Botanic Garden since 1969, Louis has played a vital role in numerous Garden programs and initiatives. She has served on the Board of Directors since 1986. “Jo was instrumental in bringing in John Brookes to design the English Walled Garden and inviting Princess Margaret to speak at its dedication,” said Kris Jarantoski, executive vice president and director of the Garden. “She is smart, savvy, low-key, and always there for us—a true leader.” Through the Josephine P. and John J. Louis Foundation, she supported the launch of the Bright Encounters Tram in 1996 in honor of her late husband, John J. Louis, Jr., who loved to visit and tour the Garden. “I think that has been a wonderful thing at the Garden and it has made it accessible,” she said. A long-time friend of Janet Meakin Poor— also serving on the Board of Directors—Louis was instrumental in founding the Janet Meakin Poor Research Symposium. Two components of the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center reflect the Louis family’s support of research initiatives: the Josephine P. & John J. Louis Foundation Microscopy Laboratory and the Josephine P. & John J. Louis Foundation Green Roof Garden North. 22 chicagobotanic.org
“Allan’s knowledge of herbaceous perennial plants is amazing, and his ability to communicate to the public about them is legendary,” said Jarantoski. “He has exhibited both outstanding leadership and professional accomplishment in his writing, teaching, and research in the world of horticulture.” Armitage is a well-known writer, speaker, and researcher. The author of 13 books and hundreds of horticulture journal articles, he also maintains a vast horticultural photo library. “I’ve been involved in a lot of things in this career of mine,” reflected Armitage. “That’s sort of why you do these things—so that you make a difference. I’m never sure how much of a difference I make until someone tells me; someone just told me, and I accept it with great honor.” Armitage’s accolades are extensive and include awards for achievement in horticulture and teaching. His most recent initiatives include launching an app for gardeners and retail garden centers, serving as an instructor for online courses, and leading trips to share the great gardens of the world with others.
Garden News
Designs for Learning Campus Are Complete There is a place where the power of plants to sustain and enrich learning takes real form. The Learning Campus is a developing destination at the Chicago Botanic Garden for visitors of all ages—infants to adults—that has entered a new phase. The design of the Campus is complete. “It’s like throwing open the doors to the Garden’s education mission. A big part of it will take place right here,” said Patsy Benveniste, vice president of education and community programs, indicating a three-dimensional artist’s model depicting the seven-acre Campus on the northern edge of Garden grounds, and its centerpiece, the planned Education Center. The model of the building and, adjacent to it, the relocated Butterflies & Blooms exhibition, a picnic grove, and the Mikyoung Kim-designed display garden with its rolling lawn, multisensory areas, and meandering stream, invites the question, when? Fundraising continues, with construction to begin once 80 percent of the $20 million budget is in hand and the balance committed through short-term pledges ($7 million is still to be raised). Donor opportunities exist to name individual classrooms and natural features, as well as the Education Center and entire Learning Campus. Several components of the Campus opened in 2012: the Kleinman Family Cove, Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden, and Robert R. McCormick Foundation Plaza and entry drive. 24 chicagobotanic.org/projects
The Education Center will provide a permanent home for programs of the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden. The Center will host school field trips, scout programs, science experiences for middle schoolers and teens, weekend family classes, Camp CBG and all other camps, teacher professional development opportunities, birthday parties, adult education classes, wellness and lifestyle programs and, more important, early childhood classes for children as young as infants. Introducing “nature play” to the littlest learners is a focus of the Center, where two of the eight classrooms will be dedicated to early childhood learning, according to Eileen Prendergast, youth and family programs director. A home for early childhood learning means the Garden can expand current programs, such as Little Diggers, My First Camp, Bloomin’ Strollers, and Story Time—and provide new ones such as a possible Nature Preschool for ages 3 to 5, and
Garden News
programs for children ages 2 and younger when accompanied by a caregiver. The Education Center also will house a nature laboratory for teaching about plant and animal ecosystems yearround, a demonstration kitchen, and two flexible-use rooms adjacent to the light-filled atrium. Intended to be platinum-level LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the building becomes an object lesson in conservation. “We believe that teaching plant science is crucial to nurturing the next generation of conservation scientists and land stewards,” said Kathy Johnson, director of teacher and student programs. “This facility will help us teach that in an engaging way.”
Lake Cook Road
Education Center Butterflies & Blooms
To Kleinman Family Cove
Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden Robert R. McCormick Foundation Plaza
The public wing of the Center will open to a partially shaded terrace that can accommodate wellness classes as well as evening stargazing. Just beyond the terrace will be the lawn and garden, where children can tumble over gentle hills and run and hide in the caterpillar-like willow tunnel, where groups may gather in the living hornbeam and evergreen rooms, and where adults and kids alike can dip their fingers and toes in the stream. Behind the building will be picnic tables and a sugar maple grove. Wherever you look, the message will be clear: the Campus is an engaging place for learners of all ages, a nature retreat for inspiration, education, and exploration in the twenty-first century. “You can lie down, read a book, and watch the birds fly across the sky,” said Benveniste, who expects the Learning Campus to become a new Garden destination. “The Campus and Education Center testify to the huge range of work that the Chicago Botanic Garden does in introducing kids of all ages to nature play, environmental learning, environmental literacy, and just the fun of being outside.”
Lawn
Willow Tunnel
“We want children to have a love for plants and science and nature,” Prendergast said. “Most important, the Learning Campus is a place for fun.”
Stream
Redbud Grove
To Visitor Center
For information on contributing to the Learning Campus, please contact Patty Shanahan, director of planned and major gifts, at pshanaha@chicagobotanic.org or (847) 835-6838.
chicagobotanic.org/projects 25
Garden News
Garden Leads the Way for Expanded Innovation National Digital Badge Program Grows Summer enrichment programs, after-school classes, and camps are among thousands of educational experiences available to teens. Even though they occur outside of the traditional classroom, can they provide students with an edge when it comes time to apply for college or a job? Digital badges, an innovative education tool, may answer that question by facilitating communication about out-ofschool learning across institutions. The program that began on a small scale in 2012 is now poised to expand nationally, thanks to a new $100,000 grant from the Hive Connected Learning Fund* that has been distributed among ten Chicago-area institutions, including the Chicago Botanic Garden. The Garden, which co-directs the program with Project Exploration, received more than $16,000 for the badge program in 2014. Digital badges are electronic graphics files earned by students after selected educational experiences. Badges are embedded with metadata providing information about the student’s achievement such as when it was earned, what the participant did to earn the badge, the issuing institution, and work samples. Badges are created via the Mozilla Foundation’s Open Badges or other badge-issuing platforms. They can be shared with parents, teachers, and others.
“The real value of badges is that they could provide a way to bridge the formal and informal learning gap,” said Jennifer Schwarz Ballard, Ph.D., associate vice president of education at the Garden. “If they are successful…they could really revolutionize the education system.” The Garden piloted its use of badges in 2012 in the Science First program. In 2013, the Garden launched the program 26 chicagobotanic.org
in collaboration with five local museums offering badges for learning in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines. The same year, the Chicago Summer of Learning further expanded the movement, incorporating additional area organizations. As a part of the initiative, the Garden offered a science blog badge in collaboration with the Adler Planetarium, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and Project Exploration. As with any new program, there are growing pains, explained Dr. Schwarz Ballard. Early in the program, she realized that badge-issuing institutions had no mechanism for understanding the value of badges issued by other institutions. In 2013, she launched a working group supported by a smaller grant from Hive to develop shared standards for STEM skills badges that could be used and recognized at all participating institutions. The new, larger Hive grant announced this spring is allowing the Garden and partner organization Project Exploration to lead a collaboration with 12 organizations nationwide. The initiative encourages educators to use digital badges to value, document, and communicate out-of-school learning. The Garden’s ultimate goal for digital badges is to create a system that will recognize student learning in STEM disciplines and create opportunity. “For the challenges that society currently faces and is going to be facing, the solutions lie in science and technology and engineering,” said Schwarz Ballard. *The Connected Learning Fund is administered through the Chicago Community Trust, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation.
Recovery Takes Root in the Buehler Enabling Garden Serving the needs of returning veterans is a growing priority for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Horticultural Therapy Services department. For more than 30 years the Garden has
to have provided these vets with a way to improve their well-being,” said the Enabling Garden’s coordinator of five years, Alicia Green.
Barbara Kreski, director of horticultural therapy services, is gratified that the Thresholds program seeks veterans of provided consultation, training, and direct services in hortirecent conflicts. “This group is harder to reach,” she said. cultural therapy, primarily though the Buehler Enabling “They are spread Garden, which opened throughout the city in 1999. Since then, and suburbs, and often horticultural therapy feel it is easier to fit in if staff have worked with they do not identify more than 200 health themselves as recent and human service vets.” The veterans’ agencies to provide life scattered locations and enrichment activities the sense of otherness centered on the healing that comes from having effects of working with been out of the country plants. While the Garand doing very differden has had programent things than their ming with veterans for Buehler Enabling Garden coordinator neighbors makes many many years, it has mostAlicia Green works with a veteran in the garden. of them keep to themly been off-site—until selves. Kreski noted that now. it has been “a real This past summer, the Garden introduced a accomplishment” for Green to get the new program through the Thresholds Veterprogram going. ans Project. Thresholds is a large mental “Reintegration into society can be difficult,” health agency with a mission to transform Green explained about the returning veterthe lives of people struggling with mental ans. “Often they experience hypervigilance illness. The Veterans Project is specifically and feelings of anger and rage that can be designed to support returning veterans with stressful.” Spending time in nature is a good post-traumatic stress disorder and other way to calm those symptoms, and the emotional challenges. Enabling Garden program teaches veterans Headquartered in the Enabling Garden, the how to use nature to self-soothe. program consisted of a series of six retreats to the Garden Green lights up when asked to describe the most rewarding for 15 veterans and their therapists. During the three-hour part of her job. “The look on people’s faces,” she said. “Our retreats, participants engaged in a variety of activities ranghorticultural therapy program just makes people happy.” ing from journaling to summer planting projects to creating memorial garden stones. “By exposing them to lowFor more about the Garden’s Horticultural Therapy Services proimpact exercises with walks through the Garden, and gram, visit chicagobotanic.org/therapy. Read more about the offering an opportunity for artistic self-expression, we hope Buehler Enabling Garden at chicagobotanic.org/explore/enabling. chicagobotanic.org/therapy 29
Horticultural Therapy
Helping Veterans Heal
Growing Their Careers at
Long rows of green stretched across a two-acre site at 45th and Federal Streets on Chicago’s South Side recently, creating a lush tableau of urban agriculture. The first full growing season at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest “farm incubator” site had reached its peak. Where the Robert Taylor Homes housing project stood, five aspiring urban farmers work the Legends South farm site. The three women and two men ranging in age from 22 to 39 all live in Chicago, balance full-time work elsewhere, and are graduates of the Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship program, a nine-month certificate program in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture. Their expected harvest of tomatoes, carrots, premium greens, and other vegetables and herbs is meant to test these farmers’ agricultural skills and the business acumen required to market their crops.
30 chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture
Photo: Bob Stefko
Urban Aggies—Darius Jones and Chris Prochot Darius Jones and Chris Prochot call themselves the Urban Aggies. They met four years ago following Jones’s release from the Cook County Jail, where he served time for carjacking. “Chris was my (transitional job) crew leader. He was in the Windy City Harvest class, and I was coming out of jail,” recalled Jones recently as he stood in the prep area of the McCormick Place Rooftop Farm, where he is farm coordinator of that Windy City Harvest project. Jones, the youngest of the incubator farmers, focuses more on the business side of farming while Urban Aggies business partner Prochot focuses on production. “I see a future. I see dollar signs,” Jones said. “Honestly, I see profits coming from that spot.” The Urban Aggies sell their produce to Midwest Foods, a local distributor that purchases Windy City Harvest’s produce and supports the program in other ways. Jones credits Windy City Harvest’s local food entrepreneurship certificate course 31 chicagobotanic.org
for teaching him about profit and loss statements, training him to track hours, and giving him a feel for how to present a business plan to investors. His dream is to establish a five-acre farm in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood, where he grew up. “If I had it my way and it was profitable,” he continued, warming to the image, “it would have a restaurant, a garden center, and a jobs-training center attached.” Chris Prochot is the Legends South site coordinator as well as one of its farmers. He and Jones have a simple crop plan. “Kale and swiss chard, that’s basically it. Focus on two crops that are easy to grow and in high demand and sell to one source.” When people try to do too much— “trying to sell to all these different sources, trying to run a nonprofit while also trying to save the world”—is when things go bad, according to Prochot. He studied music production in college but finds that being a farmer best suits his personality. “I like working with my hands,” he said. “I’m a doer.” 31
Antiques & Garden Fair
Garden’s Urban Farm Sites
Urban Agriculture
“It makes me very happy… I feel like I’m coming full circle to give something back to a program that gave to me.” —Safia Rashid
Dirt Dolls—Audra Lewicki and Adrienne Detanico “I don’t know where I was,” Audra Lewicki recalled, taking a rest from her incubator plot, “but someone said, ‘What’s your skill?’ and all I could think of is I know how to put together a really mean Excel spreadsheet.” Today, Lewicki is glad to have found her skill—and passion—in urban farming. She also is a graduate of the entrepreneurship course. “This (the incubator farm) is something I can use to get a real grasp on how to turn a passion into a business,” she said. Lewicki and Dirt Doll, LLC, partner Adrienne Detanico have relationships with distributors and chefs interested in their harvest of tomatoes, bok choy, eggplant, and other vegetables. They also plan a subscription product called Date Box, which includes complete ingredients needed to create a locally grown meal. At one time Detanico practiced law at a large Chicago firm, but she wasn’t finding her calling there. “I had a neighbor who was growing a lot of food on her deck, and I thought that was so cool,” she said. Her interest in gardening grew and eventually led to her current full-time work with an organic gardening firm. She and Lewicki hope the Windy City Harvest farm incubator program will springboard them toward purchasing land for their own urban farm. 32 chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture
Safia Rashid Safia Rashid works her incubator farm plot with the help of her husband, volunteers, and a team of interns. “It’s teaching me what farming is truly about,” she said recently. “Farming is a business, so I have to get things in the ground at a certain time and stick with my schedule.” The 39-yearold mother of three home-schooled children also is owner of Your Bountiful Harvest, a sustainable urban farm and garden consultation service. She is growing vegetables to fill boxes for the federally funded Women, Infants, and Children program. “It makes me very happy,” said Rashid, a onetime WIC recipient. “I feel like I’m coming full circle to give something back to a program that gave to me.” The three-year Windy City Harvest training and incubator project at Legends South is made possible by a $750,000 grant from the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. The Legends South farm is operated in partnership with the Chicago Housing Authority and Brinshore-Michaels Development. For donor names who make Windy City Harvest possible, see page 79.
The Evening Primrose, the Hawkmoth, and the Mompha Moth: An Evolutionary Love Triangle
In August 2013, as dusk fell across the world’s largest deposit of gypsum sand, just west of Alamogordo, New Mexico, in White Sands National Monument, Krissa Skogen, Ph.D., a conservation scientist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, knelt before a backlit, fluttering bed sheet stretched over a rectangular frame of PVC pipe: a tent-sized moth trap.
With her headlamp aglow, Dr. Skogen was awaiting the moonlit arrival of what she hoped would be scores of nectar-hungry hawkmoths (Sphingidae)—busy, hummingbird-like insects, roughly the size of a human thumb, which fly up to 20 miles a night, allured by the floral scent of members of the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). At Skogen’s side was Chris Martine, the David Burpee Chair in Plant Genetics and Research at Bucknell University, and creator and host of Plants Are Cool, Too!, a YouTube series dedicated to capturing on film what the title would suggest—the fascinating stories of plants and the plant scientists who study them in the field. Skogen, along with Garden conservation scientists Jeremie Fant, Ph.D., and Norman Wickett, Ph.D., and research collaborators at Amherst College, Cornell University, and the Smithsonian Institution, have quite a story—an evolutionary unsolved mystery of wildflower romance, floral diversification, and pollinator ecology spanning western North America. Through a five-year, $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the group is producing one of the world’s only studies of scent-driven, geographic diversification in groups of interacting organisms—namely, hawkmoths, bees, the Mompha moth, and the evening primrose. “What we’re trying to figure out is why so many flowering plants—angiosperms— radiated at the same time as insects. Plants can’t move, so they have to find a way to move their gametes (reproductive cells). Pollen moves in a number of ways: wind 34
pollination, animal dispersal, and other ways. Anything plants can do to reward pollinators, whether it involves shape, visual, or olfactory cues, can help improve their chances for survival,” Skogen said. The study is novel not only for its ecological breadth, but also its investigation of diversification at population, species, and higher taxonomic levels. While government agencies, universities, and conservation organizations often invest their resources to preserve iconic, charismatic animals whose numbers are dwindling—like the spotted owl—such a narrow focus ignores a more complex picture of interdependency and co-occurring selection among entire groups of organisms and plant communities. In fact, one reason the evening primrose may bloom at night, Skogen said, is because, over hundreds of thousands of years, doing so improved the likelihood it would reproduce. Since hawkmoths fly great distances over the hot desert, they do so at night during cooler temperatures to conserve energy. By opening its petals in the evening, with a greater chance of visitation by the hawkmoth, the evening primrose may enhance its fitness through improved seed set, pollen spread, and fruit production. In all of this, there is an unmistakable whiff of desert romance. The hawkmoth waits until nighttime to fly in on papery wings and dip its long, tongue-like proboscis into the mouth of the evening primrose, feeding on the flower’s sugary nectar. Seldom, though, does a hawkmoth leave without a trace. While extracting nectar, the hawkmoth will brush against the flower’s pollen and carry a signature of the plant’s genetic material, in the form of pollen, to other flowers. “Pollinators don’t know, likely, that they are pollinating; they are just looking for food. Flowers have all these color and scent tricks to attract pollinators to an area. It’s like a big, huge McDonald’s sign on the side of the highway advertising to a pollinator where the food is,” Skogen said.
