Keep Growing SPRING 2013
Member Magazine and Program Guide
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The mission of the Chicago Botanic Garden is to promote the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation of plants and the natural world.
Robert F. Finke, Chair John L. Howard, Vice Chair & Secretary Thomas E. Lanctot, Vice Chair, Finance & Government Affairs Benjamin F. Lenhardt, Jr., Vice Chair, Garden William E. Moeller, Vice Chair, Science & Education Catherine M. Waddell, Vice Chair, Nominating & Governance Susan A. Willetts, Vice Chair & Immediate Past Chair Sophia Siskel, President & CEO
Dear Garden Member, Every day at the Garden, regardless of the weather, I see people walking outside. Some come every day, as far as I can tell; others I see on occasion, and still others, judging by the maps in their hands, are visiting the Garden for the first time. Though its often-frigid temperatures make late winter—when this issue of Keep Growing arrives—a challenging time of year for outdoor activity, something just feels right when we bundle up and head outside. Why? According to experts studying the connection between nature and well-being, we experience “the nurture of nature” when we immerse ourselves in natural surroundings.
DIRECTORS
Thomas F. Aichele Lindsey Axel, ex officio Sharon Brady Neville F. Bryan John H. Buehler Michael J. Busch Susan Keller Canmann David R. Casper Robin Colburn Peter R. Crane John V. Crowe Jill L. Delaney Christopher A. Deveny James W. DeYoung Timothy A. Dugan Peter M. Ellis Anthony L. Farino Peter B. Foreman John D. Fornengo Steven L. Fradkin Thomas C. Freyman Dorothy H. Gardner Steven J. Gavin Nancy Gidwitz Sue L. Gin James J. Glasser Ellis M. Goodman John K. Greene Joseph A. Gregoire William J. Hagenah Caryn L. Harris Elizabeth Hough, ex officio Thomas B. Hunter III Jane Irwin Gregory K. Jones Todd Kaplan Catherine C. Kirby, ex officio Donna La Pietra Eric C. Larson M. James Leider Laura M. Linger Daniel I. H. Linzer Alec Litowitz Josephine P. Louis Barbara A. Lumpkin Mary Ann S. MacLean Jeanne K. Mason Michelle McKenna Michael McMurray Jeanine McNally Riley O’Neil, ex officio Homi B. Patel George A. Peinado Janet Meakin Poor Anne Pramaggiore Toni Preckwinkle, ex officio Arnold Randall, ex officio Susan L. Regenstein Maria Smithburg Harrison I. Steans Pam F. Szokol Collette Taylor Richard L. Thomas Nicole S. Williams Arthur M. Wood, Jr.
In recent years, a number of international researchers have published studies pointing to a variety of health benefits from exposure to nature. Japanese researchers at Tokyo’s Nippon Medical School, for example, found that practicing shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”—a short, leisurely visit to a forest— increased production of “natural killer” (NK) cells, important white cells in the human immune system. Another study, from the United Kingdom, demonstrated that even a single episode of walking or running outdoors in natural environments caused greater feelings of revitalization and decreased tension than the same activity performed indoors. I always love being outdoors, but when temperatures warm, buds burst open, and daylight lengthens, I am positively blissful. Perhaps, as a study at South Korea’s Chonnam National University would indicate, I’m experiencing heightened activity in the “anterior cingulate gyrus” and “basal ganglia” of my brain, linked to positive outlook and recollection of happy memories, respectively. What I know for sure is that being outside feels great, and being outside at the Garden feels even better. I hope you enjoy this issue of Keep Growing, which highlights what’s happening here this spring, including the always-popular Antiques & Garden Fair. Other articles preview this year’s exhibitions; discuss the emerald ash borer invasion and the Garden’s response; highlight Garden conservation research on breadfruit and jackfruit, with implications for fighting hunger in some countries; introduce a recent Windy City Harvest graduate; describe Learning Campus programs; and explain everything you need to know about the Garden’s amazing smartphone app. Perhaps our paths will cross at the Garden this spring, as we enjoy the mood-elevating effects of strolling through this beautiful living museum. Every season, every day, there is something new to see here. Why not start with a walk in McDonald Woods for a bit of shinrin-yoku? Best wishes wherever your path leads,
Marilynn B. Alsdorf J. Melfort Campbell Barbara Whitney Carr Kent Chandler, Jr. Gary P. Coughlan Suzanne S. Dixon Thomas A. Donahoe Ralph F. Fujimoto Florence S. Hart Pamela K. Hull Posy L. Krehbiel Bill Kurtis Robert H. Malott Mary L. McCormack Mary Mix McDonald Peter H. Merlin Jane S. O’Neil William A. Osborn John E. Preschlack Anne O. Scott Dain Searle David Byron Smith Susan Stone William P. Sutter Howard J. Trienens Ernest P. Waud III
Sophia Siskel photo by Jeff Cohen Creative
LIFE DIRECTORS
Sophia Siskel President and CEO
Antiques & Garden Fair
Spring 2013 Features 2 Note from President and CEO Sophia Siskel The connection between nature and well-being is evident every day at the Garden. 6 Antiques & Garden Fair Spring’s most exciting event features antique garden furnishings, vintage items, and much more. 8 Spring Events Spring brings the Malott Japanese Garden Spring Weekend, Easter and Mother’s Day Brunches, tram tours, and more. 16 2013 Exhibitions See a variety of exhibitions throughout the year in the Joutras Gallery and Lenhardt Library. 18 Learning Campus Programs What’s “growing on” at the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden and Kleinman Family Cove? 20 Plant Information Service Q&As The experts discuss forcing blooms and moving plants outdoors. 23 GardenGuide Smartphone App Download the versatile, fun, free GardenGuide app on your smartphone! 24 Community Gardening Windy City Harvest graduate Aaron Serrano has turned his life around. 28 Emerald Ash Borer Update The EAB is destroying ash trees. Learn what the Garden is doing—and what you can do. 32 Exploring the Origins of Underutilized Crops A scientist researches the evolutionary history of breadfruit and jackfruit. 34 Harris Family Foundation Plant Genetics Laboratory Scientists decode the mysteries of plant survival in the Plant Genetics Lab. 88 This Season in the Garden Kris Jarantoski, executive vice president and director, describes spring’s drama. 3 www.chicagobotanic.org
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Keep Growing
Spring 2013
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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 4, Issue 1, February 2013. 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, Will Haffner, and Kathe Stoepel Fran Sherman and Amy Spungen Nina Koziol, Tracy Marks, Helen K. Marshall, and Julianne Beck Bill Bishoff and Robin Carlson
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Brilliant pink petals from Prairifire crabapple (Malus ‘Prairifire’) blossoms blanket the ground on the east end of the Barbara Carr Administrative Center, surrounding a Cambridge geranium (Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’). INSIDE COVER SPREAD
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Antiques & Garden Fair Color in the Garden: An Artist’s View Capture the blush of the evening sun, the lavender of a flower petal, the green of a new bud, or any of your favorite garden hues at the Garden’s annual Antiques & Garden Fair. This year, the widely anticipated event celebrates “Color in the Garden: An Artist’s View.” Featuring booth displays of antique garden furnishings, exquisite vintage items, and garden-related merchandise from around the United States and Europe, this unique shopping event will inspire garden artists of all ability levels to enhance their palette in their own home and garden. The event opens with a Preview Evening at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 18. Guests will enjoy priority shopping, beautiful indoor gardens, and sumptuous buffets and refreshments. Proceeds benefit the Garden’s conservation, education, and research programs.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 19, through Sunday, April 21, the Garden hosts more than 100 dealers of antique garden furnishings, exquisite vintage items, and distinctive garden-related merchandise from around the United States and Europe.
The Fair is set indoors within the Regenstein Center and in tents over the Esplanade, Rose Garden, and courtyards. Visitors will be inspired by five display gardens built by local landscapers Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, Inc.; William Heffernan Landscapes; Mariani Landscape; The Organic Gardener; and Maria Smithburg with Manfredini Landscape and Design. “Anybody who is passionate about antiques and their garden should come, as well as anyone who desires inspiration for their own home landscape from the stunning display gardens,” said Jodi Zombolo, the Garden’s director of visitor events and programs.
Antiques &&Garden FairFair Antiques Garden
A variety of lectures will be offered on gardening topics, including a keynote address, “Building Beauty,” by Michael S. Smith, honorary chair, on Friday, April 19. Smith is considered one of the most original and respected talents in the design industry today. Renowned landscape architect Charles Stick will present “Looking at Gardens” on Saturday, April 20. Jeanne Pinsof Nolan, founder of The Organic Gardener, will present “From the Ground Up,” on achieving organic vegetable gardening success, on Sunday, April 21. All of these lectures are at 11 a.m. On Saturday at 2 p.m., “Living with Color: Style Bloggers’ Musings on Super-Chic Living” will be presented. New this year, shoppers can enjoy samples of organically grown wine from Bonterra Organic Vineyards. Tickets are now available online and at the Visitor Center. Advance one-day tickets purchased on or before April 18 are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Tickets purchased after April 18 are $15 for members and $18 for nonmembers. A three-day pass is $20 for all. Children under 16 are free with an adult. Tickets purchased on or before April 18 for either the Michael S. Smith or Charles Stick lectures are $65; after that date they are $70. A combination ticket for the Smith and Stick lectures is $105. Both single and combination Smith and Stick lecture tickets include a three-day Fair pass. Tickets purchased on or before April 18 for the
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Jeanne Pinsof Nolan and style bloggers’ presentations are $35; after that date, they are $40. These tickets include same-day Fair admission. Garden members receive $5 off each lecture price listed. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ antiques to purchase tickets or for more information. Preview Evening information and tickets are available at www.chicagobotanic.org/antiques/preview or by calling (847) 835-6944. The Preview Evening is co-chaired by Kimberly and Randy Burt, Jack and Peggy Crowe, Kathy and Chris Deveny, and Kate and J.T. Fitzgerald. The Fair is produced in conjunction with Stella Show Management. Co-producers of the Fair are Cathy Busch, Susan Canmann, Jen Kasten, Donna LaPietra, Jane O’Neil, Peggy Swartchild, and Artistic Director Bill Heffernan.
The official airline of the Chicago Botanic Garden
www.chicagobotanic.org/antiques 7
Spring Events
Spring events enhance the season Chicago Flower and Garden Show Saturday, March 9, through Sunday, March 17, at Navy Pier Chicago Botanic Garden horticultural staff and master gardener volunteers will give educational seminars and demonstrations on topics including container plantings, sustainable lawn care, drought-wise gardening, indoor gardens, and pruning how-tos. The Garden’s Plant Information Service will have a booth staffed with master gardeners and horticulture specialists ready to answer gardening and plant questions. Garden members receive a $4 per ticket discount upon showing their membership card at the on-site ticket booth. Malott Japanese Garden Spring Weekend Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24 Experience Japanese culture at the Garden throughout the weekend. Families can enjoy performances, interactive demonstrations, and traditional storytelling. Take a walk in the spring glory of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden, also known as Sansho-En, “Garden of Three Islands.” Hear a koto harp performance, try calligraphy or writing a spring haiku, or work alongside your children in such craft projects as making a hanging scroll of a koi fish or a dragon. See an interactive demonstration of suminagashi, or marbleized paper. Just as a stroll in Sansho-En reveals plant treasures gradually, a few hours at the Malott Japanese Garden Spring Weekend will reward visitors with new insights.
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Easter Egg Brunch Sunday, March 31, and Mother’s Day Brunch Sunday, May 12 Reserve your place today for a delicious, leisurely brunch at the Garden. There will be seatings for the Easter Egg Brunch at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and seatings for the Mother’s Day Brunch at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. Members receive a discount. Choose the time that works best for your family, and plan a memorable outing that may include a Garden walk before or after the meal. As early spring blossoms draw visitors to the Garden, your family will celebrate the season and the gradually lengthening days with a holiday meal. Enjoy the all-you-can-eat buffet featuring seasonal brunch items. Tickets are available online or in the Visitor Center.
Tram Tours Begin Friday, April 19 Explore the wonders of the Chicago Botanic Garden on a narrated 35-minute tram tour. The Grand Tour winds its way around the 2.3 mile perimeter of the Garden, providing a breathtaking overview of the Garden’s 385 acres. The Bright Encounters Tour provides an intimate view of the gardens of the main island. Trams run daily from April 19 through October 27. Trams are free on Wednesdays for members at the Garden Plus level and above. Tickets may be purchased at any ticket location. Cost is $6 for adults; $5 seniors (62+); $4 children. Members receive $1 discount off these rates. Trams are wheelchair accessible. For tour schedules, please call (847) 835-6895.
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Antiques & Garden Fair
February Ongoing Exhibition: Woodcut, prints by Bryan Nash Gill, through April 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March, then 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in April, Joutras Gallery.