Postdoctoral researcher Rick Overson attaches a vacuum pump to a flower of Howard’s evening primrose (Oenothera howardii) to collect floral scent at a site northwest of Green River, Utah.
These signals, however, are freely available and attract other, less desirable, suitors—one of them, the Mompha moth, a floral predator whose larvae may feed on flower buds or seeds, thereby reducing the number of offspring the evening primrose produces. What emerges is a kind of evolutionary love triangle involving trade-offs, and a central question: which combination of smell, color, and shape yields the best payoff for a particular flower, population, or species? Over the next five years, the research team will collect nectar, pollen, and scent samples from 15 focal species across the western United States—delicate work that involves X-Acto knives, microcapillary tubes, and intimate contact with plants and pollinators. Back in the Harris Family Foundation Plant Genetics Laboratory, Drs. Fant and Wickett will use DNA extractions and genotyping to compare molecular differences among bees, hawkmoths, and evening primrose plants, with the hope of opening a new pathway in evolutionary biology. “It’s interesting not just in terms of the evolutionary history of species, but also at the population level, where populations may be reproductively isolated from one another. Because hawkmoths are traveling long distances you would think that there would be a lot of genetic mixing, but it’s possible that there is another layer—that only Mompha-resistant individuals can survive and reproduce in certain areas. We suspect that what we see at the population and species level may be influencing evolutionary processes at higher taxonomic levels, as well,” Wickett said. With a total of $1.5 million in grant funding earmarked for Garden-led research activities, the study represents the Chicago Botanic Garden’s largest National Science Foundation grant to date, and a bold stride forward for an emergent, internationally expanding science program. In collaboration with Northwestern University, the Garden’s science program annually engages more than 200 scientists, graduate students, interns, and postdoctoral researchers within the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, at field sites throughout the United States, and in more than 30 countries.
chicagobotanic.org/research 35
Conservation Science
Sphinx chersis, the great ash sphinx moth, was collected visiting lavender-leaf sundrops (Oenothera lavandulifolia) in southwestern Colorado.
Ask the Experts
Ask the Experts Do you have a question for our horticulture experts in Plant Information Service? If so, contact them at plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org or call (847) 835-0972. Visit chicagobotanic.org/plantinfoservice for more Q & As, gardening tips, and conservation topics. Q. Last winter, many of my evergreen shrubs suffered from winter burn. Is there anything I can do to prevent it happening this winter? A. Last winter’s winter-burn damage was due to extremely cold temperatures that prevented affected plants’ roots from absorbing more water than they lost through their foliage during the winter. Although winter burn cannot entirely be prevented, there are some things you can do to lessen its severity. Make sure that your evergreens aren’t too dry going into winter; water them regularly during the growing season and before the ground freezes to give them a better chance of avoiding winter-burned foliage. Antidesiccants can also be sprayed on some evergreens, though they are reportedly not very effective. Burlap can be wrapped around small evergreens to prevent water loss caused by wind but will not prevent desiccation due to freezing temperatures.
Q. M y lawn didn’t grow very well this summer. Is there anything I can do now to improve it for next year? A. One of the best things you can do for your lawn in the fall is to core-aerate it. Core-aeration removes small plugs of soil approximately 3 inches long to reduce soil compaction, stimulate new root growth, and increase oxygen levels in the soil, which will also increase the availability of water and 36 chicagobotanic.org/plantinfoservice
nutrients. This should be done when turf is slightly moist, but not wet, which will make it easier to remove soil plugs. Gas-powered core-aerators or units that attach to tractors can be rented for a relatively low cost from power equipment rental locations or hardware stores. You can also apply a winterizing fertilizer in late October or early November.
Q. Last year my Christmas cactus had very few blooms. What can I do to increase the number of blooms this year? A. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii), a very popular holiday plant, needs one of two things in order to rebloom. Cool temperatures of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit will initiate bud formation. This can easily be achieved by allowing the plants to remain outdoors as long as possible in the fall, monitoring them carefully and not allowing them to be exposed to freezing temperatures. Buds should begin to form within a few weeks after bringing them indoors. Another way to trigger bud formation is to provide the plant with long nights of approximately 12 to 14 hours of darkness. You can accomplish this by placing the plants in a basement or seldomused room that only receives natural daylight. Place the plant in its permanent location when you see the beginning of bud formation, and sit back and enjoy!
Antiques & Garden Fair
Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden
Beauty Feast and the
The first fall frosts will soon make this year’s vegetables, berries, and herbs in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden a thing of the past, but plans are already underway for next year. It’s no small task, considering that as many as 35,000 vegetable seedlings are transplanted into display beds from spring through fall. They provide an ever-changing display of sumptuous ornamental edibles, and inspire those who would like to grow some of their own food, using organic methods, or simply learn about new and unusual varieties of vegetables.
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In summer, the brimming Fruit &
Come fall, pumpkins, brussels sprouts,
Fruit & Vegetable Garden see enor-
Vegetable Garden offers a feast for the
and late plantings of spinach and leeks
mous hanging baskets that often are
eyes as well as the stomach. Throughout
are among the many culinary delights
filled with edible flowers like violas,
the season, visitors will see 52 varieties
that signal the final harvest. Decorative
nasturtiums, calendulas, pansies, and
of tomatoes, 12 types of potatoes, and
broom corn, bronze-red mustard leaves,
several types of colorful and easy-to-
seven types of heirloom corn. (The
and toscano kale are often featured in
grow lettuce with colorful leaves. A
potatoes are harvested as new (early),
the long borders leading to espaliered
spring walk through the Fruit & Vege-
mid-season, main crop, and late
fruit trees that make the most of the
table Garden may surprise visitors, not
(fingerlings).) There are beans, melons,
space. Some of the trees are free-stand-
only with the number of vegetables al-
squash, an herbes de Provence display
ing, while others are trained against the
ready planted out at this time of year,
and an unusual brussel-kale cross called
brick walls, providing examples of what
but also with their beautifully contrast-
“flower sprouts.” There’s also hardneck
can be done along a sunny wall of a
ing textures and colors. There are neat
garlic (ideal for northern climates),
house or garage. At this time of year, the
rows of carrots, asparagus, kohlrabi,
creamy
Blonde
branches on each tree are laden with
beets, rhubarb, onions, peas, spinach,
cucumbers, and malabar spinach—a
apples and pears. Raspberries and other
radishes, and arugula.
climbing, succulent vine that is easy to
fruiting shrubs are trained in rows, and
grow from seed and makes a nice
educational signs throughout the Fruit
addition to a salad.
& Vegetable Garden offer interpretation
yellow
Boothby’s
and helpful tips.
Culinary Delights “As a living museum, we have an opportunity to display concepts such as crop rotation and seed saving and historical themes,” says Lisa Hilgenberg, Fruit & Vegetable Garden horticulturist. “My challenge is empowering people to grow more of their vegetables, whatever space limitations they may have. You can grow vegetables in containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets.” Although the Fruit & Vegetable Garden spans almost four acres, the individual beds show how gardeners can maximize yields in small spaces from spring right through fall. Herbs, leafy greens, and plants with edible flowers are also displayed in vertical wall gardens to show what can be grown when a gardener has no ground space for planting. Continued next page
The Fruit & Vegetable Garden featured these plants in 2014: Bull’s Blood Beets Dragon Carrots Shimonita Salad Onions Jackson Wonder Beans Brandywine Tomatoes Black Hungarian Peppers Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil Rosa Bianca Eggplant Bloomsdale Spinach chicagobotanic.org/explore 39
Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden
In spring, visitors to the Regenstein
Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden
Edible plants in the beds, vertical gardens, window boxes, and hanging baskets are successively harvested and replanted several times from April through September. “Through seasonextension techniques, cold frames, and lots of planning, we are able to extend the harvest window into three bountiful seasons,” said Hilgenberg.
This past spring, the Fruit & Vegetable Garden introduced a victory garden display. During World War II, the victory garden concept rose to prominence when a nationwide educational campaign encouraged people to avoid food shortages by growing plenty of vegetables that could be used fresh or preserved. The movement was hugely successful.
Arbors and a long pergola are covered in kiwi vines and grapevines and underplanted with perennials and annual flowers, an example of how edibles and ornamental plants can be combined in the home landscape.
Through the victory garden display, Hilgenberg highlighted some of the concerns that were important during World Wars I and II, while connecting them to contemporary issues. “We’re addressing many of the same things today as we learn to grow vegetables and encourage gardening to avoid waste, help address critical food shortages, and preserve foods,” she said. “Today’s victory garden, like the one 75 years ago, is all about self-sufficiency and pride, and building community. It’s good for your psyche, your physical health, and our environment.”
Along the walls are displays that show how to turn garden and kitchen debris into valuable compost, along with examples of hand tools—from spading forks to spades, shovels, and trowels—all important for the various tasks of planting and caring for the edible garden. There’s an exhibit on bees, which are essential pollinators for many food crops, and an eighthive apiary. The outdoor theater hosts local chefs who demonstrate fun, delicious ways to use harvested produce.
This year, the Fruit & Vegetable Garden also featured “three sisters”—a native American planting that combines corn, beans (which add nitrogen to the soil for the heavyfeeding corn), and squash. “This provides a sustainable system of long-term soil fertility and, for the gardener, a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet,” Hilgenberg said. She added that the traditional planting scheme was enhanced with sunflowers this year—a planting pattern used by Native Americans to designate their fields. The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden harvests about 6,200 pounds of produce annually. The harvest goes to Windy City Harvest markets and to farmers’ markets; revenue from sales supports the Garden’s urban agriculture jobs-training and education programs.
“My challenge is empowering people to grow more of their vegetables, whatever space limitations they may have. You can grow vegetables in containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets.” —Lisa Hilgenberg 40 chicagobotanic.org
More tips: • Start small and build on your successes! • Locate your vegetable garden where snipping a few herbs or picking tomatoes or squash makes harvesting convenient. • Feed the soil with additions of organic matter, to alleviate the need for fertilizers. • Choose a spot that has eight to ten hours of full sun during summer.
• Plant in north-south rows to capture the most light from the sun with the taller plants growing on the north side of the row. • Salad greens can grow in as little as six hours of sunlight per day, and fruiting vegetables like tomatoes and eggplant need eight to ten hours of sun. • Combine vegetables, herbs, and flowers in plantings to encourage pollinators and beneficial insects.
• If you lack ground space, try sowing lettuce seed in a shallow bowl with drainage holes, or transplanting a tomato plant into a deep (18-inch or so) container. Strawberries and herbs work well in hanging baskets. • Deliver water directly to the root zone of vegetable plants. Wet leaves promote disease. Alternatively, water in the morning to give the foliage time to dry before nightfall.
Since it opened in 1985, the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden has been one of the Garden’s most popular destinations. In 1997, the original garden was renovated. Both the original and renovated Fruit & Vegetable Garden were made possible through the generous support of the Regenstein Foundation, led by Joseph Regenstein, Jr. The Foundation was launched by Regenstein and his parents, Joseph and Helen, in 1950. Regenstein served on the board of directors of the Chicago Horticultural Society from 1980 until his death in 1999. Today’s Fruit & Vegetable Garden continues to function as a true teaching garden, with the ongoing support of the Foundation, now led by Regenstein’s daughter, Susan Regenstein.
chicagobotanic.org 41
Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden
Horticulturist Lisa Hilgenberg has some suggestions for starting a successful food garden. “Try to incorporate edible plants into your landscape,” she suggests. “Consider planting fruit trees for spring blooms and for fruit. Dwarf trees and blueberry shrubs can be grown in containers, and brambles like raspberries or blackberries can serve as hedges along lot lines.”
Adult Education: Regenstein School
Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School Adult Education An extensive schedule provides a wealth of choices; instruction by Garden staff and experts in their field ensures every class, workshop, or symposium is an exceptional learning experience.
Educator brings experience and love of plants to the classroom Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., is a plant guy. He sums the reason up simply: “They make me feel good.” As a horticulture educator, he enjoys cultivating the same positive feelings toward plants in his students. “There’s nothing more rewarding than digging deep into a subject,” he said.
Biennials, and Introduction to Horticulture for Horticultural Therapists. “Mark is very thorough and has a passion for plants,” said Amelia SimmonsHurt, manager of adult education certificate programs for the Regenstein School.
Dr. Zampardo came to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden in 2005 as he was concluding a 30-year career teaching horticulture at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois. Since then, Zampardo has led nearly 60 certificate program courses at the Garden, including Small Flowering Trees, Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens, Deciduous Trees, deciduous Flowering Shrubs, Annuals and
Zampardo teaches horticulture at the School for the personal reward. “I enjoy it because I like the engagement of the students. They’re very involved. They ask a lot of questions and read a lot. They’re forever telling me something I didn’t know,” he said. “If you have any interest in gardening, I think you need to sign up for a course.”
Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., is a plant guy. He sums the reason up simply: “They make me feel good.” As a horticulture educator, he enjoys cultivating the same positive feelings toward plants in his students. “There’s nothing more rewarding than digging deep into a subject,” he said.
42 chicagobotanic.org/education/certificate_programs/about
Check the following pages for details. Go ahead, dig deeper!
Backstage Pass: Secrets of the Garden Wall Saturday, September 20 See page 48.
Botany 1 6 Mondays & 6 Wednesdays, September 8 – October 20 See page 49.
Deciduous Trees 7 Tuesdays, September 9 – November 4 (no class September 23 & 30) See page 50.
Botany for Botanical Artists 5 Thursdays, September 11 – October 16 See page 62.
Tea 101: Getting to Know Tea Saturday, September 13 See page 48.
New! Aging in Place
Planting for the Future in a Changing Climate Wednesday, October 15 See page 44.
Owl Prowl at Ryerson Woods Friday, October 17, or Friday, November 14 See page 51.
Rooftop Garden Design 3 Thursdays, November 6 – 20 See page 53.
New! Meditations in Ink: Bamboo Saturday, November 8 See page 57.
Tuesday, September 30 See page 52.
Visit chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 43
Adult Education: Highlights
Highlights
Adult Education: Professional Regenstein School Development and Bonsai Workshops
Professional Development Programs Professional development opportunities and inspiration are yours here at the Garden. Landscape design, horticulture, and conservation professionals and others are welcome to attend these outstanding programs.
Turf Education Day All turf enthusiasts are welcome to attend this comprehensive lawn-care seminar. This educational turf day provides information on lawn and turf care, products, and resources. Whether lawn-care operators, landscapers, or groundskeepers choose to subcontract these services or provide them in-house, it is critical to profitability and customer satisfaction to stay informed about the latest lawn-care practices and products. The content is geared toward independent turf professionals, groundskeepers, sports turf professionals, landscape contractors, and anyone who provides services related to lawn care. The Illinois Professional Lawn Care Association (IPLCA), Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), and the Chicago Botanic Garden are proud to partner on this very successful day of turf education. Space is limited. Please register at iplca.org. $130 nonmember $100 Government rate (municipal, county, parks and recreation, and school districts) $90 members of ILCA, IPLCA, or Chicago Botanic Garden Friday, September 12, 8 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Alsdorf Auditorium
Planting for the Future in a Changing Climate Presented by Bartlett Tree Experts and the Chicago Botanic Garden Growing and maintaining landscape plants in the Midwest is different than it was even just a few decades ago. USDA Plant Hardiness Zones have shifted northward. How should gardeners, designers, landscape professionals, and city foresters respond? This class will draw on the latest research and insights from experts at the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum, Cantigny Park, the Field Museum, and Midwest Groundcovers to give practical suggestions for creating landscapes that will survive and thrive. $25 nonmembers; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, October 15, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Alsdorf Auditorium
New! Garden Graphics: Color Tips and Techniques In the first in a series of graphic technique workshops, learn how the addition of color can brighten, clarify, and excite any landscape drawing. Be part of this two-day workshop demonstrating the ease of adding that extra enrichment and dimension to your presentations. Learn to enhance and express your design process with the aid of color as well. If you’re aiming to enhance existing skills or simply learning for the first time, this class is designed to provide the instant impact and impression of color to your garden designs. R. Thomas Selinger, RLA, landscape architect, James Martin Associates $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 2 Sundays, November 2 & 9, noon – 4 p.m. Design Studio
Podando para Professionales
Bonsai Workshops All bonsai workshops are taught by bonsai artist Ivan Watters. Workshops are held in the Production Headhouse.
Pruning for Spanish-Speaking Professionals
Bonsai: Beginner – Basics and Fundamentals
Este repaso de prácticas de podar para jardineros profesionales incluirá técnicas, tiempo, y cómo escoger las mejores herramientas. Debido a que parte de la clase estará afuera se requiere que traigan tijeras y serrucho para practicar. Una discusión de cómo tartar con sus clientes y qué información debe compartir con ellos antes de empezar un trabajo también será incluido. This review of pruning practices will be taught in Spanish. An English description is listed below.
During this six-week course, discover principles and techniques to appreciate and participate in the art of bonsai. Each session includes a detailed lecture and assistance with design, styling, and wiring.
Manny Sanchez, grounds foreman, Chicago Botanic Garden $49 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, November 19, 9 a.m. – noon Annex 2
Ideal for those with considerable familiarity and experience with the fundamentals of bonsai, each session in this six-week course includes a brief lecture, supervised work on trees, and a review and critique of work undertaken.
Pruning for Professionals
$269 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Wednesdays, October 8 – November 12, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
This course is designed as a comprehensive review of basic pruning practices for landscape professionals. The afternoon session consists of demonstrations in the field that illustrate the techniques discussed during the morning session. There will also be a review of pruning tools and equipment care. Please dress for the weather, as the afternoon will be spent outdoors. Lunch is on your own. Tom Tiddens, plant health care supervisor and certified arborist; Thomas Fritz, plant health care specialist; and Mike Annes, plant health care specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $87 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, November 20, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Annex 2
$229 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Sundays, October 12 – November 16, 1 – 4 p.m.
Bonsai: Novice – Development Techniques
Bonsai: Intermediate – Refinement Techniques Appropriate for those with knowledge of bonsai concepts and experience with the art beyond the novice level, each session in this six-week course includes a brief lecture, supervised work on trees, and a review and critique of work undertaken. $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Saturdays, October 11 – November 15, 9 a.m. – noon
Bonsai: Advanced – Presentation-Quality Efforts For the student who has completed the beginner, novice, and intermediate courses, this six-week course focuses almost exclusively on supervised work on trees. $319 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Sundays, October 12 – November 16, 9 a.m. – noon
44 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Adult Education: Weekend Regenstein Gardener School
Plant Propagation Made Easy At last, a vegetative plant propagation course for the home gardener! Glenn Grosch will give you both the practical knowledge and the confidence needed to add vegetative propagation to your list of gardening skills. Specific areas to be covered include division, layering, leaf and stem cuttings, bulb division, and hardwood and softwood cuttings. Included in the discussion will be the plants best suited for each method of propagation. Glenn Grosch, horticulture educator $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, October 25, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Annex 2
Preparing Roses for Winter
Weekend Gardener Series How-to information for homeowners and weekend gardeners
Weekend Gardener Series
Bulbs for Beginners
Are you a new homeowner baffled by your landscape? Are you a beginning gardener who wants to learn basic horticultural skills? This series answers gardening questions and introduces techniques for gardening success. Each course investigates a different topic related to your own lawn and garden.
Flowering bulbs are the delight of the spring garden, providing vivid, colorful relief after the doldrums of winter. Learn how to select bulbs to enhance your garden and how to grow them successfully. Expert Jill Selinger will also discuss how to design with bulbs to extend the flowering season and how to interplant with perennials and shrubs for a spectacular display. For those students interested in attending the Fall Bulb Festival immediately after class, Selinger will be on hand at the event to answer questions.
Discover Ornamental Grasses Ornamental grasses have gained great favor due to their adaptability to many garden conditions, as well as their ornamental features. They reliably bloom in summer, adding unique texture to the garden; later, they provide winter interest. Learn how to add these attractive yet undemanding selections to your home landscape. A Garden walk will be included, so please dress for the weather. Heather Sherwood, senior horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, September 27, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Linnaeus Room
Jill Selinger, manager, adult education, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, October 11, 9 – 11 a.m. Linnaeus Room
The Great Divide Fall is a great time to divide most perennial plants, a winning proposition for all involved. The plants are happier and will respond with great vigor the following spring, you gain more of the plants you love, and you usually end up with enough to share with friends! Join Rachel Catlett for this discussion and demonstration class, where you will learn how to divide plants and pick up propagation tips and techniques. Rachel Catlett, horticulture educator $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, October 18, 1 – 3 p.m. Annex 2
Now is the time to start putting your roses to bed for the winter. Join Tom Soulsby and learn about the degrees of cold tolerance and the proper way to protect various types of roses. Grandiflora, floribunda, hybrid tea, shrub, miniature, and climbing roses will be discussed. A portion of the class will consist of outdoor demonstrations and hands-on practice, so dress for the weather and bring thorn-resistant gloves. Tom Soulsby, senior horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, November 8, 9 – 11 a.m. Linnaeus Room
Basic Pruning for Homeowners The best time to prune most trees and shrubs is quickly approaching. Proper pruning is the key to maintaining plant health and the desired form. Learn the basic techniques for dormant winter pruning. Basic pruning principles for trees and shrubs will be reviewed, as will the application of various pruning tools. A portion of the class will consist of outdoor demonstrations, so please dress for the weather. Tom Tiddens, plant health care supervisor and certified arborist, Chicago Botanic Garden $45 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, December 6, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Annex 2
Visit chicagobotanic.org/ school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
46 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Adult Education: Horticulture Regenstein School
Horticulture Horticulture courses help students acquire the information and techniques needed to grow ornamental plants and maintain a healthy garden or lawn.
Autumn Containers at the Garden Take a Garden walk to view the Garden’s fall containers. Then create a cool-season mixed container with a variety of plants suitable for a full-sun or partial-shade location. Your container may include annuals, perennials, herbs, decorative foliage, cool-season vegetables, ornamental grasses, a decorative vine, and gourds. Please bring gloves. Nancy Clifton, program specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $87 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, September 10, 10 a.m. – noon, or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 1
Horticulture Learn to grown and maintain a healthy garden.
Brewing Nature’s Best Tea 101: Getting to Know Tea In this course you’ll learn the basics of the second most consumed beverage on earth after water—tea. We’ll cover how tea is grown and harvested and how the leaves are processed into the many styles of tea on the market today. You’ll then get a chance to try each of the six types of tea. Tony Gebely has been studying tea for more than ten years, has traveled to tea growing regions, and has been teaching tea in the Chicago area for many years. Tony Gebely, tea expert and author $45 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Saturday, September 13, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
Coffee 101: Coffee Basics & Sustainable Production Do you drink coffee? Have you ever wondered where it came from and how it was produced? This two-hour class examines coffee as a social beverage and global commodity, including discussions of cultivation, supply chains and markets, and includes the chance to sample coffees from various coffee-producing regions. Special attention will be given to understanding organic, Fair Trade, and sustainable coffees, and exploring the environmental, cultural, and economic characteristics of coffee production. Patrick Eccles, assistant director, Center for Global Engagement, Northwestern University $45 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Saturday, September 20, 1 – 3 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Learn the secrets of the Garden Wall and Berm in Backstage Pass.
48
Backstage Pass: Secrets of the Garden Wall
Peonies Rediscovered
The Garden Wall and Berm zips by in a flash for drivers on the Edens Expressway. Yet there is so much to see out there, horticulturally speaking. Now you have the opportunity to join a select few to tour this highly visible, yet virtually inaccessible, jewel in the crown of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Did you know that this wall is more than a mile long? Join us and discover the secret gardens along the Garden Wall. Register early—space is limited. Save September 27 as a rain date.
Peonies, the elegant grand dames of gardens past, are coming back into favor. There are wide arrays of varieties to choose from, including lovely doubles, chiffon-like singles and stately tree peonies, and even some that will tolerate shade. Heather Sherwood will discuss and demonstrate division, proper planting depth, and other cultural techniques for herbaceous and tree peonies. Rediscover this wonderful, easy-to-grow perennial with the fragrance that will take you back to grandma’s garden. Students will receive a bare root peony for their own garden.
Dave Cantwell, horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $39 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Saturday, September 20, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Meet at Visitor Center
Heather Sherwood, senior horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $45 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Wednesday, October 15, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
Compost is a valuable soil amendment, and making it provides a great way to recycle abundant yard and food wastes. Even with limited or no yard space, you can produce surprisingly large quantities of your own high-quality compost. Join Bill Shores as he explains the composting process, how to choose and handle materials, ways to fit composting into small urban spaces, what containers you can build or purchase and how to use them effectively, harvesting and using compost, and indoor composting options.
Poultry Palooza! Join urban chicken consultant Jennifer Murtoff for a day of workshops on how to successfully raise and enjoy chickens in your backyard! Register for both sessions at once and receive a 10% discount.
Raising Backyard Chickens This class is designed for curious people who are considering raising backyard chickens, as well as for those who already have their own birds and who want to learn more! Come learn about local laws, how to raise chicks, care for adult birds, and keep your neighbors happy! Jennifer Murtoff, Home to Roost Urban Chicken Consulting $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m. – noon Annex 1
New! Snow Birds: Winter Care for Chickens Now that you’ve learned the basics of caring for chickens, join us as we look further into the care of chickens during our cold and often unpredictable winter weather. In this class, you’ll learn about weatherproofing your coop, signs of frostbite, and differences in nutritional needs during winter. Jennifer Murtoff, Home to Roost Urban Chicken Consulting $27 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, October 25, 1:30 – 3 p.m. Annex 1
Bill Shores, professional grower and garden consultant $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, November 1, 9 – 11 a.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Holiday Lighting Techniques Do you wish that your outdoor holiday lights could be as spectacular as the ones at the Garden? If so, join Heather Sherwood as she demonstrates the techniques used to decorate trees and shrubs with lights for the holiday season. Learn how to estimate equipment and time, install the lights, and maintain a beautiful show. You’ll learn the tricks of the trade and then apply what you learn to your own home holiday décor. Dress for the weather, as part of the class will be outdoors. Heather Sherwood, senior horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, November 5, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
Hands-On Gardening: End-of-Season Pruning To cut or not to cut your woody plants? What you cut today affects what the plant will look like and how well it will grow for years to come. After a brief classroom discussion, you will have the opportunity to practice pruning small woody plants. Please dress for the weather and be prepared to get dirty, as most of the class will be spent outside, rain or shine. Sean Regan, horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, November 15, 1 – 3 p.m. Annex 1
Horticulture Certificate of Merit Programs Certificate Graduation If you will be completing your certificate program, you must register with the adult education office to be considered for the 2014 Autumn Certificate Programs Graduation. Graduation will be held Friday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Linnaeus Room. Please register at chicagobotanic.org/school/certificate/graduation no later than October 15.
Soil Basics, Intensive Session MGC, PGL 1, PGL 2, and GDC requirement Soil is an irreplaceable natural resource that affects plant selection and growth. Learn to maintain healthy soil; use compost, fertilizers, soilless and potting mixes, and other amendments. Discover how water cycles through a garden and affects soils and plants. Begin to appreciate the circle of life within our soils. Ellen Phillips, horticulture educator $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 3 Saturdays, September 6, 13 & 27, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (no class September 20) Annex 2
Botany 1 OPC, MGC, PGL 1, PGL 2, and GDC requirement Why, botanically speaking, is a tomato a fruit? What is the difference between a fern and a moss? Come join us in Botany 1 to learn the answers to these questions and more! In this course we will explore subjects such as the importance of plants to our lives; plant taxonomy and classification; and the life cycles, distinguishing features, diversity, and identification of major groups of plants. Ellen Phillips, horticulture educator 6 Mondays & 6 Wednesdays, September 8 – October 20, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (no class September 24) Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Winter Containers at the Garden Explore the winter containers at the Garden and learn ways to extend your own containers into the winter season. Then prepare a container with fresh-cut evergreen boughs and berried or brightly colored branches. Please bring gloves and pruners. Nancy Clifton, program specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $87 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, December 3, 10 a.m. – noon, or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 1
Visit chicagobotanic.org/ school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
Visit chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 49
Adult Education: Horticulture
Urban Composting
Adult Education: Horticulture Regenstein School
Deciduous Trees OPC, PGL 1, PGL 2, and GDC requirement Learn to identify more than 50 large deciduous trees, gain a greater understanding of the multitude of functions they serve in gardens and the landscape, and discover the wonders they offer year-round. Develop your ability to identify trees using their buds, bark, and habit, in addition to leaf shape and other characteristics. Prerequisite: Botany 1 (courses can be taken concurrently). Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., horticulture educator, Chicago Botanic Garden $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 7 Tuesdays, September 9 – November 4, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (no class September 23 & 30) Alsdorf Auditorium Garden Walks (select one) 6 Thursdays, September 11 – October 30, 9 – 11 a.m. (no class September 25 & October 2) or 6 Saturdays, September 13 – November 1, 9 – 11 a.m. (no class September 27 & October 4) Optional Study CD $20
Dwarf Conifers OPC elective Dwarf conifers are excellent additions to any garden, particularly for adding four-season interest. Broaden your plant knowledge and design palette with this illustrated lecture and Garden tour. Learn to identify and use dwarf conifers for big impact. The School’s CEUs=0.3 Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., horticulture educator, Chicago Botanic Garden $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, October 15, 9 a.m. – noon Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
New! Hydrangeas are Hot OPC elective In the last few years hydrangeas have become a prominent plant in the landscape. This flowering shrub can provide color and structure in the garden from midsummer through fall. Learn about the different species available, their care, and the increasing number of cultivars available. The School’s CEUs=0.2 Sharon Yiesla, horticulturist, owner, Sharon Yiesla Horticultural Presentations $62 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Wednesday, October 22, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Learn about the elegant and useful fern in Ferns for the Chicago Region.
Ferns for the Chicago Region
Espalier Basics
OPC elective
OPC elective
One of the most elegant and useful plants in the outdoor landscape is the fern. Most gardeners don’t realize there are a fairly large number of hardy species and an enormous variety of garden cultivars in a myriad of sizes, forms, and textures. In addition, there are a number of mutations that provide fascinating deviations in frond shape; you will be amazed at the forms created. Join us to expand your impressions of ferns in your garden design! The School’s CEUs=0.3
In espalier, a woody plant is trained as a vertical trunk with horizontal branches in a single plane. This technique exemplifies the art and science of horticulture, for it is both beautiful and productive. Topics include espalier history, contemporary applications for fruit trees, and tools and supplies. You will gain experience in identifying fruit spurs and leaf and shoot buds, plus practice tying supports and learn where to prune. Existing pruning knowledge is necessary. Dress for the weather, as part of the session will be conducted outdoors. The School’s CEUs=0.3
Heather Sherwood, senior horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $74 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Saturday, October 25, 9 a.m. – noon Seminar Room, Plant Science Center
Botany 2 PGL 2 and GDC requirement How do seeds germinate and develop into mature plants? How do plants move water up through their roots to their topmost branches? This course will explore such subjects as the plant cell, anatomy and growth of roots, stems, and leaves, photosynthesis, and the symbiotic association of plant roots with beneficial fungi and bacteria. Prerequisite: Botany 1. Jeff Gorra, consulting biologist, X-Bar Diagnostics Systems, Inc. $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 7 Mondays & 5 Wednesdays, October 27 – December 8, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (no class November 26) Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Heather Sherwood, senior horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, November 8, 9 a.m. – noon Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
New! Meet the Cultivars: Ground Covers and Vines OPC elective Ground covers and vines fill special niches in our gardens. They can be used to carpet open spaces, create vertical lift, and pull the landscape together visually. Learn about the many cultivars and how they differ from the species; as well as selections that do well in northern Illinois. The School’s CEUs=0.2 Sharon Yiesla, horticulturist, owner, Sharon Yiesla Horticultural Presentations $62 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Saturday, November 8, 1 – 3 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Gardening Techniques Session A
Overview of Plant Propagation
PGL 1, PGL 2, and GDC requirement
OPC elective
Students will be introduced to professional gardening through a combination of lecture and hands-on activities. They will focus on acquiring solid gardening skills, learning a variety of techniques, and developing the ability to determine best practices. Topics range from general grounds maintenance, winterization, and plantings, to other horticultural practices. This is a pre-professional class designed for students entering the green industry.
Come and learn about how plants are reproduced. We will cover seed and cutting propagation and how and why plants are grafted and the easy method of layering plants. The School’s CEUs=0.3
Tom Weaver, assistant horticulturist bulb and aquatic gardens, Chicago Botanic Garden $312 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Saturdays, October 11 – November 15, 7:30 – 10:30 a.m. Annex 2
50 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., horticulture educator $74 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Saturday, November 15, 9 a.m. – noon Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Adult Education: Nature Studies
Nature Studies The Chicago region contains a wide range of plants and animals living in different types of natural communities, from woodlands to wetlands, from prairies to savannas.
Bird Walk: Fall Migration Take a walk in the Garden and learn to identify birds in their sometimes-confusing fall plumage. Earlier bird walks will highlight warblers, vireos, and flycatchers, while later ones will feature ducks, sparrows, and hawks. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them.
Nature Studies Discover the joy of birding
Alan Anderson, research committee chairman, Chicago Audubon Society $19 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, October 18, 7:30 – 9 a.m. or Saturday, November 15, 7:30 – 9 a.m. Meet at Visitor Center
Native Seed-Collecting Workshop Learn the essentials of successfully and ethically collecting native seed. This full-day workshop will cover collection techniques, appropriate times for collecting different species, and seed storage. Seed treatment, methods for overcoming dormancy, and production of transplants will be discussed. Dress for the weather, as a portion of the workshop is outdoors. Please bring a sack lunch. Jim Steffen, ecologist, Chicago Botanic Garden $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, September 20, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Seminar Room, Plant Science Center
The Native Oaks The mighty oaks (Quercus) have been a signature species in Midwest landscapes for thousands of years. This class covers the different species and varieties within their respective ecosystems along with their landscape usage and culture. Oak morphology and physiology of the various species will be covered along with basic identification of the varieties. John Raffetto, horticulture educator $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, September 30, 1 – 3 p.m. Linnaeus Room
A Walk with Old Friends: Tree Identification at Reed-Turner Woodland Reed-Turner Woodland is an excellent example of northeastern Illinois woodland groves. The preserve also provides examples of wetland, meadow, prairie, and hedgerow trees. You will learn how to identify trees not only by their leaves, but also by bark, fruit, seed, shape, branching form, and habitat. Part of the class will be spent outside, and the other portion will be held indoors by the fire, discussing tree identification, habitat, and the history of the Illinois woodlots. Participants should dress accordingly. A map will be sent. Sarah Schultz, steward, Reed-Turner Woodland $24 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Sunday, October 12, 1 – 3 p.m. Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Preserve, Long Grove, IL
Owl Prowl at Ryerson Woods Join Steve Bailey for a captivating night exploring the mystery of owls at the Ryerson Woods Conservation Area. He will discuss owl behavior and identification, as well as the places these fascinating birds are most likely to be seen. He may even demonstrate his world-famous barred owl call. After the discussion, Bailey will lead a walk in the woods to look and listen for these enigmatic birds. Please dress warmly, and bring along a flashlight and binoculars. A map will be sent. Steve Bailey, ornithologist, Illinois Natural History Survey $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Friday, October 17, 7 – 9 p.m. or Friday, November 14, 7 – 9 p.m. Brushwood House, Ryerson Woods, Deerfield, IL.
Visit chicagobotanic.org/ school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
Find and hear enigmatic owls in the Owl Prowl at Ryerson Woods.
51 51
Adult Education: Garden Regenstein Design School
Garden Design With a variety of courses ranging from site analysis and construction to garden art and history, students learn the principles of garden design and how design relates to the environment.