Spring Calendar
Exhibition: Lost & Found Remnants of Savannas and Old-Growth Forests through late summer, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March, then 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. as of April, Greenhouse Galleries. Library Exhibition: Historic Landscapes: Architectural Designs in Print through May 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, noon to 4 p.m. weekends.
March Ongoing Exhibition: Woodcut, prints by Bryan Nash Gill, through April 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March, then 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in April, Joutras Gallery. Library Exhibition: Historic Landscapes: Architectural Designs in Print through May 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, noon to 4 p.m. weekends. Exhibition: Lost & Found Remnants of Savannas and Old-Growth Forests through late summer, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March, then 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. as of April, Greenhouse Galleries. Saturday, March 2 Monthly Photo Walk 9 a.m.; meets in Alsdorf Auditorium. Sunday, March 3 Weekend Family Class: Homemade Ice Cream 9:30 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies.
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Sunday & Monday, March 3 & 4 Volunteer Opportunity Fair 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays, March 4 – 25 Story Time in the Lenhardt Library 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday & Friday, March 6 & 8 ScreenBreak Family Activities 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 9 Regenstein School: Materials and Energy Usage in a Sustainable Landscape 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Saturday, March 9 – Sunday, March 17 Chicago Flower and Garden Show plant information booth, seminars, and demonstrations; see Flower and Garden Show website for hours at Navy Pier; preregistration required; fee applies. Members enjoy discounted admission at the box office with proof of membership. Mondays & Wednesdays, March 11 – April 17 Regenstein School: Botany 1, Spring Session 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. or 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Wednesday & Thursday, March 13 & 14 Regenstein School: Tai Chi Spring Semester Begins 8 to 10:15 a.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Thursday, March 14 Regenstein School: Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot event and book signing featuring Sir Peter Crane, renowned botanist, former director of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Yale University dean, 4 to 6:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies.
Calendar &&Garden Antiques FairFair Antiques Garden
Saturday, March 16 Workshop in Sustainable Vegetable Production: Season Extension 9 a.m. to noon; classes held at the Arturo Velasquez Institute; preregistration required; fee applies.
April Ongoing Exhibition: Woodcut, prints by Bryan Nash Gill, through April 14, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Joutras Gallery.
Regenstein School: Social Impacts of Sustainability 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies.
Library Exhibition: Historic Landscapes: Architectural Designs in Print through May 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, noon to 4 p.m. weekends.
Teacher Program: Fostering Early Childhood Inquiry 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chicago Botanic Garden; preregistration required; fee applies. Workshop continues Saturday, March 23, at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Exhibition: Lost & Found Remnants of Savannas and Old-Growth Forests through late summer, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Greenhouse Galleries.
Free Library Talk: “Historic Landscapes: Architectural Designs in Print” 2 p.m. Wednesdays, March 20 – April 24 Regenstein School: Japanese Ink Painting 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Saturday, March 23 Weekend Family Class: Homemade Ice Cream 9:30 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Regenstein School: Spring Lawn Care for Homeowners 9 to 11 a.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Saturday & Sunday, March 23 & 24 Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society Show & Sale noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Story Time in the Lenhardt Library 10 to 11 a.m. No program April 22. Monday – Thursday, April 1 – 4 Regenstein School: Yoga Spring Semester Begins times vary; preregistration required; fee applies. Saturday, April 6 Monthly Photo Walk 9 a.m.; meets in the Garden View Room. Regenstein School: Best New Annuals for 2013 1 to 4 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Regenstein School: Growing a Cook’s Garden 1 to 3 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies. Regenstein School: Fitness Walks Begin Saturdays through November 16, 8 to 9 a.m.; meet in Visitor Center; preregistration required; fee applies.
Malott Japanese Garden Spring Weekend 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday, March 25 – 29
Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7
Spring Break Camp 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies.
Illinois Orchid Society Spring Show & Sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 30
Sunday, April 14
Regenstein School: Clematis Up Close 9 a.m. to noon; preregistration required; fee applies.
Weekend Family Class: Insect Investigations 9:30 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m., Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden; preregistration required; fee applies.
Easter Brunch 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies.
Friday to Sunday, April 19 to 21 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Buy tickets today—no extra fees for online purchases!
Preview Evening Thursday, April 18 6 to 10 p.m.
Mondays, April 1 – 29
Weekend Family Class: Insect Investigations 9:30 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m., Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden; preregistration is required; fee applies.
Sunday, March 31
Antiques & Garden Fair
Lectures Friday, April 19: Michael S. Smith Keynote presentation: “Building Beauty” 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20: Charles Stick “Looking at Gardens,” 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20: “Style Bloggers’ Musings On Super-Chic Living,” 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21: Jeanne Pinsof Nolan “From the Ground Up,” 11 a.m.
See pages 6 and 7 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org/antiques for more information about the Antiques & Garden Fair. Fees apply for all events.
Midwest Fruit Explorers Grafting Workshop 1 to 4 p.m.
www.chicagobotanic.org 11 www.chicagobotanic.org/calendar
Antiques &&Garden Calendar FairFair Antiques Garden
April, continued
May
Thursday, April 18
Ongoing
Antiques & Garden Fair Preview Evening see pages 6 and 7 for details.
Exhibition: Nature in View through May 19, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Joutras Gallery.
Friday – Sunday, April 19-21
Library Exhibition: Historic Landscapes: Architectural Designs in Print through May 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, noon to 4 p.m. weekends.
Antiques & Garden Fair see pages 6 and 7 for details. Saturday, April 20 & Saturday, April 27 Teacher Programs: Edible Science 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; preregistration required; fee applies.
Exhibition: Lost & Found Remnants of Savannas and Old-Growth Forests through late summer, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Greenhouse Galleries.
Saturday, April 27
Saturday, May 4
Scout Seasonal Workshop: Earth Day 9:45 a.m. to noon; preregistration required; fee applies.
Member Double Discount Day in the Garden Shop Take an additional 10 percent off most items (20 percent total).
Exhibition: Nature in View through May 19, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Joutras Gallery.
Important Dates College First Application Deadline Friday, April 12
College First is a dynamic paid internship program for eligible Chicago Public High School students consisting of career mentorship, field ecology, conservation science, and college prep and assistance. For more information visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ collegefirst or call (847) 835-6871.
Science First Application Deadline Friday, April 26
Each summer, students from Chicago Public Schools spend four weeks at the Garden immersed in a free, nature-based science enrichment program that engages students in a unique hands-on experience. For more information visit www.chicagobotanic.org/sciencefirst or call (847) 835-6871.
Earth Day Walk to McDonald Woods 1 p.m.; meet at the What’s in Bloom cart in front of the Visitor Center. Saturday & Sunday, April 27 & 28 Midwest Daffodil Society Show noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5 Glenview/North Shore African Violet Society Show & Sale 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central States Dahlia Society Sale 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, May 4 – 18 Spring Garden Walk 1 p.m.; meet at the What’s in Bloom cart in front of the Visitor Center. Mondays, May 6 – 20 Story Time in the Lenhardt Library 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11 Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America opens 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through October 27, weather permitting; fee applies. Sunday, May 12 Mother’s Day Brunch 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. seatings; preregistration required; fee applies. Saturday & Sunday, May 11 & 12
Spring Garden Explorers
American Rhododendron Society Chicago Chapter Show & Sale 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Formerly called Science Sleuths, this program is for students in grade levels K – 5. Participants explore new additions to the Learning Campus while enjoying classic Science Sleuth activities. New science stations focus on hands-on garden design and compost exploration in the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ctl/ fieldtrips/k_5 for more information or call (847) 835-8323; to register call (847) 835-6801.
Teacher Program: Form and Function 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Brookfield Zoo; preregistration required; fee applies. Workshop continues Saturday, May 18, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
April 23 through June 7
Horticultural Internships Deadline open until filled
There are three types of horticultural internships at the Garden in 2013 (in plant propagation, the plant production greenhouses and nursery, and the display gardens). Interns transfer horticultural concepts from the classroom to the Garden and gain meaningful experience through hands-on work and mentoring. For more information visit www.chicagobotanic.org/internship or call (847) 835-8307.
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Saturday, May 18 Spring Garden Walk meet in front of the What’s In Bloom cart at 1 p.m. Join an expert from Autumn Tree, a SavATree company, to discuss the contributions trees add to the spring landscape. Saturday & Sunday, May 18 & 19 Midwest Bonsai Society Spring Show & Sale 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Book signing by Tim Priest, photographer of Bonsai: A Patient Art
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Looking Ahead
Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America Train and garden enthusiasts return year after year for the delightful sights and sounds of minature trains traversing through tunnels, across bridges, and around buildings. New this year: the Lincoln Memorial. The Model Railroad Garden opens on Saturday, May 11. Generously supported by the Bank of America.
Grapevines & Wines Be sure to mark May 30 on your calendar for a new wine-tasting event at the Garden! Taste and learn about wines from around the world. Tickets are on sale now at www.chicagobotanic.org/wines.
World Environment Day Celebrate World Environment Day at the Garden on Saturday, June 1. An array of activities for all ages runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., including a keynote address at 10:30 a.m. Plastic plant container recycling will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Generously supported by Baxter International, Inc., Illinois Tool Works, UL, American Airlines, and Bartlett Tree Experts.
Butterflies & Blooms On the lawn of the Learning Campus, this 2,800-square-foot white mesh enclosure houses hundreds of live butterflies from around the world. It is open to visitors seasonally from May 25 to September 2, weather permitting.
Evenings Beginning June 1, extended summer hours allow visitors to enjoy live music under the breathtaking backdrop of a Garden sunset. Special programs for children and adults will take place from June 3 to September 2.
Garden Chef Series Cook up some fun this summer with weekend demonstrations by local chefs—most followed by tastings. Beginning May 25, the presentations take place in an open-air amphitheater in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Generously supported by Food Network magazine and NorthShore University HealthSystem. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org for more information about all of these events.
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Antiques & Garden Fair
Living Arts: Chicago Botanic Garden exhibitions The Chicago Botanic Garden’s exhibitions celebrate the natural world and are a popular indoor destination for Garden visitors. Dawn Bennett, exhibition and program production manager, and Leora Siegel, director of the Lenhardt Library, arrange the general and library exhibitions. All of the Garden’s 2013 exhibitions are noteworthy; here, two are described. Woodcut
English Oak, from Bryan Nash Gill’s exhibition Woodcut
“When presenting nature-inspired artwork, it’s hard to compete with our 385-acre outdoor “gallery,” so we approach our special exhibitions with something different in mind. We search for works that speak to the Garden’s mission and offer a unique view of the natural world—pieces that invite us to see nature in a new way.” — Dawn Bennett, exhibition and program production manager 16 www.chicagobotanic.org/exhibitions
Using cross sections of salvaged trees, artist Bryan Nash Gill painstakingly inks tree surfaces and transfers patterns to paper. The exquisite results are on display in Woodcut, a current exhibition featuring 32 of his prints. Each reveals an individual tree’s personality and captures its unique “fingerprint” in documentation and celebration of its origin and life. A Midwest premiere,Woodcut is on display in the Joutras Gallery through April 14. Gill’s book of the same title is available in the Garden Shop. For this exhibition, Gill created a custom piece using a salvaged English oak from the Garden’s grounds. Copies of this print are also available in the shop. Gill currently works out of his own studio in New Hartford, Connecticut, mainly with bronze, wood, and hundreds of found objects for use in abstract sculpture. His work is in many private and public collections, including IBM Corporation in New York, Kaiser Permanente Medical Facility in Fairfield, California, and the Boston Public Library.
Exhibitions
Garden Exhibitions in 2013 Woodcut January 19 – April 14, Joutras Gallery Prints by Bryan Nash Gill Historic Landscapes: Architectural Designs in Print February 15 – May 19, Lenhardt Library Nature in View April 27 – May 19, Joutras Gallery Photographs of nature by Garden Photographic Society members
The Feminine Perspective: Women Artists and Illustrators
Butterflies in Print Lepidoptera Defined May 25 – August 18, Lenhardt Library
This fall’s Lenhardt Library exhibition presents nature from a unique perspective: that of eighteenth- and nineteenthcentury women artists and illustrators. On display August 23 through November 10, The Feminine Perspective: Women Artists and Illustrators showcases the work of artists Henriette Antoinette Vincent, Helen Sharp, Ellen Robbins, and Harriet Thiselton-Dyer, through images from the Lenhardt Library’s rare book collection. “Each year, we assemble four original exhibitions in the Library, and we realized the most well-known botanical illustrators are men,” said Siegel. “In searching for a new point of view, the work of these four women captured my eye.”