New! Aging in Place Studies show that being outside, in nature, or even viewing a well-maintained landscape can have positive mental and physical effects. Too often as we age, limitations in strength, mobility, and stamina can reduce our enjoyment of our yards and gardens. Join us for some ideas to extend your garden enjoyment for years to come and adapt your landscape to become more hospitable to the elderly. Valerie Gerdes Lemme, landscape architect, ASLA $27 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, September 30, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
New SERIES! Elements of the Garden Join Timothy Lally, ASLA, for this series of classes that explore the different landscape elements of a garden—walks and pathways, decks, patios, fences, latticework, lighting, water features, and art in the garden. Basic design considerations of each element will be covered in the classes.
New! Garden Walks and Paths Garden walks not only get you from point A to point B, but they are usually a visitor’s first impression of the garden. Whether formal or informal, walks create the style and overall mood of the garden. In this class, we will discuss the design and construction of garden walks and paths. Many paving options will be explored, such as concrete pavers, bricks, gravel, and natural stone. And we will learn the pros and cons of each material and which one is best for the style of your garden.
Weekend Designer Series
Front Yard Design
If you have always wanted to improve the design of your home landscape, or if you are a new homeowner wondering where to start, this series is a great way to introduce yourself to the basic principles of landscape design. This lecture series, created for novice designers, will take you from basic design theories to site-planning techniques and finally to techniques for implementing a design plan. Register for all five sessions at once and save ten percent. Please note the refund policy for the series.
This course will teach you the basics of front yard landscape design. A lecture and slides will demonstrate how proper planting design can change the way you use and view your property. Your front yard design should respond to your home’s architecture as well as be aesthetically pleasing. Topics will include proper plant types and spacing, focusing and screening views, and creating curb appeal.
$166 nonmember; members receive 20% discount
Introduction to Design Principles This workshop introduces and reviews the landscape design process of site analysis, conceptual design, and evaluations, based on such landscape-design principles as balance, symmetry, proportion, scale, and unity. Looking at plant combinations and landscape features, you will learn about color, texture, line, form, and methods of creating garden spaces. Valerie Gerdes Lemme, landscape architect, ASLA $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, October 28, 7 – 9 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Foundation Planting Design Do you live in an older home with an outdated foundation planting of overgrown evergreens? Or in a newer home that needs help creating an identity and style? Whether old or new, many homes have foundation plantings that need revamping. Learn the principles of good foundation design and view examples of plants that may work well, reduce maintenance, and provide multi-seasonal interest. Good design will improve the curb appeal of your home, increasing its value. Valerie Gerdes Lemme, landscape architect, ASLA $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, November 4, 7 – 9 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Tim Lally, ASLA, PLA, principal, Timothy Lally Design $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Monday, October 6, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Jeffrey True, vice president of operations, Hursthouse, Inc. $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, November 11, 7 – 9 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Backyard Design Learn how to create an enjoyable backyard space that is both functional and exciting. This course will focus on the design and development of functional and attractive spaces, including dining and entertaining areas (such as decks and patios), children’s play spaces, and outdoor storage and utility areas. Learn how to screen and focus views and create a sense of enclosure for areas where you desire a private space for comfort and security. Jeffrey True, vice president of operations, Hursthouse, Inc. $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, November 18, 7 – 9 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
From the Drawing Board to the Border How do you take your plans from the drawing board to creating the garden without being overwhelmed by the amount of work and money? Learn how to develop a shopping list and timeline to phase the work over several seasons. You’ll also receive some useful tips on budgeting, purchasing plants, and working with landscape professionals. Valerie Gerdes Lemme, landscape architect, ASLA $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, November 25, 7 – 9 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
New! Garden Landscape Lighting Outdoor lighting extends the use and enjoyment of your garden into the evening hours. During this class, we will discuss the various types of lighting such as uplighting, downlighting, spotlighting, path lighting, and lighting for safety and security. We will spend the final part of the class walking in the Garden observing examples of outdoor lighting. Tim Lally, ASLA, PLA, principal, Timothy Lally Design $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Monday, November 17, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
52 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Visit chicagobotanic.org/ school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
MGC requirement
Garden Design Learn the principles of garden design
Gain an understanding of landscape design fundamentals and principles to improve your own garden’s look, feel, and function. We will discuss and demonstrate scale, balance, symmetry, circulation and views, and plant design. This hands-on approach to landscape design will enable you to create spaces and garden beds within a home environment. Paul Laiblin, project manager and senior estimator, Scott Byron and Co. $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Tuesdays, September 16 – October 21, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Rooftop Garden Design GDC elective This course will look at the special needs and concerns related to a rooftop garden. Through slides and discussion, we will look at all of the elements necessary to design a rooftop garden. Topics will include environmental issues, weight load, decking/ paving materials, screening issues, arbors, planters, plantings, lighting and irrigation. Please dress for the weather. The School’s CEUs= 0.75
Garden Design Certificate of Merit Programs Certificate Graduation If you will be completing your certificate program, you must register with the adult education office to be considered for the 2014 Autumn Certificate Programs Graduation. Graduation will be held Friday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Linnaeus Room. Please register at chicagobotanic.org/school/ certificate/graduation no later than October 15.
Garden Design Studio GDC requirement In this advanced study of garden design theory and methods, students will utilize their skills in design process, design language, graphics, research, and analysis as well as legal and regulatory responsibilities for estimating cost for site design. The coursework develops critical and analytical skills through the interaction between students and instructor-mentors. Prerequisites: Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design, Planting Design, Hardscape Basics, and Garden Design Implementation. Sean Kelley, owner, Reveal Design LLC $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 8 Wednesdays, September 10 – November 5, 6:30 – 9 p.m. (no class September 24) Lakeside Room, Visitor Center and 2 Saturdays, September 20 (off-site), and October 18 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Planting Design GDC requirement Apply knowledge and skills developed in previous design courses toward a working understanding of planting design. Weekly discussions and individual projects will focus on basic elements of planting design, including an understanding of color and texture, plant combinations, planting bed layout, installation techniques, and maintenance practices. Prerequisites: Four OPC core courses, Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design, and Hardscape Basics. Julie Sajtar, CA, ISA, ASLA, Craig Bergmann Landscape Design $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 9 Wednesdays, September 10 – November 12, 6:30 – 9 p.m. (no class September 24) Design Studio and 2 Saturdays, October 11 & November 1, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Tim Lally, ASLA, PLA, principal, Timothy Lally Design $124 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 3 Thursdays, November 6 – 20, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Design Studio
Adult Education: Garden Design
Basic Landscaping Principles
Adult Education: Botanical RegensteinArts School and Humanities
Botanical Arts and Humanities Throughout history, plants and images of plants have been woven into the arts—painting, literature, and photography. The beauty of botanical arts courses is that they encompass a wide variety of topics, from photography to calligraphy, botanical illustration to papermaking. In introductory and higher-level courses, students have the opportunity to express their creative flair while sharing time with others in an enjoyable setting.
New! Dyeing Local: Creating Color with Berries, Barks, Leaves, and Flowers Learn how to create color on natural fibers from plant materials collected from your local area, including your own garden. We will start by learning the foundation of natural dyeing—the mordant process. Next, we will learn how to extract natural dyes from different types of plant materials. Students will provide their own natural yarn or fabric (wool, cotton, silk, or other natural fibers) to dye. A list of supplies will be sent. Open to all levels. Pamela Feldman, artist and educator $399 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Mondays, September 15 – October 6, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
New! Sketchbooks as an Artist Resource Explore examples of several artists’ sketchbooks from throughout history while developing your own. Sketchbooks can be collections of ideas, experiments, studies, notes, ephemera, and inspiration. In addition to exploring other artists’ sketchbooks, we will develop a variety of techniques to create and enhance your own sketchbook as a resource. Participants will be sketching natural subjects in pencil, fine permanent marker, watercolor pencil, watercolor, water-soluble pen, and water-brush. This class is suitable for beginning through advanced students whether you use your sketchbook for studies and to work out problems, as a travel journal, or as art in a finished state.
Frame Loom Weaving
Mosaic Workshop
In this class we examine the many possibilities of creating woven forms using a simple frame loom. Students will experiment with the techniques of tapestry and plain-weave, then explore ways of creating surface, image, and text within a woven form to create independent projects. Students will be exposed to both contemporary and historical artworks and will participate in skill-building demonstrations to broaden their technical skills.
Discover the joy and beauty of mosaic art in the pique assiette tradition. Pique assiette, or “broken plates,” incorporates a wonderful blending of color, form, and texture. This mosaic folk art can be found in many cultures and is popular today as a way to recycle a favorite piece of china or broken heirloom. Work under the guidance of Bonnie Arkin to complete a unique mosaic from shards of china, ceramic, or glass. A supply list is given at the first class, but you can start collecting dishes now!
Pamela Feldman, artist and educator $499 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Wednesdays, September 17 – November 19, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Design Studio
Beginning Landscape Watercolor What could be a better spot to paint watercolor landscapes than the Chicago Botanic Garden? Beginners will learn various watercolor techniques, from washes to dry brush. Above all, we will relish the luxury of painting outside in the midst of such a stunning array of landscapes. A supply list will be sent. Patsy Welch, artist and educator $237 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Tuesdays, September 23 – October 28, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
Bonnie Arkin, artist and designer $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Thursdays, September 25 – October 30, 7 – 9 p.m. or 6 Thursdays, November 6 – December 18, 7 – 9 p.m. (no class November 27) Annex 1
Rejuvenated Jewelry Inspired by the little treasures you save and love, we will cleverly combine old and new elements to create spectacular jewelry. Bring your special and sentimental keepsakes, single earrings, buttons, charms, chains, family photos, and found objects and let Bonnie Arkin inspire your creativity. We can create wonderful new designs from vintage treasures. You will learn to solder, wire wrap, and string. Arkin has many examples to share and resources for treasure hunting. A supply list will be sent. Bonnie Arkin, artist and designer $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Tuesdays, September 30 – November 4, 7 – 9 p.m. or 6 Tuesdays, November 11 – December 16, 7 – 9 p.m. Annex 1
Diane Dorigan, artist and educator $199 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Tuesdays, September 16 – October 21, 10 a.m. – noon Design Studio
Learn to extract natural dyes from plant materials in Dyeing Local.
54
Botanical Arts Express your creativity
Adult Education: Botanical Arts & Humanities
New! Trees in Watercolor
Fall Fiber Arts Workshops
New! Turning of the Trees: A Felt Landscape
Trees are an essential element of most landscape painting, with many distinctive species, each displaying interesting seasonal variations. Spend eight weeks exploring these wonders of nature. Weather permitting, we’ll sketch from the Garden’s diverse collection and then paint indoors. Frances Vail will demonstrate the characteristics that make each tree unique in different seasons, interpreting them to help bring your landscapes to the next level.
Come learn how to felt while hearing stories of a knitter, shepherd, and small business owner! Natasha Lehrer, of Esther’s Place Fiber Arts Studio in Big Rock, Illinois, will share her love of fiber arts and inspire you to create!
Bring a picture of your favorite tree with you or take a walk around the grounds for inspiration! We’ll create a 6 x10-inch felted picture, complete with yarns adding texture for bark and vivid hand-dyed wools for leaves. The result will be a stunning piece to treasure for years to come. Start with a white canvas of wool and make it come alive as we teach you techniques to creating great landscape pieces. We will then needle felt the piece before starting with soap, bubble wrap, and wet felting. Learn and be inspired to capture nature’s fall glory in felt!
Frances Vail, art instructor $379 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 8 Thursdays, October 2 – November 20, 9 a.m. – noon Design Studio
Renaissance Painting Egg Tempera Techniques Egg tempera is the exquisite, detail-loving, vibrantly colorful medium that was used by artists from the icon painters of the Middle Ages through today. Learning how to make paint from pure pigments and egg yolk will give you insight into the nature of all paints, and improve your painting technique as you learn to paint with this beautiful medium. Fee includes pigments for use in class; 15-color pigment sets will be available for optional purchase. A supply list for other materials will be sent.
Register for both sessions at once and receive a ten percent discount.
New! Pumpkins in Fall Decorate your home and hearth with these wool pumpkins! Using wool and needle felting techniques, create a 6-inch-tall pumpkin complete with lifelike ridges, tendrils, and a stem. The real surprise is the spices we tuck inside—apple mulling spices make it sweet-smelling all season long! This simple, easy class will have you celebrating fall as you walk away with a completed pumpkin at the end. Perfect for the novice crafter, needle felting is an easy to learn a technique that is both creative and relaxing. It uses a special needle to tangle the wool fibers into felt, and it can be shaped and sculpted into a multitude of ideas! Come join us to try this new and novel craft!
$79 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, October 8, 1 – 4 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
$49 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, October 8, 10 a.m. – noon Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Judith Joseph, artist and educator $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Thursdays, October 2 – November 6, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
The Rhythms of Stone Garden Sculpture Workshop Known for his excellence in teaching, award-winning sculptor DJ Garrity will conduct a stone-carving workshop focusing on carving a face onto stone. This artist resides in the west of Ireland and travels to the Chicago Botanic Garden to teach this workshop whenever his busy schedule allows (which isn’t very often!). He has served three tours of duty as the sculptor-in-residence of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and established an international reputation with gardeners, artists, and educators who have enjoyed this innovative workshop and the opportunity to create a unique garden sculpture. No previous experience is required to participate and students of all ages have enjoyed the light approach that Garrity brings to the art of stone sculpture. A block of limestone is included in the workshop fee. If you are interested in bringing your own stone, please mention this when registering and the price of the limestone will be deducted from your class fee. Students need to supply their own carving tools. A supply list will be sent. DJ Garrity, professional sculptor $750 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Monday – Thursday, October 6 – 9, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. McGinley Pavilion
A face slowly emerges from limestone in the Rhythms of Stone Garden Sculpture Workshop.
56 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
This series of classes is for anyone who has an interest in learning how to draw and paint but feels intimidated merely at the thought. Heeyoung Kim’s step-by-step instruction and guidance will allow you to learn and have fun doing it! Plan to spend the day and register for both sessions at once to receive a 10 percent discount.
Learn How to Draw This class is designed for those who have a desire to draw and are convinced they can’t. Learn the fundamental principles of putting pencil to paper by developing a basic pencil-line technique. Understand how to establish shape, form, depth, and dimension, as well as proportions and perspective! This class is also recommended for beginning horticultural students. Heeyoung Kim, botanical artist $312 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Fridays, October 17 – November 21, 9 a.m. – noon Design Studio
Learn How to Paint in Watercolor This class is designed as an introduction to the botanical art of painting in watercolor. If you are intimidated by the sight of a sheet of white paper, this class is for you! Develop an understanding of a basic color palette, mixing color, and sound color selection through a basic step-by-step approach. Students will progress to working with botanical specimens as they develop a sense of color accuracy. Learn the basics of watercolor—surprise and delight yourself and amaze your friends! Heeyoung Kim, botanical artist $312 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Fridays, October 17 – November 21, 1 – 4 p.m. Design Studio
Use traditional tools and techniques in Meditations in Ink.
New! Walnut Ink Workshop
New! Meditations in Ink: Bamboo
Did you know you can make a beautiful dark brown ink from black walnuts? Learn to identify, harvest, cook, and process these tannic fruits into a lovely, fragrant ink. Each participant will get a bottle of brewed ink, made the way it was done centuries ago. Class will include drawing time in the studio. Students should wear old clothes and bring aprons. Fee includes all materials.
Asian Brush Painting Workshop with Bruce Iverson
Judith Joseph, artist and educator $79 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, October 21, noon – 3 p.m. or Saturday, October 25, noon – 3 p.m. Design Studio
This class is for those interested in learning and using the traditional tools and techniques of Asian watercolor painting (sumi-e in Japanese). Through step -by-step demonstrations and hands-on brush painting projects using the Four Treasures (bamboo brushes, hand-ground ink, inkstone, and rice paper), you will explore this ancient and elegant art and leave class with two completed works. Subjects for this workshop will be calligraphy and bamboo painting in ink and color. Bamboo is a symbol for strength, grace, and flexibility. All materials provided. Suitable for students of all skill levels—no art experience is necessary! Bruce Iverson, artist $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, November 8, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Annex 2
New! Deconstructing Floral Design A flower-arranging workshop
Visit chicagobotanic.org/ school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
This workshop for beginners teaches a fresh and fun approach to floral design by deconstructing foundational principles you can use for any DIY projects. First, we will study basic floral design concepts key to a stunning arrangement. Students will create three small, instructional arrangements; each designed to practice a different technique. We will then incorporate the skills we have learned as we create a fun and inspiring design. A supply list will be sent. Beth Pinargote, floral artist $79 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, November 13, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Visit chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 57
Adult Education: Botanical HighlightsArts & Humanities
Botanical Art: “Learn How” series
Holiday Calligraphy Workshop
Asian Brush Painting Workshop with Bruce Iverson
Adorn the holidays with the beautiful, personal touch of calligraphy! Create beautiful holiday cards, gift tags, place cards, and thank you notes. Learn to embellish your notes with such simple holiday motifs as holly and wreaths. A supply list will be sent.
This class is for those interested in learning and using the traditional tools and techniques of Asian watercolor painting (sumi-e in Japanese). Through step-by-step demonstrations and hands-on brush painting projects using the Four Treasures (bamboo brushes, hand-ground ink, inkstone, and rice paper), you will explore this ancient and elegant art and leave class with two completed works. Subjects for the workshop will be calligraphy and chrysanthemum painting in ink and color. The chrysanthemum is the symbol for integrity, friendship, and joviality. It is the last flower to bloom and stand strong against the cold of autumn. It is also a symbol of a pleasant life after retirement! All materials provided. Suitable for students of all skill levels—no art experience is necessary!
Judith Joseph, artist and educator $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Tuesdays, November 25 – December 16, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Design Studio
Great gift idea! Create a personalized address plaque for your home with artist, Janet Austin. In this full-day workshop, learn the fundamentals of mosaic design, tile cutting, proper substrate, adhesion, and grouting for outdoor use. During the morning, we will design, cut, and set tiles. There will be a one and a half hour break to allow time for the mortar to set, and then in the afternoon, we will grout the projects. The piece is then ready to take home and hang. The final piece will be approximately 8 x 14 inches. All materials are included, with choices of glass and stone mosaics, and special handmade tiles by the artist.
Bruce Iverson, artist $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, November 15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Annex 2
Holiday Fiber Arts Workshops Come learn how to felt while hearing stories of a knitter, shepherd, and small business owner! Natasha Lehrer, of Esther’s Place Fiber Arts Studio in Big Rock, Illinois, will share her love of fiber arts and inspire you to create! Register for both sessions at once and receive a ten percent discount.
New! Twiggy Reindeer
New! Holiday Cardinal
Ring in the holidays with this woodland reindeer. From his twiggy legs to his bittersweet berry antlers, red nose and perky tail, he’s so cute and so simple to create. Learn how to take wool and shape and sculpt it into felt as we walk you through the steps. Perfect for the novice crafter, needle felting is an easy to learn technique that is both creative and relaxing. It uses a special needle to tangle the wool fibers into felt, and can be shaped and sculpted into a multitude of ideas! Come join us to try this new and novel craft!
Everyone loves the cheer that a cardinal brings to the winter landscape! How about making them as ornaments for the holiday? Learn to shape each part with wool, then connect it all together and sculpt it to life. We’ll use hand-dyed wool and needle felting techniques, working step by step so even novice crafters will walk away with something fantastic! You’ll be inspired to make a whole family of birds with the skills learned in this class.
$49 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, November 18, 10 a.m. – noon Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
New! Mosaic Address Plaque
$49 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, November 18, 1 – 3 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Janet Austin, artist $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, December 4, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Annex 2
Personalized Natural Perfume Workshop Create a personalized natural aroma at this beginner-level workshop while learning about plant origins and distillation. Sample fragrant oils will be provided from around the world, including American clary sage, Egyptian jasmine, French lavender, Italian bergamot, and more. Choose a unique combination of oils for the instructor to blend into your own signature scent. Fee includes .25 ounce bottle of custom natural perfume to take home. Jessica Hannah, natural perfumer and interdisciplinary artist, J.Hannah Co. $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. – noon or 1 – 3 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Visit chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 59
Adult Education: Botanical HighlightsArts & Humanities
New! Meditations in Ink: Chrysanthemum
Adult Education: Botanical RegensteinArts School & Humanities
Gourd Art Workshops
Gourd Art Workshop: Eggshell Inlaid Gourd
During one special weekend this fall, the Illinois Gourd Society will hold its state show at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Realize your own creativity as you take a workshop from quality, knowledgeable instructors who belong to the Illinois Gourd Society. No discounts apply.
Come, learn, and create! This is a fun class using natural egg shells to create a fascinating “inlay” look and texture on a gourd. Add color and accents with paints and inks to finish your beautiful, decorative gourd. All class materials provided.
Gourd Art Workshop: Chip Carving Using a chip-carving tool, learn how to create interlocking patterns of u-shaped “chips” to reveal unique design patterns on a gourd, then finish the gourd with stains that highlight the carved design. Students will choose to create a bowl or birdhouse. All class materials provided. Lynn Quinn, artist, Illinois Gourd Society $65 Friday, September 19, 9 a.m. – noon Annex 1
Gourd Art Workshop: Resist Gourd A fun process for decorating a gourd, resist techniques can be used to create layered effects with color and texture. Starting with a small, whole gourd, students will use vinyl and ink dyes to create shapes or designs on the gourd. Fun, different, and beautiful. All class materials provided. Sandy Bulgrin, artist, Illinois Gourd Society $45 Friday, September 19, 9 a.m. – noon Annex 2
Gourd Art Workshop: Gourd Birdhouse The birds in your yard will love the new home you make them! We start by painting the gourd any color, then hot glue the seeds from the gourd’s insides to make a roof. Paint charming accents like a door, windows and flowers, seal it, and it’s ready to hang. All class materials provided, but if you have a glue gun and glue sticks, feel free to bring them. Jackie Kendall, artist, Illinois Gourd Society $55 Friday, September 19, 1 – 4 p.m. Annex 1
Sandy Bulgrin, artist, Illinois Gourd Society $55 September 19, 1 – 4 p.m. Annex 2
Gourd Art Workshop: Gourd Flowers Students will use small ornamental gourds that the instructor has cut and prepared. Learn the proper sanding and building techniques to create sweet forever flowers made from gourds. Apply decorative finishing touches with paint, leaves, and sealer to preserve your creations. All class materials provided. Jackie Kendall, artist, Illinois Gourd Society $55 Saturday, September 20, 9 a.m. – noon Annex 1
Gourd Art Workshop: Gorgeous Gourd Vessel Always wanted to try your hand at gourd crafting? This is the class for you! Starting with a gourd that has been cleaned, dyed, and drilled, you will learn to coil with Danish cord and waxed linen to create a one-of-a-kind gourd vessel. Add yarn, feathers, and dried materials to the finished project. We will also discuss growing, cleaning, and dyeing of the gourds. This is a fun and exciting class, and every gourd will be unique. All class materials provided. All levels welcome. Sandy Bulgrin, artist, Illinois Gourd Society $60 Saturday, September 20, 9 a.m. – noon Annex 2
Gourd Art Workshop: Zentangle® Workshop Create beautiful images by drawing simple structured patterns. Zentangle is a meditative, repetitive art technique using drawings called tangles. Zentangle calms the mind, helps reduce stress, and improves focus. Plus it’s a lot of fun! There is no right or wrong, no eraser. Learn patterns that can be applied to many types of gourd work, and then practice applying a pattern onto a gourd shard. Designs learned also work with quilting, engraving, and scrapbooking. All class materials provided. Bonnie Cox, certified Zentangle instructor $45 Saturday, September 20, 1 – 4 p.m. Annex 1
Gourd Art Workshop: Gourd Guts Papermaking! Make paper from dried gourd material. The interior lining of the dried gourd makes a wonderful texture on handmade paper. Mix shredded paper with gourd fibers to produce a variety of colors to obtain your final product. We will discuss different drying techniques and experiment by adding additional dried material to your product. You will take home a kit that contains your screen, sponges, and materials to make more paper at home. All class materials provided. Carol Vanhyfte Lawrence, artist, Illinois Gourd Society $55 Saturday, September 20, 1 – 4 p.m. Annex 2
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Illustration by Claudia Lane
Adult Education: Botanical Arts & Humanities
Botanical Arts Certificate of Merit Programs
Pen and Ink 2
Botanical Drawing 2
ART requirement, traditional track
ART requirement
This studio class will cover advanced pen-and-ink techniques and composition in botanical documentation and illustration. We will draw advanced plant forms and their parts under the microscope, developing sound linear and tonal concepts, communicating accurate botanical information, and learning the aesthetics of botanical drawing and composition. Students will work using both a crow quill (dip pen) and technical drawing pens. Prerequisites: Botanical Drawing 1, Pen and Ink 1.
Continue to build your drawing skills with advanced graphite techniques, light and dark media on toned paper, and carbon dust. Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing 1.
Heeyoung Kim, artist and director, Midwest Center for Botanical Documentation $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Mondays, September 8 – October 13, 6 – 9 p.m. Design Studio
Botanical Drawing 1, Fall Session ART requirement
Drawn from Nature: Annual Student Botanical Art Exhibition Outstanding works will be presented by students in the Botanical Arts Program at the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden. The exhibition will continue through Sunday, October 19, 2014. A closing reception will be held on Sunday, October 19. Joutras Gallery, Regenstein Center
Botany for Botanical Artists ART requirement and FPC requirement, nature and wildlife track This class is designed with the botanical artist in mind. The focus will be on the visual aspects of botany rather than the study of internal features and processes. This class will distill the terminology of botanists into an understandable and useful form. Lectures and demonstrations will explore vascular plant parts including flowers, stems, leaves, and roots. Dave Sollenberger, seed conservation specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $224 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 5 Thursdays, September 11 – October 16, 6 – 9 p.m. (no class September 25) Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Strong drawing is the cornerstone of botanical art. In this class, we will work in pencil, covering the fundamentals of proportions, line, tone, dimensionality, and expression. We will work from live specimens, flowers, seeds, and fruit. Marlene Hill Donnelly, scientific illustrator, Chicago Botanic Garden and The Field Museum $349 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 8 Tuesdays, September 9 – October 28, 6 – 9 p.m. Design Studio
Open Studio, Fall Session ART elective This studio class is open to all levels and will feature a short lecture and demonstration each week illustrating a principle that pertains to all media. Select plant materials will be provided for the session. The School’s CEUs=1.8 Marlene Hill Donnelly, scientific illustrator, Chicago Botanic Garden and The Field Museum $212 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 5 Sundays, September 7 – October 5, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Design Studio
English Watercolor Techniques
Marlene Hill Donnelly, scientific illustrator, Chicago Botanic Garden and The Field Museum $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Saturdays, November 1 – December 20, 9 a.m. – noon (no class November 29 & December 6) Design Studio
Color Pencil Workshop ART elective Whether advanced or novice, you will learn various colored pencil application techniques emphasizing color value and temperature. Drawing skills will be sharpened to allow for your personal expression. You will work from real life. Reference handouts, demonstrations, and individual guidance is given to each student. The School’s CEUs= 0.9 Priscilla Humay, freelance artist, CPSA $174 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 3 Saturdays, November 1 – 15, 1 – 4 p.m. Design Studio
Certificate Graduation If you will be completing your certificate program, you must register with the adult education office to be considered for the 2014 Autumn Certificate Programs Graduation. Graduation will be held Friday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Linnaeus Room. Please register at chicagobotanic.org/school/ certificate/graduation no later than October 15.
Visit chicagobotanic.org/ school/faculty for faculty biographies.
ART requirement, traditional track Using live plant materials, students build on techniques learned in Watercolor I. Emphasis is on realistic portrayal of botanical subjects and traditional methods of dry brush watercolor painting, with attention to detail and color accuracy. Demonstrations and individual instruction will be given. Prerequisites: Botanical Drawing 1, Color Mixing, and Watercolor 1. Nancy Halliday, freelance artist and naturalist $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Mondays, October 20 – November 24, 6 – 9 p.m. Design Studio
62 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
Adult Education: Photography Highlights
Photography Discover the joy of nature and garden photography with the Garden as your studio! Advance your artistic and technical skills in classes and workshops for students of all levels led by outstanding photography professionals.
Capturing the Holiday Lights Evening photography workshop December nights are perfect for making the Garden’s outdoor holiday lights come alive. Learn how to use your camera to capture these magical displays in this exciting new workshop. We will begin with a review of camera settings and image-framing concepts, then proceed outside to photograph all the festive color in the Heritage Garden, the Esplanade, and the Great Tree. Back in the studio, we will review and discuss those newly captured images. Learn how to transform your perfect photo into holiday greeting cards. Class limited to digital cameras only. A tripod is very strongly recommended and shutter release most helpful.
Photography
Jack Carlson, certified professional photographer $59 nonmember; members receive 20% discount For students who are beginners with digital cameras: Monday, December 1, 6:30 – 9 p.m. For intermediate students: Monday, December 8, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Focus on Photography Certificate of Merit Program Certificate Program Free Information Session If you are looking to see the world in a new way, join us and learn about the Garden’s Focus on Photography Certificate Program. Learn how to hone your photography skills, expand your creativity, and make new friends while learning firsthand from a team of highly skilled and enthusiastic instructors. First-time students attending this session will receive $20 off their first certificate core course (restrictions apply). Please register in advance. Friday, October 10, 7 – 8 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Botany for Botanical Artists FPC required course, nature and wildlife track 5 Thursdays, September 11 – October 16, 6 – 9 p.m. (no class September 25) See page 62 for details.
The Garden is your studio
New! Photographing Trees
New! Into the Woods
FPC fundamental course, nature and wildlife track
FPC elective
Both deciduous and evergreen trees are essential to the environment. This class will provide instruction on how best to photograph each type. When photographing evergreens, the emphasis will be on texture and pattern of bark, cones, and needles. For deciduous trees, capturing branches and the changing color of leaves as individual subjects in close-ups will be the focus. Varied techniques for capturing images of the tree in its entirety, as well as the tree’s parts, will be the core. Digital SLR cameras with a medium to wide-angle lens and macro or close-focusing lens are required. Students should have a working knowledge of their camera settings and controls.
In this class, students will learn how to find and photograph various parts of McDonald Woods. Subjects will include dealing with differences of scale, changing light levels, and using different perspectives to photograph paths as lead-lines. The School’s CEUs=1.2
Jack Carlson, certified professional photographer $237 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Saturdays, September 13 – October 11, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. (no class October 4) Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center or 5 Tuesdays, September 23 – October 21, 9:30 a.m. – noon Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
FPC requirement option
Jack Carlson, certified professional photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Sundays, September 21 – October 12, 9 a.m. – noon Annex 2
Photoshop I The Chicago Botanic Garden is a spectacular place to take photographs. Make your photographs even better with Adobe Photoshop Elements—a user-friendly photo editor that uses the same concepts as the full version of Photoshop. Learn how to make your images better through the use of selection tools, layers, and smart brushes. Play with some artistic options that can inspire abstractions. Requirements for the course are a laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop CS5 installed and a digital camera. Iris Allen, freelance photographer and instructor $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Mondays, September 22 – October 13, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
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Adult Education: Photography Regenstein School
Abstracts in Nature – Autumn
Lightroom 2
Special Engagement
Intermediate level FPC fundamental course, fine art track
FPC elective
Digital Perspectives on Fall Color at the Chicago Botanic Garden
This intermediate class will be spent applying photographic techniques to create a portfolio of abstract fine art photographs. You will go beyond nature as reality and learn to see the outdoors in patterns. Using design concepts, students will craft creative images with a mood and message. A review of technical SLR tools, in addition to developing your creative eye, will help you capture abstracts of your very own. Class will include lecture, critique, and practice time in the Garden. Digital SLR camera and tripod required. Proficiency with aperture and shutter speed is required. The School’s CEUs=1.2 Dianne Kittle, fine art photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Tuesdays, September 23 – October 14, 1 – 4 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
New! The Autumn Forest Portfolio Photographic Field Trip Study FPC elective The Forest Preserves of Cook County will serve as a natural laboratory as we explore a variety of photographic techniques, such as correct exposure, exposure compensation, bracketing, white balance, ISO, overlay, multiple exposure, and interval timer. We will create abstract compositions using different props. With a balance of design principles, SLR tools, and a theme approach to image making, you will develop your photographic vision and style with the goal of producing your own nature portfolio. This course is designed for intermediate photographers. Digital SLR cameras are mandatory. Locations to be announced. The School’s CEUs=1.6 Dianne Kittle, fine art photographer $274 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Wednesdays, September 24 – October 15, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Cook County Forest Preserves
In this course, you will polish your editing workflow, file management, and increase your processing skills in the Develop Module. You’ll also learn to create slideshows and publish your images to the Internet directly from Lightroom. A personal laptop with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 installed is required. Prerequisite: Lightroom 1, or approval of instructor. The School’s CEUs = 1.2 Dianne Kittle, fine art photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Thursdays, October 2 – 23, 9 a.m. – noon Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Autumn Photography FPC elective In fall, the Garden becomes a patchwork quilt of color. Learn how to use your camera (film or digital) to capture these dramatic shadings through effective use of light and contrast. Join Jack Carlson as he introduces new perspectives to landscape photography. The images you will create will be stunning! The School CEUs=1.2 Jack Carlson, certified professional photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Thursdays, October 2 – 23, 1 – 4 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
FPC elective Digital imaging has revolutionized photography and liberated photographers. Join master garden and flower photographer Allen Rokach in this intensive two-day workshop as he guides you through the fascinating world of digital photography. Through a combination of illustrated lectures, field photography, review sessions, and demonstrations of after-capture techniques, Rokach will share his expertise and long experience creating exciting images of flowers and gardens. There will be two daily outings to photograph around the spectacular grounds of the Chicago Botanic Garden at the height of the fall foliage season. The focus will be on expanding your photographic horizons by developing an artistic vision and becoming comfortable using your digital camera to achieve that vision. In daily review sessions, Rokach will offer suggestions for improving your images, including the use of after-capture techniques that can help you transform competent images into truly great ones. Lunch is on your own. Students must bring their digital cameras and laptops for the field and review sessions. The School’s CEUs =1.8 Allen Rokach, master garden photographer $374 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Business Techniques for Flower and Garden Photographers FPC elective Is it possible to turn your love of flower and garden photography into a viable career path? Yes, provided you have a clear understanding about how to turn your passion into a business. This one-day intensive workshop will outline the techniques and strategies that will help aspiring professional photographers start and build their business. Allen Rokach will give participants valuable insights using his own success over nearly 40 years in the field, plus interviews with local experts in their photography-related fields. The workshop will cover topics such as marketing your skills and your work, creating a portfolio, developing clients and getting assignments, pricing your work, working with photo editors and art directors, creating a web presence, legal considerations, and more. The School’s CEUs=0.6 Allen Rokach, master garden photographer $99 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Monday, October 20, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Master garden photographer Allen Rokach teaches after-capture techniques at the Garden.
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Take the next step and learn even more about Abobe Photoshop. This more advanced class will further your knowledge of selections and layers, allowing you to do some serious photo enhancement and manipulation. We will tackle some interesting projects such as black and white with color accents, old photo restoration, and abstract art creation. Requirements for the course are a laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop CS5 installed and a digital camera. Prerequisite: Photoshop 1, or approval of instructor. The School’s CEUs = 1.0
Photo by Nancy Sawle Knobloch
FPC elective
Adult Education: Photography
Photoshop 2
Iris Allen, freelance photographer and instructor $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Mondays, October 20 – November 10, 1– 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
Beginning Digital Photography FPC requirement This course will help beginners and enthusiasts grasp the techniques and principles of photography. Participants will explore the basics of photography, including image composition rules, how the camera works, proper exposure, and the functions of lens aperture and shutter speed. Some minimal photo processing will also be covered. Course requires a digital SLR camera. No previous experience is required. Jack Carlson, certified professional photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Wednesdays, October 22 – November 12, 9 a.m. – noon Lakeside Room, Visitor Center or 4 Saturdays, October 25 – November 15, 9 a.m. – noon Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Advanced Photoshop FPC elective Take your Photoshop skills to the next level and learn some more exciting editing techniques. This class is project-oriented, learning black and white with color accents, HDR, panorama, and people extraction. There will also be more digital photography tips. Requirements for the course are a laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop Elements or Adobe Photoshop CS5 installed and a digital camera. Prerequisite: Photoshop 1& 2, or approval of instructor. The School’s CEUs=1.0
Photographers learn new techniques from experts at the Garden.