The Feminine Perspective: Women Artists and Illustrators August 23 – November 10, Lenhardt Library
Visitors will find Robbins’s one-of-a-kind watercolors to be so vibrant they appear real. Sharp’s 18 volumes of watercolor sketches of plants originally were used as classroom resources. Thiselton-Dyer illustrated one of the first botanical magazines ever published and documented newly-discovered plants. Vincent, a student of the renowned artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté, published a book of realistic fruits and vegetables; the scientifically perfect representations included defects, bruises, and insects. At the time, it was most unusual to find a book like this, especially authored by a woman.
Focusing on Nature August 24 – September 29, Joutras Gallery Annual student and instructor photography exhibition Drawn from Nature October 5 – 20, Joutras Gallery Annual student and instructor botanical arts exhibition Healing Plants: Illustrated Herbals November 15, 2013 – January 5, 2014, Lenhardt Library Digitized rare books Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/exhibitions for details on all of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s 2013 exhibitions. Partial funding is provided by the Harriet Kay and Harold R. Burnstein Fund for Exhibitions.
In addition to the artifacts on display, visitors are welcome to view digital versions of the artists’ work available at Illinois Digital Archives: www.idaillinois.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/ncbglib01.
Photo by Rich Fisher
“This exhibition reveals the talent of four distinguished artists,” said Siegel. “More universally, it is a commemoration of women’s contributions to the history of scientific illustration and botanical art.”
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What’s Growing On? New programs at Learning Campus appeal to everyone Even when they are busy, public places, the two newest features on the Chicago Botanic Garden map retain a feeling of secluded space. The duality is part of what makes the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden and Kleinman Family Cove fertile locations for children, parents, teachers, students—or anyone—to explore, learn within, and enjoy. The Children’s Growing Garden opened in June 2012, followed by the Cove in September. These two outdoor classrooms are found on the Garden’s new Learning Campus, a center of excellence in gardening and environmental science education located along the Garden’s northern edge, just past the main entrance gatehouse. The impressive range of programs and activities offered through the Learning Campus is open to children as young as infants in strollers (with a caregiver) up to high-school age. The offerings at the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden this year include Camp CBG, Nature Nights, and Scout badge programs. These require registration and are feebased. At free weekend and weekday drop-in programs, children enjoy a variety of nature-based activities. The 18 www.chicagobotanic.org/learningcampus
entire Learning Campus is a popular destination for school field trips. Visitors to the Children’s Growing Garden find a safe, enclosed space designed to kid-scale. “Kids learn through playing,” said Eileen Prendergast, Youth and Family Programs director. “All of the opportunities we have here, whether it’s a drop-in program or a class people have signed up for, always incorporate hands-on activities so children can discover something new while having fun.” There is a lot to do for visitors, but the staff finds that what children really love is pretty basic: watering the plants. “Kids can spend hours watering. It’s just what they like to do,” said Kathy Johnson, Teacher and Student Programs director. Kids can grab a spray-bottle of water from the Growing
Garden News
Garden’s self-guided activity cart or fill a watering can from the handoperated pump or rain barrel. Also on the self-guided cart are scavenger hunt bingo sheets and magnifiers to get a close-up look inside the flowers. The Children’s Growing Garden is a place where kids enrolled in programs can dig, plant, water, and weed—and return later to harvest. Some plants may appear scraggly, but there’s a purpose to the different aesthetic: to show children that, for example, basil will flower and beets will form seeds. A short walk across the west road that borders the Learning Campus is Kleinman Family Cove, the greater Garden’s aquatic classroom, which occupies a small, sheltered bay in a corner of the North Lake. The Cove’s shaded amphitheater and, behind it, grassy enclave provide a place to enjoy the landscape and to view several species of herons and other birds. A sloping path leads to a wooden and metal boardwalk that carries visitors over the shallow water. The Cove is a locale for Camp CBG activities, Scout programs, Spring Garden Explorer field trips, and Nature Nights. The protected wading area allows supervised groups a safe place to discover what lives in a healthy aquatic ecosystem. “Children love to scoop out samples to find some of the macroinvertebrates and other little creatures living in the
water. They also get excited when they can see some of the fish—the bluegills and the carp,” Prendergast said. During Garden hours, visitors are welcome to enjoy the Growing Garden and Cove whenever the spaces are not being used by a group. While many things grow in these two outdoor learning spaces, chief among them are young gardeners and naturalists. Learning Campus hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through September 3; fall and winter hours are 8 a.m. to dusk. See pages 68 through 84 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ ctl for details on programs and activities held on the Learning Campus. Additional information about the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden and Kleinman Family Cove is at www.chicagobotanic.org/learningcampus. The initial phases of the Learning Campus were made possible by the generous support of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration; the Annette and Bernard Kleinman Family; Ernest A. Grunsfeld III; Esther Grunsfeld Klatz; the Robert R. McCormick Foundation; The Guild of the Chicago Botanic Garden; the Public Museum Capital Grants Program, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois State Museum; Lorraine Ipsen-Stotler; the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; the Hekman Gordon Family; Barbara and Richard Metzler; Northern Trust; the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society; Make It Better; and the Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation. 19
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 www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfoservice for more Q&As, gardening tips, and conservation topics. Q. How can I cut branches of flowering shrubs and force them to bloom indoors? A. Cut branches of flowering trees or shrubs can provide nice color indoors during dreary late-winter and early spring months. Branches of cherry, apple, crabapple, forsythia, mock orange, lilac, Cornelian cherry dogwood, pussywillow, and redbud trees are all suitable for forcing. By providing the right conditions, you can trick cut branches into blooming early indoors. Choose healthy branches with a large number of flower buds. Be careful when selecting and pruning branches, to maintain the original shape of the shrub or tree, if possible. Using sharp, clean pruners, cut branches anywhere from 12 to 36 inches long above a side branch or bud. Once indoors, stems should be placed in water as soon as possible after pruning. If branches are not placed in water immediately after pruning, each stem will need to be recut before placing in water. Branches can also be soaked overnight in a large sink or bathtub to encourage them to break dormancy. Flowering branches will last longer if kept in a cool room out of direct sunlight. If branches appear to be drying out, mist them periodically.
Q. When is it safe for me to move my houseplants outdoors for the summer? A. Moving houseplants outdoors too early in the spring can cause serious damage to plants, even death. Most houseplants are native to tropical climates that naturally provide optimum temperatures, moisture, and humidity. In the Chicago area, keep houseplants indoors until nighttime temperatures remain above 55 to 60° F. Be cautious when you move them outside: plants that have been growing comfortably indoors are not used to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, wind, and temperature fluctuations. The process of “hardening off” plants should be done slowly, over three to seven days, by leaving plants outside in a sheltered location for a few hours a day and gradually increasing time spent outdoors. Eventually you can move them to their summer home, allowing them to remain outside overnight. Some houseplants, such as begonia, ornamental pepper, coleus, and Boston fern, can be used as annual bedding plants or planted in containers. They also require a hardening off period of three to seven days, depending on weather conditions. They will dry out quickly if not watered regularly. At summer’s end, it is important to check for pests or disease. Houseplants used in garden beds will need to be repotted in a good quality potting mix before moving indoors.
Tool Time Garden ecologist Jim Steffen describes his favorite tool My favorite hand tool is the Corona AL 6511 aluminum-handle bypass lopper. I have used these loppers for more than 20 years and most of them are still functioning. The lopper has a much more aggressive curve to the cutting blade than almost all other loppers, and its blade design allows the lopper to grip stems up to 2 inches in diameter without them slipping out. The pivot-point of the blade also affords the highest degree of leverage for ease of cutting. The aluminum handles make them relatively lightweight, and they do not rust. They are also easy to sharpen.
20 www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfoservice
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21 www.chicagobotanic.org/photography
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Available on Google Play for Android phones and at the iTunes store for iPhones at no charge, the GardenGuide allows users to take guided tours of the gardens on an interactive map, learn what’s new, and even find particular plants in the Garden. The app uses your phone’s GPS to pinpoint the location of selected plants in relation to your location in the Garden. Search for plants with characteristics you prefer and develop your own Favorite lists. Computers stationed around the Garden* allow visitors without smartphones to access the plant finder. The app is also accessible through home computers. Audio narratives by Kris Jarantoski, executive vice president and director, and specialized walking tours including photography and bird-watching tips give you new insights into the Garden. Gardeners will be entranced by the app. Type a plant’s common or Latin name to find it in the Garden. When selected, the plant will show up as an information pin on the Garden’s app map, so you can find the
Let the GardenGuide show you around!
plant’s location relative to where you are standing in the Garden. The Garden’s database of more than 2.5 million plants representing 9,500 taxa includes GPS-based location information. You can also search by different plant characteristics, such as bloom color or sun preference, to find the perfect plant for your own garden. Save plants or places you like best in My Favorites for easy retrieval. Share with friends by e-mail or Facebook. The GardenGuide app also works well when outside the Garden grounds—allowing vicarious visits as well as time to plan an upcoming visit or remember a previous visit. Download it today and enrich your Garden experience! *Computers are available in the Lenhardt Library, at the Plant Information Service desk, and at the information desk in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Sculptures and plants come to life in the app.
Information pins help find places of interest and particular plants. www.chicagobotanic.org/app 23
Garden News
GardenGuide App is free on iTunes and Google Play
Community Gardening
Opportunity Meets Ability
Windy City Harvest Graduate Finds Career in Aquaponics Aaron Serrano, 18, knows with the Chicago Botanic aquaponics. Last year the Garden at the Kraft Foods headquarters in Northfield, young man oversaw a tank Illinois. During his time at of 300 to 400 tilapia at both garden locations, Windy City Harvest, an Serrano learned about hortiurban agriculture jobs-trainculture and best practices in ing program headquartered sustainable gardening. at the Arturo Velasquez Institute in Chicago, a After completing his work satelllite of Daley College. at the Kraft Garden, Taking a break from his Serrano enrolled in a ninework there last summer, month professional certifiSerrano explained the biocation program in sustainclarifying system as the tank able urban agriculture bubbled and the fish swam offered by Windy City Aaron Serrano pauses near the aquaponics equipment that supports tilapia against the clear sides, production at Windy City Harvest. Harvest at the Arturo eyeing visitors. He discussed Velasquez Institute. “I’m the the importance of testing first in my family to go to college,” said Serrano. He earned for ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. He indicated the his certificate in October 2012. “starts,” soil blocks of immature plants fertilized by the waste products from the tank. “I look at this as a little ecoIt was during his time as a student in the Windy City Harvest system,” said Serrano. certificate program that Serrano became an aquaponics intern, with prospects far better than he feared when he first Tilapia from Windy City Harvest are destined for Levy returned home after his incarceration. Then, he worried Restaurants, which uses the fish and produce grown at about his lack of education and work experience. Now, Windy City Harvest sites in the Stadium Club at U.S. thanks to his strong work ethic and the opportunities Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. provided by Windy City Harvest, Serrano has a full-time job with FarmedHere, a commercial vertical farm devoted to Destined for Success sustainable indoor farming, including aquaponics, located on Serrano seems destined for success. “I always felt like a the southwestern border of Chicago in Bedford Park. leader, but I did bad,” he said. Sentenced as an adult at age 15 for a Class X felony, he spent two years in prison before “Aaron is a treasure,” said Paul Hardej, vice president of entering the Cook County Sheriff’s Vocational RehabilitaFarmedHere. “He has been an asset to our company since tion Impact Center (VRIC). The VRIC is an alternative he walked through the door.” In 2012, according to sentencing facility for nonviolent young offenders located Hardej, six young urban farmers joined his team with fullat 2606 S. Rockwell Avenue in Chicago, and Windy City time jobs at the new vertical farm developed by FarmedHarvest maintains a production and training garden there. Here. They joined two other Windy City Harvest graduates hired in 2011. “We are extremely pleased with the Serrano volunteered to work at the VRIC garden, and after relationship FarmedHere has developed with Windy Harhe helped to build a hoop house, proving himself a quick vest, excited about the opportunities we can offer to people learner, there was no going back. He was selected to work wanting to redirect their lives, and grateful for the benefits with a VRIC team at the Kraft Garden, created in partnership our company brings to the community,” said Hardej. 24 www.chicagobotanic.org/community
Community Gardening
Windy City Harvest Workshops at the Chicago Botanic Garden Spring Season Extension for Edibles Learn how to jump start your spring season crops with easy to construct low tunnels and cold frames. In this workshop we will review recommended crops and varieties for early spring planting in low tunnels. Ben Jaffe, Instructor, Windy City Harvest Sustainable Urban Agriculture Program, Chicago Botanic Garden $74 nonmember; members receive 20 percent discount Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. - noon Location: Annex 1
Building Healthy Soil for Vegetable Gardens Learn about composting, cover cropping, and other soil-building techniques. Healthy soil is the key to growing healthy plants, free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Ben Jaffe, Instructor, Windy City Harvest Sustainable Urban Agriculture Program, Chicago Botanic Garden $74 nonmember; members receive 20 percent discount Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m. – noon Location: Fruit & Vegetable classroom
Fall Season Extension for Edibles Learn how to extend your fall season crops with easy to construct low tunnels and cold frames. In this workshop we will review recommended crops and varieties for fall planting in low tunnels. Ben Jaffe, Instructor, Windy City Harvest Sustainable Urban Agriculture Program, Chicago Botanic Garden $74 nonmember; members receive 20 percent discount Saturday, August 17, 9 a.m. – noon Location: Fruit & Vegetable classroom
For additional classes on sustainable gardening, please see page 47. www.chicagobotanic.org/windycityharvest
Windy City Harvest is delivered by the Chicago Botanic Garden in partnership with Richard J. Daley College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago. The Arturo Velasquez Institute, located at 2800 S. Western Avenue, is a satellite of Daley College. Many dedicated supporters make Windy City Harvest possible. For a complete listing of donors and for more information on these community gardening programs, see page 87.