Intermediate Digital Photography
New! The Digital Workflow Process
FPC elective
FPC elective
Having learned the basics of digital photography in the introductory course, students are ready to move to more artistic endeavors. Seeing, thinking, and acting are the next steps in learning to identify, then capture, an impressive image. Students will use lead lines, selective manual focus, and appropriate aperture settings to enhance their photos. Prerequisite: Beginning Digital Photography or the consent of the instructor. The Schools CEUs=1.2
Develop and practice the workflow process necessary to take images from the camera to the computer and finally to the web or print form. Learn how to set your camera for correct image quality and size. Download files to a computer, reformat your camera’s memory card, and use an external drive for backup. You will practice naming your files, adding copyright, and how to set up an organized file system. Practice saving images to the web and for printing. We will explore different storage alternatives from hard drives to the cloud. Lastly, we will look at Internet sources for displaying and sharing your photos. This class is designed for beginning level students. Both Lightroom and Photoshop will be included in the discussion. The School’s CEUs = 0.8
Jack Carlson, certified professional photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Wednesdays, November 19 – December 17, 9 a.m. – noon (no class November 26) or 4 Saturdays, November 22 – December 20, 9 a.m. – noon (no class November 29) Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Dianne Kittle, fine art photographer $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 2 Mondays, December 1 & 8, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lakeside Room, Visitor Center
Iris Allen, freelance photographer and instructor $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Mondays, November 17 – December 8, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Annex 2
Visit chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 65
Adult Education: Wellness & Fitness
Wellness Discover the many possibilities offered at the Chicago Botanic Garden for nurturing and healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Meditation Walk: The Cycles of Life What better way to enjoy the seasonal weather and nourish your spirit at the same time than an early morning meditation walk at the Chicago Botanic Garden! Come prepared to relax and renew as we slowly walk around the Great Basin, making four stops for guided meditation. The four life-cycle images we will focus on are creation/birth, growth, pain and loss, and new life. Each image will be linked to our own life experiences, and you will have private time to contemplate, journal, wander, and breathe. This event will take place rain or shine as we can utilize covered spaces if needed. Mary Ann Spina, teacher, writer, and counselor $25 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, October 11, 8 – 10 a.m. Meet at Visitor Center
Fitness Walks Maximize the benefits of walking for exercise by learning about proper posture, muscle strengthening, and stretching. The Chicago Botanic Garden’s outdoor environment is a unique alternative to a health club, offering fresh air and a place where beautiful scenery changes weekly. All fitness levels are accommodated. Dress for the weather; wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. The incremental multi-session pass allows the walker to choose which sessions to attend during the season. Esther Gutiérrez-Sloan, certified personal trainer and president, SALSArobics, Inc. # of Sessions Nonmember Fee (members receive 20% discount) 4 Sessions $63 nonmember 8 Sessions $119 nonmember 12 Sessions $166 nonmember Drop-in Rate $15 Saturdays, April 12 – November 15, 8 – 9 a.m. Meet at Visitor Center
One-stop registration online. It’s so easy! Register for classes, camps, kids’ programs, yoga, and more!
Tai Chi Classes
Tai Chi: Advanced Yang-Style
Tai chi’s fluid movements make the Chicago Botanic Garden an ideal location for classes. People of all ages and physical conditions can learn these movements. Tai chi is best practiced in loose clothing and stocking feet or comfortable flat shoes. On occasion, when weather permits, class will occur outdoors in one of the beautiful areas of the Chicago Botanic Garden. One-time class trial fee: $20.
This course continues with in-depth study of the Yang-style for students who have completed the intermediate class level and feel comfortable advancing. Some qigong exercises, such as the Eight Pieces of Brocade, will also be practiced. In session we will emphasize the ABCs—alignment, breathing, and concentration.
Tai Chi For Beginners: Sun-Style This course will introduce students to Sun-style tai chi chuan with a few Yang-style concepts as well. Sun-style is the most modern form of tai chi and the movements are very gentle in nature. We will focus on basic principles to improve your balance and relaxation, and also increase your range of motion and reduce stress. This class of gentle movements is recommended for beginners and provides you with a solid foundation for choosing future studies. No previous tai chi experience is required, and all are welcome.
Gordon Lock, instructor $165 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Wednesdays, September 10 – November 19, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. (no class September 24) Burnstein Hall
Tai Chi: Advanced Sun-Style This course continues with in-depth study of the Sun-style for students who have completed the intermediate class level and feel comfortable advancing. Some qigong exercises, such as the Eight Pieces of Brocade, will also be practiced. In session we will emphasize the ABCs—alignment, breathing, and concentration.
Gordon Lock, instructor $119 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 7 Tuesdays, September 9 – October 28, 8 – 9 a.m. (no class September 23) Burnstein Hall
Gordon Lock, instructor $165 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Thursdays, September 11 – November 20, 8 – 9 a.m. (no class September 25) Burnstein Hall
Tai Chi For Beginners: Yang-Style
Tai Chi: Intermediate Yang-Style
This course will introduce students to Yang-style tai chi chuan with a few Sun-style concepts as well. Tai chi from the Yang family is a beautiful, slow-moving meditation in motion. We will focus on basic principles to improve your balance and relaxation, and also increase your range of motion and reduce stress. This class of gentle movements is recommended for beginners and provides you with a solid foundation for choosing future studies. No previous tai chi experience is required, and all are welcome.
Further your study of the Yang form of tai chi. Consistent practice of tai chi helps us to relax from the fast pace of multi-tasking and recognize the moment at hand. The movements help to reconnect us to mind-body awareness and restore harmony and balance into our daily routines. Tai Chi for Beginners or some tai chi experience is recommended.
Gordon Lock, instructor $119 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 7 Tuesdays, September 9 – October 28, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. (no class September 23) Burnstein Hall
Tai Chi: Intermediate Sun-Style Further your study of the Sun form of Tai Chi. Consistent practice of tai chi helps us to relax from the fast pace of multi-tasking and recognize the moment at hand. The movements help to reconnect us to mind-body awareness and restore harmony and balance into our daily routines. Tai Chi for Beginners or some tai chi experience is recommended. Gordon Lock, instructor $165 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Wednesdays, September 10 – November 19, 8 – 9 a.m. (no class September 24) Burnstein Hall
The practice of tai chi promotes relaxation.
66 To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Gordon Lock, instructor $165 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Thursdays, September 11 – November 20, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. (no class September 25) Burnstein Hall
Adult Education: Wellness & Fitness
Yoga Classes Yoga is an ancient practice that unites body, mind, and spirit. For all sessions, wear comfortable clothing (sweats, shorts, or yoga pants) with socks or bare feet. Yoga mats are required. It is also suggested that you bring a towel with you, as well as a sweatshirt for cool-down. All yoga classes last approximately 60 minutes. On occasion, when weather permits, class will occur outdoors in one of the beautiful areas of the Chicago Botanic Garden. One-time class trial fee: $20.
Yoga Master Class This class is designed for the student who is looking for a deeper understanding of the principles of movement and alignment. Join us for engaging practices in a welcoming, accepting, and encouraging environment. Be ready to explore your whole body through carefully designed sequences, gaining understanding of movement in more depth and detail. Don’t miss the opportunity to emerge from this experience with a new knowledge set, a deeper understanding of your practice, and a stronger relationship with your essential self. Class size is limited so sign up soon. Steve Nakon, Whole Journey $125 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 5 Fridays, October 17 – November 14, 9 – 10:30 a.m. Linnaeus Room
Gentle Yoga A series of yoga poses and breathing exercises designed and adapted for a tranquil, relaxing yoga experience. In this course, we will take a gentle, restorative approach to the practice. All students are welcome. Come and enjoy a sense of peace and balance. Steve Nakon and Patricia Nakon, Whole Journey Fall session: $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Mondays, September 8 – November 10, 9 – 10 a.m. or 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Linnaeus Room or Winter session: $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Mondays, January 12 – March 16, 9 – 10 a.m. or 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Wellness programming is generously supported by NorthShore University HealthSystem.
Yoga Wellness & fitness at the Garden
Introductory Yoga
Yoga Flow Intermediate
This is a course for the newer student focusing on yoga movement and breathing basics. We will investigate how the principles of yoga help support health and well-being. All are welcome. Join us as we explore the yoga basics.
The Yoga Flow series combines movement linked to the breath, working the body and engaging the mind. This is a more exhilarating, challenging Flow series for students who have taken Beginner Flow or have comparable experience.
Steve Nakon, Whole Journey Fall session: $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Wednesdays, September 10 – November 12, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. or 7 – 8 p.m. Linnaeus Room or Winter session: $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Wednesdays, January 14 – March 18, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. or 7 – 8 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Steve Nakon, Whole Journey Fall session: $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Tuesdays, September 9 – November 11, 8 – 9 a.m. or 10 Thursdays, September 11 – November 13, 9 – 10 a.m. or 6 – 7 p.m. Linnaeus Room or Winter session: $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Tuesdays, January 13 – March 17, 8 – 9 a.m. or 10 Thursdays, January 15 – March 19, 9 – 10 a.m. or 6 – 7 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Yoga Flow Beginner The Yoga Flow series combines movement linked to the breath, working the body and engaging the mind. This is a moderately challenging course for students with some yoga experience. Steve Nakon, Whole Journey Fall session: $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Tuesdays, September 9 – November 11, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or 6 – 7 p.m. Linnaeus Room or Winter session: $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Tuesdays, January 13 – March 17, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or 6 – 7 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Gentle Yoga and Meditation All levels of fitness and experience are welcome in this class, which will include meditative movement and contemplative stillness. We will focus on the breath and relieving stress. Steve Nakon, Whole Journey $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Wednesdays, September 10 – November 12, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Linnaeus Room
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Youth & Family Programs
Youth and Family Programs Early positive experiences in nature or other plant-rich environments can foster a lifelong appreciation of the natural world. That is why, with the support of the Guild of the Chicago Botanic Garden, we are deeply committed to engaging families and children of all ages with a year-round schedule of professionally designed, age-appropriate programs held throughout the Garden.
Exploring Is Fun with the Discovery Backpack and Bingo Cards Hey, moms and dads—you already know there’s plenty for the family to explore at the Chicago Botanic Garden. See it better (we mean that literally) and make discovery even more fun (bingo!) by checking out a free Discovery Backpack and grabbing a Bingo Activity Card at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center. Kid-size backpacks include two magnifiers, two pairs of binoculars, and mini identification books on wildflowers, birds, and trees—all cool tools parents can use too. “A lot of people come to the Garden looking for whatever’s in bloom for the week, but being able to explore the ecosystem is the best
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benefit of the Discovery Backpacks,” said Shamra Fallon, coordinator of youth and family programs. Seasonal bingo cards come with stickers and make it fun for children to find stuff. Look for things like a sunflower or squirrel, or listen to the sound of the wind. Get four boxes in a row and “bingo!” That’s good for a hand stamp on the way out at the Information Desk. Bingo sheets are printed in English and Spanish and, for children too young to read, are illustrated. More than 36,000 bingo cards were handed out last year. They also are available for pickup at the Regenstein Center.
Kleinman Family Cove Family Drop-in Activities
Discovery Backpacks
Explore the plants and animals in aquatic habitats. Use scientific tools to look at tiny critters living under water, find out what makes water plants different from land plants, and more. Activities may vary from week to week.
Enliven your family’s Garden visit using tools to identify and observe plants and animals. Check out one of our free Backpacks, available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center.
Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden Family Drop-in Activities Get close to nature and discover where food comes from and how plants grow. Pollinate flowers, dissect seeds, see roots growing, compost with worms, create a rainbow for healthy eating, and more. Activities vary from week to week. Saturdays & Sundays, through August 31 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Weekdays, through September 1 Noon – 4 p.m.
Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays, through August 31 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fruit & Vegetable Garden Family Drop-in Activities Join us for harvest activities in September! Dig and pour in the apple picking sensory bin, create pumpkin prints, go on a harvest hunt, and identify fall fragrances. Saturdays & Sundays, September 6 through 28 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Malott Japanese Garden Family Sundays Drop by the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden for hands-on activities related to Japanese arts and culture. Practice using chopsticks, rake miniature dry gardens, make Japanese kites, and more. The free activities vary each time. Sundays, September 7 & 21 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visit chicagobotanic.org/forfamilies for more information.
Sukkot Family Drop-in Activities Celebrate the Jewish harvest holiday Sukkot! Families are invited to help decorate the branch-covered sukkah, which will be on display from October 9 to 15 at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. These activities are provided by the National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago North Shore Section. Sunday, October 12 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visit chicagobotanic.org/calendar for more information.
Family drop-in activities enhance a visit to the Garden for children of all ages.
Youth & Family Programs
Free Programs
Youth & Family Programs
Fee-based Programs Nature Nights: Harvest Hike Bring a picnic dinner and spend an evening in the Garden! Children ages 4 to 10 and their families will explore different areas of the Garden and enjoy a variety of discovery-based activities. Each Nature Nights also includes a tram ride, a planting project, and s’mores around the campfire. Experience the beauty of the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden in the fall and see what fruit and vegetables abound at the end of the season. You and your child will explore the Garden to find unique plants used for food, discuss composting plant material, and even plant and harvest some veggies to take home. Saturdays, September 6 or 20 5 – 7:30 p.m. $25 nonmember per child Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount *Don’t forget to bring a picnic dinner! Dessert is provided. Visit chicagobotanic.org/naturenights for more information, or call (847) 835-6801.
Little Diggers Learn about flowers, discover animals, experience the changing seasons, and more! These four-class series for children ages 2 to 4 and caregivers meet mornings, once a month. Each program includes group activities, time for free play, and a planting project. Select Thursday, Friday, or Saturday mornings, September through December. Thursdays: 9/11, 10/9, 11/13, 12/11 Fridays: 9/12, 10/10, 11/14, 12/12 Saturdays: 9/13, 10/11, 11/15, 12/13 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. $75 nonmember per child Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Visit chicagobotanic.org/littlediggers to register or call (847) 835-6801 for more information.
Weekend Family Classes Together, adults and children ages 4 to 10 can explore cool things about how plants connect to science, art, history, and culture. Each Saturday or Sunday program includes a variety of hands-on activities and projects, as well as opportunities to bring the Garden home. 9:30 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 2:30 p.m. $23 nonmember per child Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Three Sisters Saturday, October 18 Hear the story of the Three Sisters (corn, bean, and squash), create a delicious dried bean soup jar to enjoy at home, and investigate why popcorn pops and taste the results! Pizza Gardens Saturday, November 1 Sample some of the different plants used to flavor pizza, learn to mix and knead pizza dough, and plant a special Italian herb garden to make tasty pizza treats at home!
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Play with Plants Sunday, November 16 Design toys from all different kinds of plant parts! Explore seeds and use them to make an ancient board game, and examine leaves from corn and turn them into people or animals. Joyful Gingerbread Sunday, December 7 or Saturday, December 20 Explore all the different plants and plant parts needed to make gingerbread. Take home a future ginger plant, decorate cookies, and mix up a batch of gingerbread to bake at home. Hot Chocolate Saturday, January 10 or Sunday, January 18 Uncover the story of chilies and chocolates—products that come from South American plants! Examine parts of the cacao tree, learn how bitter beans make delicious desserts, and mix up several different kinds of historic chocolate drinks, even an ancient Aztec version. Take home a chocolate mint and an ornamental pepper to concoct your own creations. New! Winter Explorers Saturday, January 31 Plants and animals can survive outside, even in the cold winter. Explore how evergreens thrive in the cold, search for animal tracks, and make a snow catcher to use at home. Dress for the weather, as we will be spending time outside! Papermaking with Plants Sunday, February 8 Plants help make products we use every day—like paper. Learn the process of turning plants and old paper scraps into paper. Make sheets of textured, scented, and colored handmade paper. Homemade Ice Cream Saturday, February 21 or Sunday, March 1 Get an up-close look at one of the world’s tiniest seeds from the vanilla orchid, make a batch of ice cream, and pot up a plant that can flavor ice cream. Limit of two children per adult. Gumballs & Superballs Saturday, March 21 or Sunday, April 12 Find out how people use parts of rainforest trees to make chewing gum and rubber. Create your own bouncing ball and flavorful gum to take home. Visit chicagobotanic.org/familyprograms or call (847) 835-6801 for more information.
Birthday Parties Celebrate your child’s birthday with a garden-themed party! Choose from a variety of themes. All parties include educational, hands-on activities led by Garden staff. Every child takes home a plant plus additional items they’ve created. Parties can be scheduled year-round on Saturday or Sunday mornings or afternoons for children turning 4 and up. Garden Plus membership required. Visit chicagobotanic.org/birthdays or call (847) 835-8275 for more information.
Programs at the Garden encourage children to explore outdoors.
Youth Programs Scout Programs Scout Badge Programs Scouts will complete badge requirements with challenging activities. Our wide range of scout programs take children throughout the Garden, and can be scheduled after school on Mondays through Fridays and on Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. 90-minute programs (ages 6 – 8): Deposit of $120 covers ten Scouts; plus $10 per additional Scout, due on the day of the program. Two-hour programs (ages 9 – 12): Deposit of $170 covers ten Scouts; plus $15 per additional Scout, due on the day of the program. Visit chicagobotanic.org/scout or call (847) 835-8239 for more information about these programs.