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Spring Recipe
An Early Spring Harvest Salad During the growing season, the Garden Café includes produce grown and harvested in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden in its varied menu. Other contributions come through community gardening programs like Windy City Harvest. You can always find a tasty salad at the Garden Café; here, Executive Chef Paul Choi shares a spring recipe you can make at home as well. “This is a great early spring salad, with very different textures and flavors,” he says.
Early Spring Vegetable Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette Salad
Vinaigrette
1 bunch asparagus
3 ounces rice wine vinegar
1 bunch heirloom radish
8 ounces extra virgin olive oil
1 medium beet 1 bunch heirloom carrots 1 medium hakurei (Japanese white turnip) 2 ounces fava beans (shelled)
½ cup granulated sugar 2 lemons (zest and juice)
Gardening tips and early arrivals at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist at the Fruit & Vegetable Garden, has some tips for home gardeners seeking an early spring harvest:
6 sprigs thyme (roughchopped)
• Choose greens or root vegetables that will sprout in the cool soils of spring. Direct seeding is best for root veggies.
Salt and pepper to taste
• Frost-tolerant vegetables like spinach and radishes are best for the earliest direct seeding.
4 ounces spring greens 1. Cut 3-inch pieces of asparagus tops. Blanch asparagus and fava beans. Shock in ice water, strain, and set aside. Roast beet in aluminum foil with a little oil, salt, and pepper for 45 minutes. Peel skin with a towel while hot. Dice half of the beet and slice the other half. Set aside and cool. Peel carrots and hakurei. Using peeler make long ribbons, peeling slowly and lengthwise. Set aside. Slice radish in thin slices. 2. Add sugar, vinegar, thyme, lemon zest, and juice to a bowl. Mix thoroughly and slowly drizzle in oil until emulsified. Add salt and pepper to taste. 3. Mix greens with some vinaigrette and reserve some for finishing the salad. Top greens with an assortment of vegetables and drizzle vinaigrette over vegetables.
• Plant spring greens such as maché, arugula, and mizuna at two-week intervals for continuous harvest. Here are some vegetables Hilgenberg says visitors will find in the Fruit & Vegetable Garden this spring: Asparagus: Asparagus officinalis ‘Purple Passion’ and ‘Jersey Knight’ Beets: Beta vulgaris ‘Detroit Dark Red’, ‘Bull’s Blood’, and ‘Burpee’s Golden’ Carrots: Daucus carota ‘Paris Market’ and ‘Scarlet Nantes’ Heirloom lettuces: Lactuca sativa ‘Black Seeded Simpson’, ‘Rouge d’Hiver’, and ‘Winter Density’ Radishes: Raphanus sativus ‘Early Scarlet Globe’ and ‘Rudolf ’ www.chicagobotanic.org/explore/fruitandveg 27
The Emerald Ash Borer: Formidable Foe
In this modern age, people can travel easily from one country to the next. Insects have become jet setters, too, though their travel is unofficial and they are more likely to arrive at their destinations amid ship cargo, often in wooden shipping palettes and crates. One of the most invasive and destructive of these migrating insects is the emerald ash borer, an unwelcome and growing presence in the Chicago area. The Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society is in its second year of “Growing the Future,” a $1 million pledge to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Proceeds for 2013 will support the Garden’s efforts to address problems associated with the emerald ash borer.
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Plant Tips
Some of the most beautiful native trees to grace American woodlands, farmsteads, parkways, and gardens over the past 200 years include the elm, chestnut, and ash. Dutch elm disease and chestnut blight sent those two species in a spiraling decline in the past century. Now, all species of the American ash tree are faced with potential destruction from the emerald ash borer, a green metallic beetle no larger than a penny. This nonnative insect, which hails from Asia, was first discovered in 2002 near Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It arrived in Kane County, Illinois, in 2006—most likely brought in on firewood from another infested area—and is spreading across the state. As of October 2012, it was identified in 18 states and other parts of Canada. The insect has killed tens of millions of ash trees and is now on the verge of decimating ashes in the northern suburbs of Chicago. “It was first discovered at the Garden in July 2011, and we’re seeing a lot of damage now,” said Tom Tiddens, the Chicago Botanic Garden’s supervisor of plant healthcare, who has been monitoring the emerald ash borer’s invasion for several years. “I don’t think people realize how devastating it will be—in two years we’ll see a lot of dead trees, and with the 2012 drought, stressed trees will go even faster. And, last year’s mild winter and early spring also reduced the insect’s mortality.” The female emerald ash borer lays its eggs on ash tree bark in spring. The eggs quickly hatch, chewing their way into the cambium layer, where they create massive tunnels that disrupt the flow of water and nutrients. This eventually kills the tree. The larvae overwinter in the tree and pupate into adult beetles, which leave a D-shaped hole in the bark when they emerge at the onset of warm spring weather.
The Garden’s Response The Garden is taking several measures to protect ashes, which include about 450 in the accessioned collection; they are planted within various display gardens and on Garden grounds. Ashes also make up about 20 percent of the 100-acre
McDonald Woods. Pesticides will be used to protect 43 key ash trees—two specimens each of all the primary varieties on site and those in key locations. “Our mission is to use the least amount of pesticide possible, and ash trees require a minimum treatment every other year as long as the beetle is in the area,” Tiddens said. Dead or dying trees along the roadside and paths quickly become brittle and dangerous, and will be removed. Tiddens and his team are looking at trends to predict how quickly infested trees will need to be removed, depending on safety and aesthetics. One vexing problem is that the beetles or their D-shaped exit holes may not be noticeable until the tree is heavily infested. “The damage often starts up in the canopy, and by the time you see the beetles flying around, it’s a heavy infestation,” Tiddens said. “When you see the exit holes at eye level, the damage is pretty bad.” Other signs of an infested ash include extensive woodpecker damage, as the birds aggressively seek the larvae, and heavily splitting bark on the trunk. In decades past, many cities planted elms and ashes, and they are now learning a difficult lesson about planting too many of the same species. When a new disease or insect arrives, it can have a field day attacking a seemingly endless supply of the same tree. “A diversity of good, hardy trees for our area is important,” Tiddens said. The Garden has many ashes, for example, but it also features a diverse planting of trees from around the world, as well as other native species. Tiddens recommends that homeowners contact their municipality to discuss options for protecting or replacing ash trees planted in their parkways. Read more about the emerald ash borer on the Garden’s blog at my.chicagobotanic.org and on the web at www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/emerald _ash_borer. For approved insecticidal control options for dealing with the emerald ash borer, contact the Plant Information Service at (847) 835-0972 or plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org.
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Looking for a replacement for an ailing ash tree? Dr. Andrew C. Bell, curator of woody plants, offers these suggestions. The three trees on top are Chicagoland Grows® introductions (www.chicagolandgrows.org). Use the new GardenGuide app (www.chicagobotanic.org/app) to locate these trees within the Garden and to learn more about them.
Accolade™ elm (Ulmus ‘Morton’)
State Street™ miyabe maple (Acer miyabei ‘Morton’)
Exclamation!™ London planetree (Platanus x acerifolia ‘Morton Circle’)
This maple is very hardy and free of pest and disease issues. The golden yellow fall color, uniform habit, and tolerance to urban pollution make it an excellent candidate as a street tree. Unlike the widely planted Norway maple, miyabe maple is not invasive in our region and should be planted as a replacement for ash or Norway maple.
Selected for its uniform, upright pyramidal habit and resistance to frost cracking and anthracnose, this planetree has excellent tolerance to urban landscape settings. The exfoliating bark that has made planetree a popular ornamental is very prominent with this selection, providing year-round interest especially in the winter months.
Autumn Gold ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’)
Fall Fiesta™ sugar maple (Acer saccharum ‘Ballsta’)
Shawnee Brave™ bald cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Mickelson’)
One of the finer selections of ginkgo, ‘Autumn Gold’ has a more upright habit that is maintained with maturity. This male selection does not produce messy, foul-smelling fruit, and its bright goldenyellow fall color has made the ginkgo one of the most beloved shade trees each autumn.
Another wonderful shade tree for fall color, Fall Fiesta™ is a beautiful selection of our native sugar maple. Although sugar maples lack tolerance to the heat of crowded urban areas, they perform very well in parks and parkways. Fall Fiesta™ displays brilliant autumn shades of orange and red.
The bald cypress is one of our most beautiful, versatile, and adaptable native trees. It’s extremely drought-tolerant once established, with finely textured, feathery foliage that turns a rusty orange-brown in the fall. Shawnee Brave™ is an upright narrow selection for those landscapes with limited space.
Named by the Society of Municipal Arborists as the 2012 Urban Tree of the Year, Accolade™ elm is one of the top-performing trees for urban and residential planting in the Chicago region. This hybrid elm provides the iconic vase-shape American elm habit but is resistant to Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle.
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Plant Tips
Ash Tree Alternatives
Food Security Putting Science into Practice 32
The research of Nyree Zerega, Ph.D., is like an intense treasure hunt. Part detective, part explorer, Dr. Zerega, director of the Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden, is delving into the story of two members of the mulberry family—jackfruit and breadfruit, both considered to be underutilized crops. The plants have been cultivated for millennia, but their wild ancestors and domestication history are not well known. Jackfruit and breadfruit are both members of the genus Artocarpus, a group with nearly 60 species native to Southeast Asia. As part of her research, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, Zerega is using DNA sequence data to understand the evolutionary history and create a phylogenetic tree (like a family tree) of the genus to help identify breadfruit’s and jackfruit’s wild ancestors. “Identifying the wild ancestors of a food crop is an important step in protecting the crop for future generations,” Zerega said. Genetic diversity is crucial for safeguarding food sources. If every plant is genetically identical, they will all be susceptible to the same threats. The Irish potato famine, brought on by a fungal blight, illustrates the importance of growing more than one or two types of plants. In that case, all of the potatoes were virtually genetically identical and were all quickly wiped out by disease. An important way of conserving crop genetic resources is through maintaining seed banks. This is done for major crops like corn and wheat. However, many tropical species have recalcitrant seeds. That is, the seeds do not survive drying or freezing, and cannot be stored for long periods. The diversity of such species must be conserved in living germplasm collections. This takes a great deal of space and active management, so understanding the genetic diversity of the collection is important for prioritizing efforts.
Travel is an important component of this research Zerega has traveled to Papua New Guinea and the Northern Mariana Islands to collect breadfruit ancestors, and she has deposited living material in the world’s largest breadfruit
germplasm collection at the Breadfruit Institute in Hawaii. She continues to work closely with the Institute to better understand and conserve breadfruit cultivars. Breadfruit is a crop with tremendous potential to increase food security in many tropical regions, and Zerega also works with the Trees That Feed Foundation, based in Winnetka, to make breadfruit trees available to needy communities. Zerega’s work has also taken her to Bangladesh, a country roughly the size of Illinois but with more than 140 million people—more than ten times the size of the state’s population. A Bangladeshi scientist, Dr. M.I. Zuberi of Rajshahi University, contacted Zerega about working on jackfruit together, based on his concerns that the diversity of jackfruit under cultivation there is decreasing, and that Bangladesh may harbor uncharacterized wild genetic diversity that is rapidly being lost. Zerega, master’s student Colby Witherup, and Zuberi traveled throughout the country collecting jackfruit samples to address this concern. Witherup is analyzing the DNA fingerprinting data from the collections and will soon publish the findings. The Bangladesh government is interested in reforesting the country with useful trees, such as jackfruit, and Zerega will be working with her collaborators there to bring important research results to the government and farmers. “I try to work closely with scientists where the crop is growing,” she said, “and not just publish results in scientific journals where they might not be read by all the stakeholders.” Zerega is hopeful that collaborative research on underutilized crops may ultimately impact food security in some of the most vulnerable countries in the world where hunger is a critical issue. www.chicagobotanic.org/research/plant_systematics 33
Plant Conservation Science
Understanding the origins and diversity of food crops
Plant Conservation Science
Harris Family Foundation Plant Genetics Laboratory: Decoding the mysteries of plant survival Greater genetic diversity means plants have a better chance of survival when faced with a new disease, pests, or changes in the climate or their physical surroundings. The Chicago Botanic Garden has been conducting plant genetics research since 1997, but when the Harris Family Foundation Plant Genetics Laboratory—one of nine laboratories in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center—was completed in 2009, it provided increased capacity for the training and mentoring of students and facilitated collaboration among scientists, says laboratory manager Jeremie Fant, Ph.D., conservation scientist and molecular ecologist. “In a species
of
pattern, how it presents pollen—all of that is essentially encoded or spelled out in its DNA or genes,” says Norm Wickett, Ph.D., conservation scientist in genomics and bioinformatics. “We can get a sense of this blueprint or architecture by looking at patterns in the DNA.” The National Science Foundation recently funded a project under its Assembling the Tree of Life program in which Dr. Wickett is researching mosses and their genetic signature. “Mosses are often overlooked,” he said. “They’re not showy like trees or flowers, but they have a huge, important role in the environment by helping retain water, offering habitat for insects, and playing a role in how nutrients plants there’s a flow from rainwater to other places.”