New! Scout Late Night: Whoooo’s Out There? Join us for a late night at the Garden with fellow Scouts. We will try to spot a nocturnal guest with our eyes and ears, take a tram ride, dissect an owl pellet, and enjoy a campfire with s’mores. Come as a group or an individual Scout; the Garden also welcomes other youth groups. Adults should plan to stay with their group for program’s duration. If you are a leader registering a group, at least one adult chaperone for every five Scouts is required. Parking and a Garden activity patch are included. There is no charge for adults. Saturday, September 20 6 to 8:30 p.m. $18 per child
Scout Seasonal Workshop: Winter Wonders Scouts can discover the magic of nature in winter through hands-on activities that combine art and science. Take a winter wildlife hike through the Garden. Make a fragrant evergreen swag and a beeswax candle. Saturday, December 13 12:45 – 3 p.m. $14 per child Adults should plan to stay with their Scouts for the duration of the program. If you are a leader registering a group, at least one adult chaperone is required for every five Scouts. Visit chicagobotanic.org/scout/seasonal or call (847) 835-6801 for more information.
Youth & Family Programs
Camp Programs School Day Off Camps October 13, 2014 January 19, 2015 April 6, 2015 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. $72 nonmember per child per day Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Your child might have a day off of school, but it is a day “on” at the Garden! Children in grades K – 3 will participate in high-quality learning activities with experienced teachers who use inquiry-based, hands-on activities. Programming connects nature to a range of themes including art, cuisine, and conservation. Visit chicagobotanic.org/dayoffcamp to register or call (847) 835-6801 for more information.
Winter Break Camp December 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, January 2 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. $72 nonmember per child per day Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Children in grades K – 2 and 3 – 5 can engage in exciting, hands-on indoor and outdoor activities while discovering the Garden in winter. They’ll investigate weather, explore seasonal adaptations of plants and animals, enjoy a visit to our Wonderland Express holiday exhibition (December 30), and dabble in art. December 22: Winter Weather & Animals December 23: A Visit to Japan December 26: Everything Snow! December 29: All Aboard the Wonderland Express December 30: All About Art January 2: Plant Packages Visit chicagobotanic.org/winterbreakcamp to register or call (847) 835-6801 for more information.
Spring Break Camp March 30 – April 3, 2015 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. $72 nonmember per child per day Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Children in grades K – 5 will participate in high-quality learning activities with experienced teachers who use inquiry-based, hands-on activities. Programming connects nature to a range of themes including art, cuisine, and conservation. This spring, children will dissect and plant seeds, explore fragrant herbs and flowers, search for birds and early spring plants on nature hikes, take a trolley ride around the Garden, create take-home science-themed projects, and much more! Visit chicagobotanic.org/springbreakcamp to register or call (847) 835-6801 for more information.
Camp CBG Camp CBG provides exciting and enriching learning experiences for your child, with programs for children ages 6 month to 15 years. All camps include nature exploration, inquiry-based activities, games, hands-on projects, and planting. The Garden offers weeklong morning, afternoon, and all-day camps from June to August. Complete class descriptions, fees, and schedule with dates and times will be available at chicagobotanic.org/camp in early November. Online registration will be available at chicagobotanic.org/camp on December 8, 2014, at 9 a.m.
Teacher & & Student Student Programs Programs Teacher 72
Teacher and Student Programs Understanding the role of plants in an ecosystem is a fundamental part of every child’s education. We make learning about plants an exciting and enjoyable experience. Through our field trips, teacher workshops, and student internships, educators and students will gain botanical knowledge and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. All programs support Common Core Standards, Illinois state goals for learning, and Next Generation Science Standards.
Guided Field Trips Open Up a World of Wonder “Attention, class. We are going on a field trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden.” Thus begins the guarantee of a great day for all.
programs carry over into the winter (check the grid on the following pages). In February, get ready for Outrageous Orchids, available for a range of grade levels.
Students and teachers can look forward to hands-on guided field trips as they move from Garden classrooms to the outdoors. “It’s really about the exploration,” said Carissa Ilg, student field trips coordinator. Students become excited about plant science, learning how the natural world relates to them as they investigate the Garden’s 385 acres, including its gardens and its prairie, woodland, and wetland ecosystems.
Field trips to the Garden are designed to be memorable for teachers and students alike, whether guided or selfguided. Visit chicagobotanic.org/ctl/fieldtrips for more information.
“I love it when their eyes light up when they find a mushroom that’s puffing spores,” said Ilg. Studying insects is another favorite activity, but all of the field-trip themes are engaging. Ilg remembers asking a class of students what they liked about their day. “They replied, ‘Everything!’” Back this fall are the popular Flower Lab, Surprising Seeds, Pondering the Prairie, Forest Fundamentals, A Walk in the Woods, and Water Quality guided field trips. Some guided 72 chicagobotanic.org/ctl
Fall is a wonderfull time to learn about a forest ecosystem.
We invite you to increase your understanding of plants and nature, build your repertoire of teaching techniques, and enliven your grades preK – 12 classrooms, while earning professional development and graduate credit. Visit chicagobotanic.org/ teacherprograms for more detailed program descriptions and to register for classes. Become a teacher member and receive a 20 percent discount on all professional development courses over $100.
New! Just for Educators Teachers are learners, too! This new series of programs combines fun projects and activities with the plant science and cultural connections that underlie them. You will leave with ideas you can share in the classroom, library, or any educational setting.
In our new Just for Educators series, you’ll take home something for yourself and your classroom!
Tropical Treats for Educators
Terrarium-Making for Educators
Just in time for the holidays, explore the wonderful world of edible plants. Learn about herbs and spices, teas, chocolate, pumpkins, and more, and help your students master the cultural uses of plants. Make custom tea bags, mulling spice mixes, hot chocolate, and much more!
Create terrariums and mini ecosystems for your classroom! Through hands-on activities and the creation of terrariums, bottle ecosystems, and more, learn a dynamic way to help students explore concepts such as plant adaptations, the water cycle, and ecosystem dynamics. Make a rain forest and desert terrarium for your classroom.
Saturday, October 25, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $80 Grade level: PreK – 12 CPDU credit: 6
Wreath-Making for Educators Create a holiday wreath that can help teach about the diversity of plants! Discover the amazing diversity of plants through inquiry-based, hands-on activities and crafts. Learn about the major plant families and their characteristics. Make a holiday wreath to take home with you. Saturday, November 22, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $80 Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 6
Saturday, February 21, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $80 Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 6
Birding for Educators Look up into the trees and sky and discover the amazing birds all around us. Just in time for spring migration and International Migratory Bird Day, join us to learn how to use birds to explore a variety of science concepts and make connections to the Next Generation Science Standards. Through hands-on activities, experiments, and nature walks, investigate topics including bird anatomy, behavior, adaptations, migration, and conservation issues. Saturday, May 9 at the Chicago Botanic Garden 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $80 Grade level: PreK – 12 CPDU credit: 6
Teacher & Student Programs
Teacher Professional Development
Teacher & Student Programs
One-Day Workshops These short workshops emphasize topics and teaching methods that support curriculum standards.
Celebrate Nature with Infants and Toddlers Nature education for our youngest explorers includes bringing the outside in and experiencing the outdoor environment in new ways. Come enjoy a day of indoor and outdoor fun. Participate in a scavenger hunt, take nature objects apart, put objects together in new ways, and explore nature with new eyes. This class is designed for early-intervention providers, day-care providers, parents, and anyone who works with infants to 3-year-olds, and is adaptable for preK educators. Saturday, September 20, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $85 Grade level: Birth – PreK CPDU credit: 7, Early Intervention credit: 6.5
Illinois Department of Natural Resources ENTICE: The Nature of Fall for Early Childhood Students Fall is a great season for young children to explore nature! There is so much to see and learn. Join us to discover what nature can tell us in fall. We’ll take a hike to put our knowledge to work and will feature the Field Trip Pack from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). We’ll be incorporating animal tracks, animal signs, seeds, and changes in leaves, too. Register at www.enticeworkshops.com. Saturday, November 8, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $10 Grade level: PreK – 3 CPDU credit: 6
Outrageous Orchids
Illinois Department of Natural Resources ENTICE: Using Resource Trunks to Teach the NGSS The Illinois Department of Natural Recourses (IDNR) offers resource trunks for loan to educators statewide. These teaching tools are loaded with hands-on, supplemental, Illinois-specific items that can make your lessons come alive for students! Join us at this workshop to learn how the Illinois Trees and Illinois Wild Mammals trunks can be used to help you meet Next Generation Science Standards for grades kindergarten through 3. We’ll examine the trunk contents and take part in activities both indoors and outside. Register at www.enticeworkshops.com. Saturday, April 11, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $10 Grade level: K – 3 CPDU credit: 6
Art, Nature, and Science for Early Childhood Explore the amazing connections that can be made between art and science with our youngest learners. Discover a variety of projects that combine art, nature, and science, including exploring plant pigments, using natural items for painting, making sculptural models of plants and animals, and much, much more. Saturday, May 16, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $80 Grade level: PreK – 2 CPDU credit: 6
Two-Day Credit Courses Two-day courses allow you to study a topic in greater depth and earn Lane Credit and optional graduate credit for an addition fee.
Weather and Climate
Orchids are a unique and diverse family of plants that can be used to hook students’ attention while addressing a variety of general science concepts. Explore how to use orchids to discuss topics such as flower anatomy, pollination, adaptations, and life cycles. Make cross-curricular connections, including social science though the vanilla orchid and art through botanical drawing. Visit the Garden’s Orchid Show.
This lab- and observation-based class will focus on weather and climate and how plants and animals survive in their ecosystems and in changing weather patterns. Design curriculum activities to connect your students to the cycle of seasons, enabling them to evaluate weather and climate change and draw conclusions about the effects on the natural world. Observe plants and animals from different climates and recognize and categorize adaptations that equip them to live and thrive.
Saturday, February 14, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 4, at Brookfield Zoo, and Saturday, October 11, at the Chicago Botanic Garden
$80
$150 (20 percent discount for Educator Members)
Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 6
Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1 (pending CPS approval), Graduate credit (additional fee): 1
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Science Stories Throughout history, mankind has created stories to explain scientific facts and events. Groundhog Day, Jack Frost, the myth of Persephone who brings spring, and the story of the beautiful Snow Queen are all explanations for weather. Folk tales like the African story of the greedy zebra tell us how animals got their colors, horns, body coverings, and shapes. Spend Saturday and Sunday telling stories, identifying patterns in nature, making observations to explain science, and creating stories to help students understand the natural world. Saturday, December 6, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 7, at Brookfield Zoo 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $150 (20 percent discount for Educator Members) Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 15, Graduate credit (additional fee): 1
Even More Edible Science Explore the wonderful world of food through hands-on activities and experiments. Food science can be used to address a variety of concepts in biology, chemistry, and physical sciences. Learn about topics such as density using eggs and oil; changes in matter using popcorn and apples; solutions like syrups and candy; preventing bacteria and other microbes through preserving methods; heating and browning reactions; why exact measurements are important in baking; and much more. Saturdays, January 17 and 24, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $150 (20 percent discount for Educator Members) Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1 (pending CPS approval), Graduate credit (additional fee): 1
Bringing Up Bookworms Discover ideas for fostering literacy through science and science through literacy. Inspire kids to read, write about, and discover science and nature. Learn how to pair hands-on science activities and experiments with fiction and nonfiction readings. We will look at some of our favorite books and discover creative ways to get kids writing about science and even creating their own books. Saturdays, March 14 and 21, at the Chicago Botanic Garden 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $150 (20 percent discount for Educator Members) Grade level: PreK – 8 CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1 (pending CPS approval), Graduate credit (additional fee): 1
Real World Science in the Classroom
Custom Workshops
Join students and communities from across the country in collecting plant life-cycle data and entering it into our user-friendly database. Details, curriculum materials for grades K through 12, and data from past years are available at budburst.org. Project BudBurst is a collaboration between the Chicago Botanic Garden and the National Ecological Observatory Network. It is supported by grants from the National Geographic Education Foundation and NASA.
Increase your understanding of plants and nature, build your repertoire of teaching techniques, and enliven your classrooms! The Chicago Botanic Garden offers a variety of standards-based professionaldevelopment workshops scheduled specifically for your group. Perfect for teacher institute days, curriculum meetings, or professional development, workshops can be held at your school or at the Garden. Teachers, administrative staff, and parent or neighborhood volunteers can all participate through active learning that models grade-appropriate techniques for integrating plant-based learning into the curriculum. Workshop topics include Botany Basics, Schoolyard Ecology, Experimenting with Plants, Science and Literature, Kitchen Science, and Midwest Ecosystems, or suggest your own. Custom workshops are a minimum of two hours long and cost $200 per hour for up to 30 teachers or $300 per hour for 30 to 60 teachers. Please call Teacher Programs at (847) 835-8253 for more information or to schedule a custom workshop.
Gardening Courses Windy City Harvest offers half-day and full-day workshops on growing plants indoors and outside. It’s a great way to improve your home or school gardening skills. Visit chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture courses for a complete list of topics and other information.
Free Classroom Resource Kits for Loan The Regenstein School offers a variety of resource kits of learning materials from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for educators to use in the classroom. Kits include Illinois Wild Mammals, Illinois Birds, Illinois Trees, Illinois Prairies, Illinois Insects and Spiders, Aquatic Illinois, and more. New this year, teachers may borrow an Enviro-scape watershed model complete with consumable materials. Borrowing any kit requires a $50 deposit, which is refunded upon the return of the complete kit. For a list of all resources kits, kit availability, and/or to arrange for kit pickup, call (847) 835-8253.
Dissecting a flower helps students understand how all the parts work together to attract insects and get them to move pollen from flower to flower.
chicagobotanic.org/ctl
Project BudBurst
New! Climate Change in my Backyard This curriculum series integrates student participation in Project BudBurst with investigation of NASA climate data, and uses an earth-systems approach to understanding climate change and its consequences for our environment. The series is aligned with the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards and is available in three age levels—grades 5 to 6, grades 7 to 9, and grades 10 to 12. Visit chicagobotanic.org/nasa for more information.
Student Field Trips Enrich your students’ educational experience with a visit to the Garden. Choose from a variety of interactive programs that feature plant science and nature topics appropriate for specific grade levels. Guided and self-guided options are available. Visit chicagobotanic.org/ctl/fieldtrips for complete program information and to schedule your visit.
Guided Field Trips Guided programs are led by trained facilitators who will engage your students with hands-on activities to learn about plants and habitats found at the Garden. Field trips include outdoor exploration activities, so please dress for the weather. Visit chicagobotanic.org/ ctl/fieldtrips for more detailed grade-specific program descriptions, applicable learning standards, and to schedule your visit. Unless otherwise stated, programs cost $120 per class with a maximum of 30 students. Chaperone to student ratios are dependent on grade level with a limit of eight chaperones per class. Available dates and times vary with the program.
Homeschool Groups We welcome you to register for field trips to the Garden. If your homeschool group includes a range of ages, please review our complete program descriptions online and select a program that best matches your group’s grade level and knowledge base.
Teacher & Student Programs
Other Teacher Programs
Teacher & Student Programs
Guided Programs PreK – K
Guided Programs K – 2
Expedition Ecosystem: The Wonders of Soil
$120 per class of up to 25 PreK students Available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – noon A 1:5 ratio of chaperones to students is required.
$120 per class of up to 30 students Available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – noon A 1:5 ratio of chaperones to students is required.
Discovering Plants
Surprising Seeds
What role does soil play in an ecosystem? Students will identify the components of healthy soil and come face to face with common soil-dwelling critters. Each student will leave with a potted plant.
Become a junior botanist as you learn about the roles of plant parts! To experience plant parts in action, students will explore the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden, the Greenhouses (Late Fall/Winter), or the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Each student will pot a plant to take home.
What is inside a seed? As junior botanists, students learn about seed parts and how they work together to produce a new plant. After dissecting a seed, students will explore the Garden and pot their own seed to take home.
Early Fall, Late Fall, Early Spring, Spring
Outrageous Orchids: Sensational Explorers Students will use their five senses to fully immerse themselves in the enchanting world of orchids. We will investigate orchid shape, color, and texture while also learning about the origins of vanilla. Each student will leave with an orchid-themed craft. Admission to seasonal orchid show included. February 16 – March 13
Guided Programs PreK – 2 $120 per class of up to 25 PreK or 30 K – 2 students Available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – noon A 1:5 ratio of chaperones to students is required.
Holiday and Early Spring
Early Fall, Late Fall, Holiday, and Early Spring
Garden Groceries
Discover why orchids are considered to be one of the most unique flowers in the world. Students will explore the life cycle of an orchid and discuss the scientific reasons behind the flower’s shape, size, and color. Each student will leave with an orchid-themed craft. Admission to seasonal orchid show is included.
Students will discover the relationship between plant parts and the foods we eat. A Garden exploration to study living examples that are in season is included. Students pot an edible plant to take home.
February 16 – March 13 Grades 1 and 2 only
Early Fall
Spring Garden Explorers is one of our most popular guided field-trip programs. Students will participate in discovery stations, each investigating a different science topic. Through hands-on exploration activities, students will learn about plants and other species at the Garden. Students will pot a plant to take home as part of the program.
Spring Garden Explorers
Insect Investigations There is more to life in the garden than just plants. Come see the Garden through insect eyes, learn about insect characteristics, and observe unique relationships between plants and insects. Students will pot a plant to take home.
Spring
Early Fall
Trees and Trains
A Walk in the Woods
Learn how to identify evergreen tree families by touch and sight. Learn about their unique adaptations to the change in seasons. Visit the enchanting Wonderland Express exhibition to experience the trees and trains. Students will take home a special holiday craft.
Students will learn about woodland habitats and survey the Garden’s rare oak woodland using their senses and observational skills. Woodland programs take place outdoors in McDonald Woods.