Several scientists and graduate studiversity of genes just as in According to Pam Szokol, who serves dents are studying plant genetics, on both the Harris Family Foundaparticularly among rare and endanpeople,” says Dr. Norm Wickett. tion and Garden boards and is a gered species. Their research is wide“From a research standpoint, member of the Harris family, the ranging, from the prairies of Illinois Foundation is focused on education and the mountains of Colorado to having a lot of diversity at the and is concerned with the issues of the forests and fields of the Pacific conservation and preservation. In Islands, Southeast Asia, and Central genetic level may give plants a 2006, the Harris Family Foundation America. These scientists are explorbetter chance for addressing established an endowed scholarship ing how genetic diversity is distribfund to provide fellowships for stuuted and maintained in plant popuenvironmental change.” dents enrolled in the Plant Biology lations, which will provide critical and Conservation graduate program, understanding of how to preserve offered jointly with Northwestern biodiversity. As scientists come to University. “Through our involvement, we have been better understand the molecular genetics of rare and endanimpressed with the expertise and leadership the Garden has gered plants, the populations of these plants and the ecosysdemonstrated in the areas of conservation and preservation,” tems where they reside can be better managed and said Szokol. “This partnership made complete sense for us, as preserved. we support students through scholarships at the Garden. The laboratory features sophisticated equipment including Now, through the Foundation’s support of the Plant a DNA sequencer, to help decode the mystery behind a Genetics Laboratory, they have a world-class lab in which species’ makeup. “The way a plant looks—its branching to study.”
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Noteworthy Plants
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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.
Garden Staffers Found Careers through the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden Today, former banker Tom Soulsby is a horticulturist in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Heritage and Rose Gardens, as well as the Linden Allée; he is also in charge of the lagoon garden south of the Visitor Center bridge. “I used to leaf through the school catalog and set it aside,” said Soulsby. “When my employer closed its business, I read the catalog cover to cover and gave it a try.” Soulsby completed the Ornamental Plant Materials certificate and Professional Gardener levels 1 and 2 certificates. “I use what I learned every day,” he said. “Especially rewarding is the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to inspire others… Garden visitors and students who now take my classes.”
After nearly two decades in real estate, Lisa Hilgenberg had a chance to switch careers when her daughter went to college. Hilgenberg now serves as the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden horticulturist. “I grew up planting pumpkins in my grandfather’s field—I’ve come full circle!” she said. “I jumped into classes at the Garden and never turned back.” She has seen the Garden touch many different people in countless ways, and considers it an honor to share what she has learned. “Horticulture is a universal language,” she said. “So many people find comfort and inspiration here.”
Former bankers, real estate agents, and others have turned their passions into careers. Tom Soulsby, Garden horticulturist, and Lisa Hilgenberg, Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden horticulturist, now inspire Garden visitors.
36 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Soulsby and Hilgenberg are among the Garden’s staff members for whom a weekend interest or passionate hobby blossomed into a new career. Their new paths became clear as the School’s renowned experts, breathtaking campus, and hands-on training combined with an opportunity for a life change.
Adult Education: Highlights
Highlights Expressive Watercolor 6 Saturdays, March 2 – April 6 See page 58.
Botany 1, Spring Session
Fitness Walks
6 Mondays and 6 Wednesdays, March 11 – April 17 See page 47.
Begin the week of April 6 See page 65.
Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot
New! Personalized Natural Perfume Workshop
A special engagement and book signing with Sir Peter Crane Thursday, March 14 See page 42.
Saturday, April 27 See page 57.
Sustainable Gardening Workshops with Jeff Epping
New! A Painting in One Day Workshop with Mark McMahon Saturday, May 4 See page 57.
Thursday, March 14, and Friday, March 15 See page 54.
Tram Photo Safari! Clematis Up Close New! Saturday, June 1 Saturday, March 30 See page 48.
See page 63.
Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 37
Adult Education: Overview Regenstein of School Programs
Overview of Courses and Programs General Interest Courses Courses cover myriad topics and provide high-quality learning opportunities for beginning and more advanced gardeners. For specific program questions, contact the registrar at school@chicagobotanic.org or (847) 835-8261.
Professional Programs
Professional programs are intensive studies in a particular area of interest for the advanced student. These courses routinely carry continuing education units for various professional organizations. Please direct comments or topic suggestions to Jill Selinger at school@chicagobotanic.org or (847) 835-6849.
Symposia
Symposia, offered throughout the year, provide an in-depth look at a variety of topics. Regional, national, and international speakers provide new perspectives for amateur gardeners, professional horticulturists, landscape designers and architects, scientists, conservationists, and other green-industry professionals. Please direct comments or topic suggestions to Beth Pinargote at school@chicagobotanic.org or (847) 835-8278.
Master Gardener Training Program
In conjunction with University of Illinois Extension, the Garden offers the Master Gardener Training Program. The program covers the basics of horticulture, including classes on woody and herbaceous ornamental plant materials, fruit and vegetable crops, entomology, and pathology. After completing the training program and 60 hours of volunteer service, participants become certified University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners. The next on-site program will be in January 2015 and the next online program will begin in January 2014. Please visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school/ mastergardener or call Jill Selinger at (847) 835-6849.
One-stop registration online. It’s so easy! Register for classes, camps, kids’ programs, yoga, and more!
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Certificate Programs
Learn how a certificate of merit can help you fulfill a dream, start a new career, or delve more deeply into an area of interest. Look for these codes after a course listing, and find a course that may be a new beginning for you! Certificate programs are offered at many levels to give both beginners and professionals opportunities to improve their expertise and marketability. Details about all of the certificate programs are available at www.chicagobotanic.org/school/ certificate. Contact Amelia Simmons-Hurt at certificateprogram@chicagobotanic.org or (847) 835-8293 for further information. • Botanical Arts (ART) Engage your senses, discover hidden talents, and explore a more personal relationship with plants in this studio art program. • Garden Design (GDC) Create successful gardens with a solid foundation in plantsmanship and science-based gardening techniques. • Midwest Gardening (MGC) Discover practical, learner-friendly training on growing plants, plant propagation, and home garden design and you will become a more successful home gardener. • Ornamental Plant Materials (OPC) Avid amateur gardeners and aspiring horticulture professionals alike will learn identification, cultural requirements, and landscape use for more than 500 ornamental plants that are well suited for northeastern Illinois. • Professional Gardener Level 1 and 2 (PGL 1 and 2) Hands-on learning can lead to a new career or advancement in the industry, with science-based gardening techniques, plantsmanship, and training in sustainability and planning.
• Healthcare Garden Design (HGD) In this professional development program, attendees will discover the many ways gardens provide verifiable health benefits for the patients, staff, and visitors. • Horticultural Therapy (HTC) This 12-credit-hour accredited program combines online learning with hands-on training, allowing students to gain experience and skills in the use of plant, garden, and nature activities to achieve measurable physical and mental-health outcomes for clients. • New! Focus on Photography (FPC) The Regenstein School recently launched a new certificate program, enabling photographers of all levels to experience the wonders of the natural world, develop and sharpen their powers of observation, and master their technical skills in the studio. This program is your unique opportunity to discover and enhance your creativity, learn from outstanding photography professionals, and enjoy the Garden as your studio. Contact Jill Selinger at certificateprogram@chicagobotanic.org or (847) 835-6849 for more information about the photography certificate.
Adult Education Information Session From watercolor to yoga and birding to botany, adult education has something for everyone. Begin your day with a fitness walk and finish with an afternoon class on viburnums. Join us at this free information session to discover a range of classes for the beginner, the hobbyist, the career changer, and professionals. Please register to save your space! Monday, March 4, 6 – 8 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Adult Education: Highlights Professional Programs; 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.
Structures for the Residential Garden Whether a support element in a working garden, the central place to gather outdoors, or a simple garden accent, structures of all types are a favorite garden feature. Explore structures suited to the residential garden and the design considerations that contribute to an exceptionally designed and sited garden structure. This class will discuss arbors, arches, and pergolas, as well as design considerations including function, style, materials, and plant selection. Deb Samyn, RLA, ASLA, The Garden Consultants, Inc. $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, March 28, 10 a.m. – noon Linnaeus Room
Container Plantings for the Professional Gardener Container gardening is as popular as ever, and more and more people demand top-quality container plantings for their landscapes, businesses, communities, parks, and street plantings. Getting the most out of your container plantings for all four seasons is the emphasis of this class. Tim Pollak will discuss proper plant selection, container types, soil amendments, cultural practices, and maintenance issues. The class includes a hands-on design activity in small groups to help explore different plant combinations. In addition, he will share his thoughts on design principles, creating container arrangements and centerpieces, and methods to prolong the display with change-outs. A Garden walk will be included.
Bonsai Workshops All bonsai workshops are taught by Ivan Watters, bonsai artist and curator of the Chicago Botanic Garden bonsai collection. Workshops are held in the Production Headhouse.
Bonsai: Beginner – Basics and Fundamentals 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. $229 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Sundays, April 7 – May 12, 1 – 4 p.m.
Bonsai: Novice – Development Techniques 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.
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/critique of work undertaken. $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Saturdays, April 6 – May 11, 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, April 7 – May 12, 9 a.m. – noon
$269 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Wednesdays, April 10 – May 15, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Tim Pollak, outdoor floriculturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, May 15, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
Explore arbors, arches, and pergolas in Structures for the Residential Garden.
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Adult Education: Weekend Regenstein Gardener School
Weekend Gardener Series
Get Started with Perennials
Get Started With Roses
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.
Learn about choosing the right perennial for the right garden location, and how to combine different perennials to create a lovely and interesting garden that blooms throughout the growing season. Emily Shelton discusses pruning and pinching techniques, deadheading and dividing, and other cultural methods to help you keep your garden growing healthy and strong. Come with your questions, because there will be time to discuss any unique situations you hav encountered in your perennial garden. A Garden walk is included, so please dress for the weather.
This is a great course for the first-time rose grower, or a refresher for the enthusiast. General planting, pruning, protection, and care will be discussed, along with examples of low-maintenance rose varieties suitable for the Chicagoland area. Dress for the weather, as part of the class will be a Garden walk and talk.
Success with Trees and Shrubs Learn all you need to know about growing trees and shrubs and how to be consistently successful in growing all types of woody plants (both deciduous and evergreen). Specific discussion includes matching plants to the site, planting practices, first-year maintenance, and long-term care. This session is of value to all skill levels. Glenn Grosch, horticulturist and agronomist $45 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 16, 9:30 a.m. – noon Garden View Room
Pruning Principles Learning the correct technique for pruning is key to maintaining healthy plants. Tim Johnson will introduce you to the principles of pruning, including proper tool use, techniques for pruning trees and shrubs, and the best time to prune both evergreen and deciduous plants. He will also display a variety of good tools for pruning. Tim Johnson, director of horticulture, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Sunday, March 17, 1 – 3 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Spring Lawn Care for Homeowners Here’s your chance to learn the basics of lawn care. Using the Garden’s holistic turf management program as a model, Tom Fritz explains how to cultivate a thriving lawn while lessening pesticide use. He’ll cover turf culture, mowing, aerating, watering, fertilizing and weeding, and insect and disease control. Please dress for the weather. Tom Fritz, plant healthcare specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 23, 9 – 11 a.m. Seminar Room, Plant Science Center
Classes are subject to change. For the most current listings visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school.
Emily Shelton, horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $55 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, April 13, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Garden View Room
Vegetable Gardening Basics Join horticulturist Lisa Hilgenberg to learn the basic techniques and tools required to grow your own vegetables. Site selection, bed and soil preparation, seed sowing, transplanting, and harvesting techniques are just part of what will be covered in this class. This introductory vegetable-growing class is best suited for those with little or no vegetable growing experience. Each student will receive a packet of seeds to grow at home. Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist, Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, April 27, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Fruit & Vegetable Learning Center
Gardening in Containers Learn how to design and create container gardens for sun and shade, vegetables and herbs, and many others. You will also learn how to keep them healthy and lush all summer long. Each student will receive a plant to try in your containers at home. Dress for the weather, as part of the class will be outdoors. Nancy Clifton, program specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $45 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, April 27, 1 – 3 p.m. Annex 1
Summer Garden Maintenance Proper watering, fertilizing, pruning, edging, deadheading, staking, and mulching practices can make the difference between a healthy, well-kept garden and a landscape that gets ahead of you. You will have a hands-on opportunity to practice what you learn, so bring along a pair of pruners, and dress for the weather. Tim Johnson, director of horticulture, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Sunday, May 5, 1 – 3 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Hints for growing roses in the Midwest can be found in Get Started With Roses.
40 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Thomas Soulsby, horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember, members receive 20% discount Saturday, May 11, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Linnaeus Room
Get Started with Annuals Annuals can be used in many ways to provide constant color in your flowerbeds, containers, window boxes, and perennial borders. Learn the most dependable varieties as well as the new and unusual. Topics include soil preparation, plant selection, care and maintenance, and some propagation techniques. Tim Pollak, outdoor floriculturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Sunday, May 19, 1 – 3 p.m. Design Studio
Bonsai Basics Learn the horticulture of bonsai and the art and philosophy behind it. Discover what bonsai is and the history, fundamental aesthetic elements, and basic styles of this art. Ivan will also touch on tools, wiring, soils, fertilizers, and year-round care. A walk to view part of the bonsai collection is included. Ivan Watters, bonsai artist and curator, Chicago Botanic Garden bonsai collection $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, June 1, 1 – 3 p.m. Design Studio
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Adult Education: Horticulture Regenstein School
Horticulture Grow Orchids on Your Windowsill Learn how easy it is to grow orchids right on your windowsill. A few of the topics to be discussed include the easiest orchids to grow that are best suited to your conditions; avoiding some of the mistakes encountered by new growers; keeping plants healthy; and basic orchid-growing techniques. In addition, participants are encouraged to bring a few plants to class for questions and discussion. This is a class for beginners and those interested in improving their orchid-growing skills. Jerry L. Garner, Ph.D., horticulturist, consultant, and retired professor of horticulture $45 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 9, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Annex 2
Organic Gardening: A Fresh Approach Are you interested in organic gardening? This fresh approach to organic gardening will focus on fundamental horticultural practices as they apply to a successful organic garden experience. The presentation will cover the “what and why” of organics followed by a detailed discussion of specific horticultural practices both in the area of plant nutrition and pest management. There will also be a brief discussion of organics from a retail consumer perspective.
Gardening in Raised Beds Discover the many advantages of raised-bed gardening. We will begin with a demonstration covering construction and proper installation of a raised bed. Then you will learn what to grow, when to plant, and how to maximize yield using a raised bed. Extending the growing season will also be discussed. Each attendee will have the option of ordering a raised bed kit for April pickup. Bill Shores, professional grower and garden consultant and Andy Swets, carpentry supervisor, Chicago Botanic Garden $54 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 16, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Annex 2
English Trough Workshop Join Heather Sherwood for this popular trough-making workshop. Examples of these versatile troughs can be seen in the English Walled and Dwarf Conifer Gardens. All materials for the container are included. Please note: project work is dusty and there is a second part to be completed at home, 24 hours later. A supply list will be sent. Heather Sherwood, horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $99 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 1
Poultry Palooza! Join urban chicken consultant Jennifer Murtoff to learn how to successfully raise and enjoy chickens in your backyard! Register for both sessions at once and receive a ten percent 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!
Glenn Grosch, horticulturist and agronomist $45 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, March 12, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Jennifer Murtoff, Home to Roost Urban Chicken Consulting $27 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 23, 10:30 a.m. – noon Garden View Room
Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot
New! Chicken Coop Basics
A special engagement and book signing
If you’re getting chicks this spring, you will need to know how to build a safe and comfortable home for them! In this class, you’ll learn about the basic needs of backyard birds (they’re not fussy, really, but there are some things you need to know!). Discover the essential components of a coop, learn what to avoid when choosing construction materials, get important construction tips, and see examples of different coop styles.
Ginkgo is perhaps the world’s most distinctive and ancient tree. An arboreal oddity with one of the longest of all botanical pedigrees, ginkgo has a life story deeply intertwined with that of our planet. Ginkgo grew up with the dinosaurs and has come down to us almost unchanged for two hundred and fifty million years. Follow the prehistory of ginkgo from its origin, proliferation, and spread across the planet, to its decline and near extinction before its dramatic reprieve. This lecture celebrates a beautiful book that tells the evolutionary and cultural life story of ginkgo. Sir Peter Crane, FRS, dean, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies $25 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, March 14, 4 – 6:30 p.m. Fairchild Room
Tree and Shrub Trimming Demystified Two-session class Learn the secret that only certified arborists know—it is fun and simple to trim your trees and shrubs when their leaves are absent! Through demonstrations and discussions, you will learn the basics of tree physiology and how it is affected by trimming. Learn proper practices of trimming during the winter months, and the advantages of winter trimming of certain species for maximum health and plant performance. Also, learn the secrets for trimming evergreens, which is best done in late spring and summer. Beginners and professionals alike will find this class informative and practical. Please dress for the weather for Saturday’s hands-on session. Gilbert Smith and Lesley Bruce Smith, ISA certified arborists, owners, Arborsmith Ltd. $62 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, March 21, 7 – 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 23, 9 – 11 a.m. Annex 2
42 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Jennifer Murtoff, Home to Roost Urban Chicken Consulting $19 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 23, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Garden View Room
Adult Education: Horticulture
New! Going Beyond the Phaelenopsis Are you ready to get past the beginner’s level with your orchids? Take an in-depth look at orchid history, diversity, and nomenclature. In addition, suggestions for building your collection and some of the finer points of orchid cultivation are discussed. Ample time is reserved for questions and discussion and for trouble-shooting problems. Participants are encouraged to bring a few of their plants. This is not a beginner’s class, but geared to anyone with some orchid-growing experience Jerry L. Garner, Ph.D., horticulturist, consultant, and retired professor of horticulture $54 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 23, 1 – 4 p.m. Annex 2
The Garden’s production department grows nearly a half-million plants every year. Join Tim Pollak for a behind-the-scenes tour through the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Greenhouses and nursery. Be the first to see which spring annuals will appear in the 2013 annual display beds, hanging baskets, containers, and hanging hayracks. You will also get a preview of some of the indoor displays for the Antiques & Garden Fair and glimpse the start of fall mums. Tim Pollak, outdoor floriculturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Sunday, March 24, 1 – 3 p.m. Meet at Rice Plant Resource Center
Hydrangeas Learn all you ever wanted to know about hydrangeas! This program will cover all aspects of successfully growing hydrangeas. A detailed discussion will include hardiness issues and pruning techniques by species, as well as how to manage bloom color—plus you’ll see some great photos of each of the species in full bloom. Glenn Grosch, horticulturist and agronomist $45 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, March 28, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Join in the fun at a pansy wreath workshop!
Living Pansy Wreath Workshop
Front Door Container Duo Workshop
Welcome the arrival of spring with a pansy wreath to brighten your front door! In this class you will create a lush, colorful living wreath by planting a moss-lined wire frame with pansies and ivy. Please bring an apron, rubber gloves, and scissors. All other materials are included in the fee.
Create a matching set of containers to display together or apart. One container may not be enough! Assemble two containers for sun/part shade for an immediate effect. You will take a short walk to see Garden containers and then create your own duo of pots to take home. Dress for the weather and bring gloves. All other materials are provided.
Karen Thomson, topiary designer, Thomson Topiaries $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, April 3, 9:30 a.m. – noon Annex 1
New! Create Your Own Vertical Garden Vertical gardening is fast becoming a popular way to grow plants—whether indoors or out. Vertical gardens take advantage of unused walls and allow gardeners to create living tapestries of foliage. Whether they are large or small, these living walls require some specialized know-how. Landscape architect Scott Mehaffey will share tips he has learned by planting, growing, maintaining, and studying indoor and outdoor vertical gardens over the last several years. Class participants will have the opportunity to create their own personal vertical garden filled with houseplants or herbs to take home. Scott Mehaffey, Sage Vertical Garden Systems $99 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. – noon Annex 1
Visit www.chicagobotanic. org/school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
Growing a Cook’s Garden
Nancy Clifton, program specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $162 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, April 10, 10 a.m. – noon Annex 1
New! Trees 4 Seasons The program will be a celebration of the seasonal changes of deciduous trees. Each specimen tree is presented as it is transformed from a skeleton of bare branches, adds a spring floral display, changes to summer foliage, and finishes with fruit and vibrant colors in the fall. The presentation is derived from Dan Weinbach’s new book, Trees 4 Seasons—a Visual Guide. Weinbach is a practicing landscape architect in Chicago, and his book has been 30 years in the making. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Dan Weinbach, landscape architect, Daniel Weinbach and Partners, Ltd. $24 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Sunday, April 28, 1:30 – 3 p.m. Linnaeus Room
If you have a spot in your garden, balcony, or deck that receives more than six hours of direct sunlight, you can grow fresh herbs and vegetables. We’ll cover how to grow the best essential ingredients for your kitchen: tomatoes, onions, peppers, squash, garlic, and leafy greens. In this class, you’ll learn the basics of soil preparation, planting in pots, plant selection, protecting your harvest from pests, extending the crops from spring through fall, and ideas for food preparation. Nina Koziol, garden writer $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, April 6, 1 – 3 p.m. Garden View Room
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Adult Education:
Backstage Pass: Flowering Spring Celebrities
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Adult Education: Horticulture Regenstein School
Distinctive Annuals Tired of the same old annuals? Join us for a discussion and colorful demonstration of many different and rare annuals worthy of our gardens and containers. Join Tim Pollak as he talks about the best plants to try and where to find some of these distinctive annuals. Many are heirlooms from our grandparents’ gardens, all of which are fantastic additions to complement the tried-and-true annuals available in the spring and summer. Pollak also demonstrates how to care for and overwinter some of these plants so you can enjoy them year after year. Tim Pollak, outdoor floriculturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, May 9, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Made-for-the-Shade Container Workshop Need some color in the shade? Take a Garden walk to view shade-loving plants, and then create your own container designed with shade in mind. We will use a variety of plants, including perennials, annuals, and tropicals. Please bring garden gloves and a large box for the finished project. All other materials are provided. Nancy Clifton, program specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $112 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, May 15, 10 a.m. – noon or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 1
Early Morning Garden Stroll Join Nancy Clifton and other early birds on an inspiring stroll and enjoy the private moments found in the Garden at the break of dawn. See the sunrise, the morning dew on flowers, and mist across the water. We will stop for special sites along the way and quietly talk about the benefits found when hardly anyone is around. Nancy Clifton, program specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $19 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, June 4, 7 – 8:30 a.m. Meet at Visitor Center
Gorgeous Container Gardens Containers are never out of fashion in the garden. Learn about the newest trends and observe tried and true construction techniques during this demonstration-style class. Beth Levy will teach you all you need to know so you can create that stand-out container. Beth Levy, retired landscape and container designer, Garden Renaissance, Inc. $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, June 4, 7 – 9 p.m. or Wednesday, June 5, 10 a.m. – noon Annex 2
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Four Seasons of Beauty: The Chicago Botanic Garden Container Series This series of workshops and Garden walks features the diversity and creativity of four seasons of Chicago Botanic Garden container gardens. Each season you will explore the Garden grounds with Nancy Clifton and discover an array of striking plants, interesting color and texture combinations, and unique container arrangements. Clifton will then help you create a seasonal container for your sun or partial shade patio or porch. All workshops are taught by Nancy Clifton, program specialist at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Register for all four sessions at once and save ten percent.
Spring Containers at the Garden Tour the Garden’s spring containers and collect ideas for your own. Then create a container with plants that can tolerate the varying spring temperatures and a full-sun to partial-shade location. Pansies, forced bulbs, and other spring treasures may be used. A spray of branches gives them a finishing touch. Please bring gloves $87 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. – noon, or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
Summer Containers at the Garden Enjoy a tour featuring the summer containers at the Garden. Then prepare a warm-season mixed container suitable for a sun or partial shade location. Your container may include annuals, perennials, herbs, and decorative foliage. Please bring gloves. $87 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, June 18, 10 a.m. – noon, or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
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. $87 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, September 10, 10 a.m. – noon, or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
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. $87 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, December 3, 10 a.m. – noon, or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
Containers are never out of fashion in the garden.
All workshops are taught by Ben Jaffe, instructor, Windy City Harvest Sustainable Urban Agriculture Program, Chicago Botanic Garden.