Holiday
Outrageous Orchids: Plant Part Investigation
Early Fall and Late Fall
School Field Trips at a Glance Age Group
PreK-K
PreK - 2 K-2
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Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 6-12
Program
Discovering Plants Outrageous Orchids: Sensational Orchids Trees and Trains Garden Groceries Insect Investigations A Walk in the Woods Surprising Seeds Ecosystem: The Wonders of Soil Outrageous Orchids: Plant Part Investigation (1st-2nd) Spring Garden Explorers Pondering the Prairie Edible Botany Forest Fundamentals Flower Lab Plant Propagation Outrageous Orchids Plant Part Investigation Spring Garden Explorers Ecosystems and Plant Adaptations Outrageous Orchids: Peculiar Pollinators Outrageous Orchids: The Mighty Rainforest Water Quality Green Buildings Photosynthesis Lab
Early Fall 9/1-10/10/14
Late Fall 10/13-11/7/14 Until 11/3
Until 11/3
Until 11/3
Until 11/3
Until 11/3
Holiday 12/1-12/19/14
Orchid Show 2/16-3/13/15
Early Spring 3/16-4/10/15
Spring 4/20-6/5/15
Plant Propagation
Outrageous Orchids: Peculiar Pollinators
$120 per class of up to 30 students Available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – noon A 1:7 ratio of chaperones to students is required.
Clone a new plant from part of another one! Compare and experiment with some different methods of propagating plants as you learn about various ways plants reproduce. Plant a stem cutting to take home and watch the roots grow.
From deceptive scents to vibrant colors, orchids have evolved to attract a wide variety of pollinating creatures. Through hands-on activities, students will experience a day in the life of an orchid pollinator as they test nectar sugar-levels and identify attractive petal colors and scents. Each student will leave with an orchid-themed craft. Admission to seasonal orchid show is included.
Flower Lab Why do plants make flowers? As junior botanists, students learn about flower parts and how flowers, with pollinators’ help, produce seeds. Students will pot a flower seed to take home and apply knowledge gained as they explore flowers in the Garden. Early Fall, Late Fall, Holiday, and Early Spring
Edible Botany How are plant parts and their functions related to the foods we eat? A Garden exploration to study living examples that are in season is included. Students pot an edible plant to take home. Early Fall
Pondering the Prairie Students explore the prairie, focusing on plant adaptations and ecosystem interactions by conducting quadrant surveys to compare two prairie types. Prairie programs take place outdoors in the Dixon Prairie. Early Fall
Forest Fundamentals Students find evidence of food chains and food webs throughout the Garden’s woodland. They will also learn about common woodland trees. The Forest Fundamentals program takes place outdoors in McDonald Woods. Students will apply their sensory and observational skills as they explore this rare oak woodland. Early Fall and Late Fall
Holiday, Early Spring
Outrageous Orchids: Plant Part Investigation Discover why orchids are considered to be one of the most unique flowers in the world. Students will explore the life cycle of an orchid and discuss the scientific reasons behind the flower’s shape, size, and color. Each student will leave with an orchid-themed craft. Admission to seasonal orchid show is included. February 16 – March 13
Spring Garden Explorers Spring Garden Explorers is one of our most popular guided field-trip programs. Students will participate in discovery stations, each investigating a different science topic. Through hands-on exploration activities, students will learn about plants and other species at the Garden. Students will pot a plant to take home as part of the program. Spring
Guided Programs 6 – 8 $120 per class of up to 30 students Available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – noon A 1:10 ratio of chaperones to students is required.
Ecosystems and Plant Adaptations Plants can survive and even thrive in challenging environmental conditions. Discover how plants have adapted to abiotic factors in an ecosystem. Students conduct an inquiry-based investigation of plant adaptations within two ecosystems by comparing and contrasting the influence of abiotic factors on the plant community. Early Fall, Late Fall, and Early Spring
February 16 – March 13
Outrageous Orchids: The Mighty Rain Forest Step out of the classroom and into the rain forest! Using scientific tools, students will take an in-depth look at rain forest plant adaptations and critically analyze the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors within the biome. Each student will leave with an orchid-themed craft. Admission to seasonal orchid show is included. February 16 – March 13
Guided Programs 6 – 12 $120 per class of up to 30 students Unless otherwise stated, available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – noon A 1:10 ratio of chaperones to students is required.
Water Quality Students will learn about the aquatic ecosystem by collecting and testing water samples, identifying organisms that indicate water quality, and conducting a chemical assessment. Please prepare your students to be outdoors for the program duration. Early Fall and Spring
Photosynthesis Lab Students will explore photosynthesis, investigating how and where it takes place, how plants obtain the materials necessary for it to occur, and its products. Students will use scientific equipment to identify plant stomata and measure the gas exchange. Holiday and Early Spring
Green Buildings Visit the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center to learn about the remarkable conservation features of this building. Students will explore the green roof and create their own roof design. Late Fall: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Students visit the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden to discover which parts of a plant are edible.
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Teacher & Student Programs
Guided Programs 3 – 5
Bring your students to the Chicago Botanic Garden for a customized therapeutic program in the Buehler Enabling Garden outdoor classroom. These one-hour programs provide a guided, structured experience with nature and are designed for youth with special needs. If you find it difficult to travel with your students, please contact us to discuss possible programs delivered in your school. Call (847) 835-6801 to learn more about horticultural therapy for your students or to schedule a program. K – 12 Monday through Friday $120 (includes all materials) Maximum number of children: 15
Self-Guided Field Trips Self-guided field trips allow students to explore while you lead them through the Garden. Register in advance and Garden staff will be available to discuss areas suited for any curricular topic. Enjoy a prepared Garden activity by reserving a self-guided activity backpack for your group. Year-round Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. $30 per classroom (maximum 30 students) Parking fee waived for a limited number of vehicles
Self-Guided Activity Backpacks Self-guided activity backpacks provide hands-on activities for teachers to lead while visiting the Garden. Reserve activity backpacks to enhance sensory experience in the Sensory Garden, explore Japanese culture and garden design in the Malott Japanese Garden, study plant adaptations in the Greenhouses, or investigate the world of pollinators throughout the Garden. Each backpack includes all supplies for the activities for a group of 30 and can be checked out for either the morning (9 a.m. to noon) or the afternoon (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.). Year-round Monday through Friday
Additional Field Trip Experiences Wonderland Express Visit an enchanting winter wonderland with twinkling lights and a magical indoor train. Model trains travel over bridges, under trestles, past waterfalls, and through more than 80 miniature versions of Chicago landmarks. Visit chicagobotanic.org/wonderland for more information about Wonderland Express. November 28 – January 4 $3 per person*
School Tram Tours Embark on a delightful journey around the Garden. Your tram tour guide will show you things you might not notice on your own and invite you to search for clues to nature’s secrets. April 22 through October 25 $2.50 per person Offered at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m., noon, and 12:45 p.m. Grades PreK, K – 2, or 3 – 6 30 minutes Climb aboard for a narrated tram tour around the 2.6-mile perimeter of the Garden. Your tour guide will present highlights and history of this living museum, and share information about our research projects and conservation efforts. Grades 7 – 12 35 minutes
Model Railroad Garden Guide your students around our popular model railroad exhibition, where 7,500 square feet of miniature gardens and unique settings delight students and chaperones alike. Visit chicagobotanic.org/railroad for more information. May 11 through October 27 $3 per person*
Butterflies & Blooms Summer groups: visit our outdoor, screened butterfly exhibition, where students can encounter hundreds of live tropical butterflies from South America, Asia, North America, and Africa, as well as native species from Illinois. Visit chicagobotanic.org/butterflies for more information about Butterflies & Blooms. May 25 through September 2 $3 per person*
The Orchid Show Enjoy an eye-popping walk through the Tropical and Semitropical Greenhouses and Galleries to experience a colorful display of thousands of different orchids. February 14 through March 15 $3 per person* *The fees noted are for self-guided groups or guided groups that want to visit a special exhibition after the conclusion of their guided program. Guided programs that visit special exhibitions will include the fee in the program registration costs
Traveling Plant Science Teacher Enrich your curriculum and have the Chicago Botanic Garden come to you! Choose from a variety of programs that feature plant-science topics appropriate for specific grade levels, including Terrific Trees, offered in January and February for grades PreK and Kindergarten. All programs support Illinois Science Standards, and include live plants brought from the Garden to study as well as a plant for each student to keep. January and February $120 per class (maximum 30 students) $100 for each additional class on the same day Schools located more than 20 miles from the Chicago Botanic Garden will be charged a $50 mileage fee.
Terrific Trees Through the use of scientific tools and hands-on exploration, students will discover the important role trees play in forest ecosystems right from their own classroom. Students will pot a plant to keep. PreK – K The following programs can also be brought to your classroom: Garden Groceries (PreK – 2) Surprising Seeds (K – 2) Flower Lab (3 – 5) Visit chicagobotanic.org/ctl/outreach/ for more information about programs and scheduling.
Young students explore nature with their senses and learn to use magnifying lenses.
chicagobotanic.org/ctl
Teacher & Student Programs
Teacher & Student Programs
Guided Programs for Children with Special Needs
Windy City Harvest
Great Summer Science Experiences for Students
Brighter Futures in a Growing Economy
Science First (Grades 7 – 9)
Too often, people faced with limited opportunities find themselves unable to reach their full potential. Through its Windy City Harvest program, the Chicago Botanic Garden offers alternatives to youth and adults based on the growing interest in urban farming. The results we have seen since introducing jobs-training and mentoring programs in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture have changed thousands of lives.
The Garden is committed to encouraging interest in the natural sciences and promoting careers in botany, horticulture, ecology, and conservation science. The Science Career Continuum offers qualified students in middle school through college a series of ageappropriate opportunities to learn about science and conservation at the Garden.
Science First is a free four-week summer program for Chicago Public Schools students currently in grades 7 through 9. While enjoying hands-on, nature-based science activities, indoor and outdoor investigations, and exposure to real scientists who work at the Garden, students improve their understanding of the scientific method and careers in science. Transportation and free lunch are provided. CPS teachers are encouraged to share registration materials with promising students. Applications will be due in April 2015. Visit chicagobotanic.org/sciencefirst for more information.
College First (Grades 10 – 11)
College First is an internship and field ecology course for CPS students entering their junior or senior year in fall. Students get paid and earn college credit while studying field ecology, conducting a research project, and working with scientists at the Garden. Students meet monthly during the school year to learn more about preparing for college. Transportation is provided. CPS teachers are encouraged to share registration materials with promising students. Visit chicagobotanic.org/collegefirst for more information. Science First and College First are made possible by the generous support of by an anonymous donor, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, ITW, Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Discover Financial Services, Harold M. and Adeline S. Morrison Family Foundation, Sage Foundation, Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, Trillium Foundation, William J. Clancy Foundation, Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust, Takiff Family Foundation, and the W.P. & H.B. White Foundation.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
The Garden’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is a full-time, ten-week research internship for college undergraduates conducting research in plant biology and conservation. Students earn a stipend and money for living expenses while they work with research scientists and graduate students from the Garden and Northwestern University. Professional-development and social activities are also included. Please visit cbgreu.org for more information. The Garden’s REU program is made possible by the generous support of the National Science Foundation.
Windy City Harvest Youth Farm
The Garden’s Windy City Harvest Youth Farm program works with at-risk teens, teaching them about the food system and good nutrition. Each year, approximately 70 young people learn about the importance of plants and work as a team at one of our three urban farm sites in Chicago and North Chicago. These students become directed toward higher education and inspired by the belief that their actions can contribute to positive change for some of the area’s most challenged communities.
Major support for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Urban Agriculture programs is provided by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA as well as the following: anonymous donors, After School Matters, AgriBank and 1st Farm Credit Services, J.R. Albert Foundation, BMO Harris Bank, Brinshore Development, City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, Leo S. Guthman Fund, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Kraft Foods Group Foundation, Midwest Foods, Polk Bros. Foundation, Preservation Foundation of Lake County Forest Preserves, Savor Inc., Howard and Jackie Shapiro Foundation, Spear Family Charitable Fund, Steans Family Foundation, and the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society. Additional support is provided by anonymous donors, Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation, The Grainger Foundation, George and Amanda Hanley Foundation, Kaplan Foundation Fund/Carol and Ed Kaplan, Walter S. Mander Foundation, Northern Trust, Prince Charitable Trust, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Woods Fund Chicago/Anne-Marie St. Germaine. Also contributing are the Albers/Kuhn Family Foundation, Laurance Armour Memorial Trust at the Chicago Community Trust, Benefit Magic, LLC., Tom E. Dailey Foundation, The Outdoor Foundation, Kathy and Grant Pick Fund, State Farm, Takiff Family Foundation, Walgreens, and three individual donors.
chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture/youthfarm
Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship
The Garden offers a nine-month accredited certificate in sustainable urban agriculture in partnership with Daley College, delivered by Garden staff at the Arturo Velasquez Institute satellite campus. There are currently six urban farm sites where apprentices (certificate students) learn and practice their production skills. To date, 89 percent of the certificate graduates—career changers, entrepreneurs, and people with barriers to employment—have found seasonal and full-time jobs in the local horticulture and urban agriculture industry. chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture/apprenticeship
Windy City Harvest Corps
The Windy City Harvest Corps provides opportunities for people with multiple barriers to employment and is intended for both juveniles (ages 17 to 21) and adults who have been involved with the justice system. The Corps provides training and transitional employment in Windy City Harvest operation sites for approximately 30 adults annually. Participants complete the Roots of Success job-readiness curriculum and are encouraged to apply to the Apprenticeship certificate program. chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture/corps The success of the Garden’s Windy City Harvest program would not be possible without federal agency grants, City of Chicago funding for transitional jobs, generous private foundation and corporate support, and the collaboration of employment partners such as Midwest Foods, Eataly, and FarmedHere, whose hiring practices consider people who have gone through the justice system.
Horticultural Therapy Cultivating Health and Well-being Horticultural Therapy Services
Since 1977, the Garden’s Horticultural Therapy Services Program has supported the establishment of horticultural therapy programs at healthcare and human service agencies serving schools, VA hospitals, people with disabilities, and older adults in the Chicago region. The program serves as a primary regional, national, and international resource for information while offering a full range of professional training opportunities. Also available are consulting services in barrier-free garden design, sensory landscaping, and horticultural therapy program planning. Visit chicagobotanic.org/therapy for more information. Horticultural Therapy is supported by an endowment from the Buehler Family Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Abra Prentice Foundation, After School Matters, Albers/Kuhn Family Foundation, Eli’s Cheesecake Company, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Edmond and Alice Opler Foundation, and one individual donor, as well as endowments established by the estate of Florence Rantz, the Kenilworth Garden Club, the Julien H. Collins and Bertha M. Collins Fund, and the Helen and Maurice Weigle Fund at the Chicago Community Trust. The Chicago Botanic Garden’s education and community programs are generously supported by The Brinson Foundation, The Hearst Foundations, HSBC, and Kemper Educational and Charitable Foundation.
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Teacher & Student Programs
Science Career Continuum
This Season&inGarden the Garden Antiques Fair
This Season in the Garden Kris Jarantoski, executive vice president and director As sunlight weakens, days shorten, and nights grow cooler, many plants herald the end of the growing season with a final burst of color. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, every one of our 26 distinct gardens takes on an autumn hue as the foliage of trees, shrubs, and even some perennials, such as amsonia, take on bright fall colors. Between the Greenhouses and the Buehler Enabling Garden, Sarah Bernhardt peonies—flowers long gone—develop red tints in the leaves. Winterthur viburnum puts on a show of maroon and crimson foliage, offset by clusters of blueberry-blue fruit. Nearby, pink Carefree Beauty roses bloom in the crisp temperatures. One of my favorite plants of the season is the fall-blooming witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) in McDonald Woods. Its delicate yellow, ribbonlike flowers appear from September through November. The petals curl up during the coldest weather and unfold again when it’s warm. ‘Harvest Moon’ is my favorite cultivar, with many more flowers than the average species. This is a great time of year for planting deciduous trees and shrubs, which you can do until the ground freezes. If you would like to buy a tree or shrub for its fall color, choose the best-looking example for your garden when you see one with great fall color on the sales lot. This is also the time of year to plant spring-flowering bulbs, like those available at our Fall Bulb Festival (see pages 6 and 7). Bulbs begin forming roots in the fall after they are planted, and this root system supports good bulb growth in spring. Remember that bulbs are alive—don’t throw them in the garage and leave them until December, or, worse, spring. We will be planting out 12,500 chrysanthemums this fall throughout the Garden, from the entrance planting on Lake Cook Road and the gorgeous mums over the Visitor Center bridge to those cascading over the wall at the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden. In addition, the containers on the north stairs of the Regenstein Center will feature an unusual combination of plum, rose, and bronze chrysanthemums. Elsewhere, blue, lavender, and yellow salvias in the Circle Garden will play off against the cabbages and kales. Sternbergias will flower in the Graham Bulb Garden, while amaranth and ornamental peppers bloom in the Heritage Garden. The roses in the Krasberg Rose Garden will perk up in cool, moist autumn weather until frosts knock them back. This fall, we will begin repairing our Theodore C. Butz Memorial Carillon on Evening Island. The carillon, which has become a Garden icon, has been ringing out the hours and enchanting visitors during summer Monday evening concerts since it was dedicated in October 1986. The 48 bronze bells, cast in Holland, are in fine condition; however, the hardware that supports the bells needs to be replaced. There is rust and deterioration of the cushioning between the bells and the beams of the structure. The transmission system will be removed and repaired this autumn. The carillon structure, which is in good shape, will be repainted this fall. The bells will be replaced in spring, in time for the 2015 carillon concert season. Emily Schechtman began working at the Garden in 2005 and has been the horticulturist in charge of Evening Island since July 2008. As trees have matured there, Emily has guided the transition of a sunny perennial garden to a mixed sun-and-shade garden in collaboration with the Oehme, van Sweden & Associates landscape architects who designed Evening Island. Emily keeps on top of a huge area with an amazing amount of plants, all vying for supremacy in her garden. Don’t miss a view of Evening Island this fall, with its dramatic sweeps of perennials, grasses, and shrubs that change dramatically from season to season.
The Circle Garden combines formal design with informal seasonal plantings to create an ordered yet relaxed design. The plant color combinations change every season, with different heights or shapes of plants adding interest. 88 80 chicagobotanic.org
Antiques & Garden Fair
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For more information, please visit Keep Growing online. keepgrowing.com
The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
opening summer 2014! Now taking reservations No rth S ho r e P lac e
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