Spring Season Extension for Edibles Learn how to jump start your spring season crops with easy-to-construct low tunnels and cold frames. In this workshop we will review recommended crops and varieties for early spring planting in low tunnels. $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. – noon Annex 1
Windy City Harvest workshops extend growing seasons with cold frames.
Horticulture Certificate Programs Materials and Energy Usage in a Sustainable Landscape OPC elective Learn how to incorporate manual equipment for good health and less environmental impact. Using fewer two-cycle engines (mowers, blowers, power shears) contributes to enhanced air quality. Discussions will focus on certified sustainably harvested wood, composite materials, recycled materials, solar and wind technology in the garden, supplemental energy sources, and more. The School’s CEUs=0.3 John Eskandari, arborist and plant acquisitions, Gethsemane Gardens $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 9, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Botany 1, Spring Session 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. Richard D. Hyerczyk, botanist $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Monday and 6 Wednesdays, March 11 – April 17 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
$74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m. – noon Fruit & Vegetable Classroom
Fall Season Extension for Edibles Learn how to extend your fall season crops with easy-to-construct low tunnels and cold frames. In this workshop we will review recommended crops and varieties for fall planting in low tunnels. $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, August 17, 9 a.m. – noon Fruit & Vegetable Classroom
PGL 1, PGL 2, GDC and OPC requirement
Simple ideas can have big impact. Reduced crime in tree-lined areas, cleaner air, and reduced storm-water runoff are results that prove successful practices. Planted areas filter waste entering the soil, thereby reducing groundwater pollution. Learn about these and other community movements for green spaces and habitat development. The School’s CEUs=0.3 John Eskandari, arborist and plant acquisitions, Gethsemane Gardens $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., horticulture educator $287 nonmember, members receive 20% discount 7 Tuesdays, March 19 – May 7, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (no class April 16 ) Alsdorf Auditorium
OPC elective
Learn about composting, cover cropping, and other soil-building techniques. Healthy soil is the key to growing healthy plants, free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Deciduous Flowering Shrubs Study more than 60 different deciduous flowering shrubs (and their cultivars and related species) suitable for commercial landscape and home garden use in the Chicago region. During weekly slide lectures and Garden walks, the identification, cultural information, aesthetic qualities and landscape uses of both common and more unusual shrubs will be emphasized. Upon completing this course, you will be able to select the most appropriate shrubs for your garden space and gardening style. Prerequisite: Botany 1. The School’s CEUs=2.5
Social Impacts of Sustainability
Building Healthy Soil for Vegetable Gardens
Garden Walks (select one) 6 Thursdays, March 21 – May 2, 9 – 11 a.m. (no class April 18) or 6 Saturdays, March 23 – May 4, 9 – 11 a.m. (no class April 20)
Adult Education Information Session From watercolor to yoga and birding to botany, adult education has something for everyone. Begin your day with a fitness walk and finish with an afternoon class on viburnums. Join us at this free information session to discover a range of classes for the beginner, the hobbyist, the career changer, and professionals. Please register to save your space! Monday, March 4, 6 – 8 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Optional study CD $20
Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 47
Adult Education: Horticulture Highlights
Windy City Harvest Workshops
Adult Education: Horticulture Regenstein School
Soil Basics, Spring Session
Introduction to Lichens
Lilacs
MGC, PGL 1, PGL 2, GDC requirement
OPC elective
OPC elective
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 that helps create a productive soil. Course fee includes a professionally analyzed test of your garden soil. Prerequisite: Botany 1.
Lichens are a symbiotic association of a fungus and an alga. Nearly 200 species can be found all over the Chicago area. Join Rich Hyerczyk, founder of the Chicago Lichenological Society, to explore the local lichen flora. Taxonomy, morphology, and ecology of lichenized fungi, with an emphasis on identification of the local species, will be featured. The School’s CEUs=0.7
Learn more about the genus Syringa. The species ranges from small shrubs to medium-sized trees. The beautiful flowers are generally fragrant and plants are hardy and easy to grow. Lilacs are tolerant of a wide range of soil types including alkaline soils. A walk around the Garden to view lilacs in bloom is included. The School’s CEUs=0.3
Ellen Phillips, horticulture educator $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Thursdays, March 28 – May 9, 6:30 – 9 p.m. (no class April 18) and Saturday, April 13, 1 – 4 p.m. Annex 2
Richard D. Hyerczyk, botanist $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 2 Thursdays, April 4 and 11, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center and Saturday, April 20, 1 – 3 p.m. Off-site
Gardening Techniques: Session C PGL 1, PGL 2, GDC requirement Students will be introduced to professional gardening through a combination of lecture and hands-on activities. Focus is on acquiring solid gardening skills, learning about a variety of techniques, and developing the ability to determine best practices. Topics range from plant selection to the identification and control of weeds and other horticultural practices. Prerequisite: Botany 1.
Clematis Up Close OPC elective A profusion of showy blossoms makes clematis the undisputed queen of the climbers and an essential vine for every garden. Most gardeners are aware of a handful of the large-flowered clematis, but recent breeding work has greatly increased the number of useful, appealing cultivars. In addition, there are many distinctive, less-commonly known smallflowered species and hybrids that extend the flowering season into autumn. Richard Hawke will discuss the identification, culture, and maintenance requirements of many large- and small-flowered clematis, sharing his more than 16 years of experience growing and evaluating this genus. The School’s CEUs=0.3 Richard Hawke, manager, plant evaluation, Chicago Botanic Garden $74, members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. – noon Linnaeus Room
Lynette Rodriguez, owner and horticulturist, A Finer Touch $312 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Saturdays, April 6 – May 11, 7:30 – 10:30 a.m. (April 20 off-site) Annex 2
Best New Annuals for 2013 OPC elective It’s going to be a banner year for annuals! This course presents many new cultivars, along with several wonderful yet underutilized species for both container and in-ground plantings in sun and shade. Focus on what makes each unique and ideal, including morphological characteristics and garden performance. Other topics include cultural requirements, design and combinations, and sources. The School’s CEUs=0.3 Greg Trabka, new product development manager, Ball Horticultural Company $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, April 6, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Classes are subject to change. For the most current listings visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school.
48 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., horticulture educator $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, April 24, 9 a.m. – noon Linnaeus Room
Botany 2, Spring Session 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 ground? This course will explore subjects such 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. Richard D. Hyerczyk, botanist $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Mondays and 6 Wednesdays, April 29 – June 10, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (no class May 27) Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Soils for the Gardener OPC elective Soil amendments are confusing. What to use, when to use? Organic vs. inorganic? For your beds, turf, or containers? We will look at carbon to nitrogen ratios; roles of different microorganisms in the soil; and the bacterial vs. fungal properties needed for optimal plant growth. The nitrogen cycle, soil organic matter, and the relationship of plant roots to soil biology will be covered. We will also discuss how to enhance nutrient cycling in your garden for the best growth of your plants. The School’s CEUs= 0.3 Lynn Bement, organic gardening coach $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, May 23, 9 a.m. – noon Linnaeus Room
Viburnums OPC elective “A garden without viburnums is akin to life without music and art.”—M. Dirr Join Mark Zampardo in a walk and discussion about this terrific genus. Several types of viburnum do well in the Midwest and a few are native to our woodlands. The School’s CEUs= 0.2 Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., horticulture educator $62 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, May 29, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Design Studio
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Mixed Borders
MGC requirement
OPC elective
Are you a new gardener or new to the region? If so, this course will help you understand the basics of gardening in the Midwest. Learn about critical factors that affect the success of your garden, such as soil conditions, weather patterns and extremes, common gardening techniques and tools, and pests and diseases.
A garden doesn’t have to be restricted to annual or perennial flowers. It can consist of perennials, annuals, bulbs, trees, and shrubs. Here’s a look at how to design a beautiful mixed border along with advice on how to tend a bed when it’s filled with many different kinds of plants. The School’s CEUs= 0.3
Sharon Yiesla, horticulture educator $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 5 Tuesdays, April 2 – 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Annuals and Biennials PGL 1, PGL 2, GDC and OPC requirement Annuals and biennials have a rich tradition and exciting future. During this course, focus on the most popular cool- and warm-season species along with a selection of the new cultivars and unusual plants, all of which are well-suited to container and in-ground gardening in the Midwest. During the lectures and Garden walks, learn plant identification and cultural information and see examples of refined plant combinations and intriguing planting styles. Prerequisite: Botany 1. Mark Zampardo, Ph.D., horticulture educator $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 7 Tuesdays, May 14 – July 9, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (no class May 21 and July 2) Alsdorf Auditorium Garden Walks (select one) 6 Thursdays, May 16 – June 27, 9 – 11 a.m. (no class May 23) or 6 Saturdays, May 18 – June 29, 9 – 11 a.m. (no class May 25) Optional study CD $20
Janet Macunovich, garden designer and writer $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, June, 8 a.m. – noon Linnaeus Room
The Challenging Garden OPC elective Some places in the yard can cause a gardening headache. They demand attention but refuse to cooperate when it comes to planting: under trees, in dry soil, in overly wet soil, in long narrow spaces, against walls. Here’s your chance to gather ideas for what to plant, how to make it grow, and how to care for plants in such challenging places. The School’s CEUs= 0.3 Janet Macunovich, garden designer and writer $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, June 8, 1 – 4 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Growing Vegetable and Herbs MGC requirement Whether you have a large garden plot or a cozy city lot, you will discover new vegetable and herb varieties and creative ways to integrate them into your landscape. Learn appropriate growing conditions, average planting times, effective harvesting procedures, as well as common diseases and pests. Please dress for the weather. Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist, Fruit & Vegetable Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden $224 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Tuesdays, June 18 – July 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (no class July 2) Fruit & Vegetable Classroom Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m. – noon Off-site
Nature Studies
Adult Education: Natuare Studies
Introduction to Midwest Gardening
Landscapes for Nature and Wildlife Learn to attract wildlife with design ideas and plants selected for use as food, shelter, and water for birds, butterflies, and small mammals. Discussion will include specific plants that may be introduced into a traditional landscape to attract and support wildlife in your garden. A Garden walk will be included, so please dress for the weather. John Raffetto, horticulture educator $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m. – noon Garden View Room
New! Woodcock Walk! American woodcocks have been called sky dancers, because the males perform an interesting display in the air during breeding season. A short presentation about these interesting birds will include a close-up look at woodcock specimens and a special demonstration of woodcock young when alarmed. We will then walk to the forest preserve to watch and listen for woodcocks and other birds that are active at dusk. Bring a flashlight and wear appropriate clothing. Please pencil in March 24 as a rain date. A map will be sent. Steve Bailey, ornithologist, Illinois Natural History Survey, and Sheryl DeVore, author, Birds of Illinois, and chief editor, Meadowlark, journal of the Illinois Ornithological Society $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 23, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Middlefork Savanna, Lake Forest, Illinois
Spring Bird Walk Join bird expert Alan Anderson to explore the best spots in the Garden for locating late-winter bird residents and the early migrants of spring. Each walk is approximately one to two hours long. Dress for the weather, and bring binoculars and a field guide, if you have one. Alan Anderson, research committee chairman, Chicago Audubon Society $19 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, March 30, 7:30 – 9 a.m. or Saturday, April 13, 7:30 – 9 a.m. Meet at Visitor Center
Learn how edibles can enhance your landscape in Growing Vegetables and Herbs.
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Adult Education: Nature Studies
Woodland Wildflower Walk Take some time from your busy schedule for a walk in the woods. Welcome the delightful diversity of early spring wildflowers on a field trip in the Mary Mix McDonald Woods. Dress for the weather and wear suitable shoes for hiking. Bring along a field guide, if you have one. Jim Steffen, ecologist, Chicago Botanic Garden $19 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, April 27, 9 – 10:30 a.m. Meet at McDonald Woods Entrance Shelter
Warblers for Beginners All those colorful little migratory warblers that light up the trees like ornaments in spring can seem difficult to recognize. In this class, you will learn to identify warblers through their song, plumage, and habitat. Get briefed on these birds’ vocalizations before heading into the woods to listen and watch. Warblers can often be just as active toward the end of the day as they are in the morning. Bring a pair of binoculars and dress for the weather. Sheryl DeVore, author, Birds of Illinois, and chief editor, Meadowlark, journal of the Illinois Ornithological Society $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, May 2, 5 – 7 p.m. Brushwood House, Ryerson Woods, Deerfield, Illinois
A Walk in the Wildflowers Enjoy a lovely and informative Sunday afternoon stroll through the Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Preserve. The area is rich in diversity of terrain and habitat, resulting in a superb diversification of wildflowers. Please dress for the weather and feel free to bring a notebook, camera, and/or binoculars. A map will be sent. Sarah Schultz, steward, Reed-Turner Woodland $24 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Sunday, May 5, 1 – 3 p.m. Meet at Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Preserve, Long Grove, Illinois
Learn to identify different migratory warblers in Warblers for Beginners.
Introduction to Bird-Watching
Where Nature Comes Home
If you want to become a birder, join this class to learn the basics. On Thursday, you will learn about binoculars, how to use a field guide, and the field marks used to identify common birds of the Chicago area. During the Saturday bird walk, participants will try out their newly acquired skills. Bring binoculars, if you have them, and dress for the weather.
Learn how one residential association transformed its lawns into an unfolding and colorful array of stunning multi-season prairies, woodlands, and rain gardens. As a recipient of the 2011 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award, this condominium association was described by WTTW’s Chicago Tonight as having “probably the most extensive native gardens of any residential complex in the Chicagoland area.” This is an inspirational program for those who wish to create native, eco-friendly landscapes around their property to enhance biodiversity, aesthetic beauty, and environmental health.
Jim Steffen, ecologist, Chicago Botanic Garden $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, May 16, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Annex 2 and Saturday, May 18, 7:30 – 9 a.m. Meet at McDonald Woods Entrance Shelter
Dennis Paige, habitat restorationist $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Sunday, June 9, 1 – 3 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Recognizing Sedges in the Field OPC elective
Visit www.chicagobotanic. org/school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
52 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Many of the grasslike plants you encounter in native habitats in the Chicago region and elsewhere are not actually grasses. Although similar looking, they are members of an entirely different family of plants. In this course you will study Carex, the largest and most diverse genus of the sedge family. Learn about the taxonomy, structure, and ecology of this challenging group. This advanced course is for students who have already completed Botany I or are familiar with the use of taxonomic keys. Students must have a 10X loop hand lens and small millimeter ruler. Be prepared for walking in the woods; wear long sleeves and long pants, and bring insect repellent and sunscreen. You may wish to purchase a copy of Field Guide to Wisconsin Sedges by Andrew Hipp. Please bring a sack lunch. The School’s CEUS=0.6 Jim Steffen, ecologist, Chicago Botanic Garden $124 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, June 15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Linnaeus Room
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Adult Education: Garden Design
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! Sustainable Gardens: Meadows and Gravel Gardens Green or sustainable gardens make sense for many reasons. They’re good for the environment and they’re good for us. Many people want beautiful gardens, but don’t have the time or don’t want to see precious resources like water and energy go into growing them. Jeff Epping has been researching and implementing a number of new gardens at Olbrich that are more environmentally sound and can be easily incorporated into home landscapes. Jeff Epping, director of horticulture, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin $27 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, March 14, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Linnaeus Room
New! Sustainable Gardens: Today’s Rose Gardens…Beautiful and Practical Join Jeff Epping to learn how to grow roses in your garden that are not only beautiful, but easy on the gardener and the environment. Join Epping for an in-depth look at how he and his staff created a beautiful new rose garden at Olbrich. Their rose garden showcases hardy, disease-resistant shrub and climbing rose varieties that need much less care than the vast majority of the roses on the market today. Come see how you too can combine bulbs, annuals, perennials, vines, shrubs, and small-scale trees with a variety of gorgeous roses to create a truly unique and spectacular garden. Jeff Epping, director of horticulture, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin $27 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Friday, March 15, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Linnaeus Room
Bungalow Garden Design – The Front Yard Garden design principles for the front yards of bungalows will be reviewed by urban landscape designer Kim Kaulas. Appropriate paving and planting choices to complement these romantic Arts & Crafts residences will be discussed and helpful handouts will be provided.
Garden Design Certificate Program Principles of Garden Design PGL 2 and GDC requirement Apply knowledge and skills developed in previous design courses toward an in-depth understanding about spatial properties of landscape materials and their application to design principles. Weekly discussions and individual projects will emphasize the components of three-dimensional spaces and their application to the development of refined concept design plans and construction level drawings. Prerequisites: Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice. Tony Wasemann, ASLA, senior landscape designer, Scott Byron & Co. $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 8 Wednesdays, March 27 – May 15, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Design Studio and 2 Saturdays, March 30 and April 6, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
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. Jeff Brown, landscape architect, ASLA, Jacobs / Ryan Associates $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 7 Wednesdays, April 17 – June 5, 6:30 – 9 p.m. (no class May 15) Linnaeus Room and 2 Saturdays, April 20, 9 a.m. – noon and May 18, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Off-site
Kim Kaulas, garden designer, Kim Kaulas Inc. $37 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Linnaeus Room
54 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Gardens That Heal: A Prescription for Wellness Healthcare Garden Design Certificate Seminar In a healthcare environment, gardens provide a sense of order, safety, and privacy for those coping with illness. During this seminar, industry leaders will present the latest research demonstrating the benefits of healthcare gardens, while providing an introduction to the tools needed to effectively design, manage, and evaluate such gardens. Fee includes morning coffee and lunch. This program is registered with the American Society of Landscape Architects for continuing education credit. Registrations made after Friday, May 10, are not eligible for the lunch option. $149 nonmember or $129 before April 5; members receive 20% discount Wednesday, May 15, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Alsdorf Auditorium
Hardscape Basics PGL 2 and GDC requirement Apply knowledge and skills toward a working understanding of hardscape elements as they relate to garden design. Discussions and projects will focus on basic elements of hardscape structures, including paving, landscape lighting, garden walls and structures, and their application to landscapes. Prerequisites: Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design. Shawn Weidner, ASLA, designer, Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 9 Thursdays, May 16 – July 18, 6:30 – 9 p.m. (no session July 4) Design Studio Saturday, June 1, 1 – 4 p.m. Off-site
Introduction to Grading and Drainage PGL 2 and GDC requirement Apply knowledge and skills toward a working understanding of basic grading and drainage concepts as they relate to design. Discussions and projects will include basic earth forms and drainage patterns in residential landscapes. Prerequisites: Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design. Jodi Mariano, RLA, senior associate, Teska Associates, Inc. $337 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 8 Wednesdays, June 12 – August 7, 6:30 – 9 p.m. (no class July 3) Design Studio 2 Saturdays, July 13 and 20, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Introduction to Natural Dyes
Pop-Up Flowers of the Midwest: Beginners
Watercolor is a delightfully fun medium! In this class, you’ll learn a variety of watercolor techniques, including washes and how to make a range of textures on paper, plus some color theory to get you started. No prior experience is necessary. A supply list will be sent.
Students will learn how to obtain eco-friendly color on a variety of materials through research, experimentation, and the collaborative process. We will start by learning the foundations of natural dyeing— experimenting with raw dyes, extracts, and the indigo process. Continuing collaboratively, students will create a book of dye samples. Discussion topics such as dye history, gardens, and techniques, will be supplemented with a detailed handout. All dyes and some fabrics are provided. A list of other supplies will be sent. Open to all levels.
Create pop-up cards featuring native flowers of the Midwest! Fundamental techniques of pop-up engineering will be demonstrated and practiced while building these flowers, using little more than a knife, glue, and card stock. Students will finish with a collection of four or five cards. No experience is necessary, but binding and/or sewing skills will speed your progress. A supply list will be sent.
Patsy Welch, artist and educator $237 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Thursdays, March 7 – April 11, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
Pamela Feldman, artist and educator $349 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Mondays, April 1 – 22, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Annex 2
Treewhispers: Handmade Paper Art Workshop
Needle Felting Workshop
Beginning Watercolor
Spend the day exploring the artistic papermaking process used in the Treewhispers exhibition. You will begin the workshop with an introduction to the stunning handmade paper rounds used in the Treewhispers project. Then, roll up your sleeves and create your own paper rounds under the guidance of the visionary for the exhibit, artist Pamela Paulsrud. This will be a fun and invigorating workshop suitable for all. Pamela Paulsrud, artist and creator of Treewhispers $125 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Friday, March 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Plant Science Lab
Tile Garden Marker Workshop Create six personalized garden markers embellished with identifying plant images and names. Janet Austin will guide you through an artistic process using high fire stoneware slabs, plant pressings, and lettering to make these unique and durable markers. Finished pieces will be glazed in a lovely verdigris finish then kiln fired and ready for you to pick up in several weeks. Janet Austin, artist $124 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, March 14, 10 a.m. – noon Annex 1
Japanese Ink Painting Sumi-e, the ancient art of Japanese ink painting, requires no previous painting experience. Individualized instruction will be provided for students of all levels. Beginners will learn to use Oriental painting equipment to paint classic nature subjects. A supply list will be sent. Kay Thomas, artist $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Wednesdays, March 20 – April 24, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Annex 2
Spring is in the Air…. Create a Felted Bird! Learn how to sculpt wool into a three-dimensional figurine, complete with the colors and character of the real thing! We will be using all locally grown, hand-dyed fibers to create this four-inch bird that makes a terrific spring decoration. Needle felting is a very simple technique used in many artistic applications, and anyone can do it! Come learn while you relax and unwind in this fun class. Fee includes all supplies. Natasha Lehrer, fiber artist and educator, Esther’s Place, Big Rock, IL $49 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Monday, April 1, 10 a.m. – noon Design Studio
Mosaic Workshop 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!
Shawn Sheehy, pop-up engineer and author $125 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Friday, April 5, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Pop-Up Flowers of the Midwest: Intermediate If you completed the simpler blooms in the beginner’s workshop, you’re ready to move on to the complex flowers of this intermediate pop-up flower workshop. Columbine, pasture rose, and blue flag iris are among the blooms included in this set of cards. A supply list will be sent. Shawn Sheehy, pop-up engineer and author $125 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Friday, April 12, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Visit www.chicagobotanic. org/school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
Bonnie Arkin, artist and designer $149 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Tuesdays, April 2 – May 7, 7 – 9 p.m. or 6 Tuesdays, May 14 – June 18, 7 – 9 p.m. Annex 1
Label your plantings with stoneware in the Tile Garden Marker Workshop.
Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 55
Adult Education: Botanical HighlightsArts & Humanities
Botanical Arts and Humanities
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Learn the art of beautiful writing and the flourishes of botanical illustration: it’s a match made in heaven! Beginners, start with the basics of calligraphy and floral decoration for invitations and cards. More experienced students, polish your skills and complete a project. A supply list will be sent. Judith Joseph, artist and educator $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Thursdays, May 2 – June 6, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Annex 2
Rejuvenated Jewelry Garden Mosaic Tile Stepping Stone In this one-day workshop, create a one-of-a-kind mosaic and ceramic tile stepping stone with handmade tiles of butterflies, leaves, and insects by artist Janet Austin. Mosaic techniques of design, adhesion, cutting, and grouting are covered in making this durable outdoor gem for your garden path. Ready to take home at the end of the day! Lunch is on your own. Janet Austin, artist $124 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, April 11, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Annex 1
New! Violet – The Color of Mystery Natural dye scarf-dyeing workshop Violet is known as the color of mystery and imagination. In this one-day workshop, students will use dyes from the Americas to produce rich, subtle tones of violet. Each student will take home a dyed scarf. Dye materials and scarf are included in the class fee. Dress for a mess! Open to all levels. A short supply list will be sent. Pamela Feldman, artist and educator $99 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, April 18, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Annex 2
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 $129 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Thursdays, May 2 – June 6, 7 – 9 p.m. Annex 1
New! A Painting in One Day with Mark McMahon Don’t miss this opportunity to work with nationally and internationally known artist Mark McMahon. He will pass on his knowledge of observation, composition, ideas in imaging, and the overall enjoyment of translating one’s ideas onto paper without fear of failure. This class will work on documenting some of the goings-on around the Garden in reportage style. A supply list will be sent. Mark McMahon, artist $129 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Design Studio
New! Botanical Art: Walk and Sketch Spring Wildflowers of Ryerson Woods
Adult Education: Botanical Arts & Humanities
Calligraphy and Floral Decoration
There is nothing quite like taking a stroll in the woods, discovering a wildflower, then sitting down and sketching it. In this field study and sketching class, instruction will be given in capturing botanical detail and characteristics. Students will be encouraged to use various media from pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, to watercolor. The workshop is designed for students of all levels. A supply list will be sent. Derek Norman, artist and director, Midwest Center for Botanical Documentation $312 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Saturdays, May 4 – June 8, 1 – 4 p.m. Brushwood House, Ryerson Woods, Deerfield, IL
Flower Arranging with Store-Bought Bouquets Make your own professional-style arrangements using economical store-bought bouquets. Using simple design principles and fresh flowers from Europeanstyle displays in your grocery store, you will create beautiful results. Please bring pruners and a small box for your finished arrangement. All other materials are included. Nancy Clifton, program specialist, Chicago Botanic Garden $72 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, May 9, 10 a.m. – noon or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Plant Science Lab
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 Wednesdays, June 26 – July 31, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
New! 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, Linger Natural Perfume $74 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, April 27, 1 – 3 p.m. Linnaeus Room
Use fragrant oils to create a signature scent in the Personalized Natural Perfume Workshop.
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Adult Education: Botanical RegensteinArts School & Humanities
Botanical Arts Certificate Program Expressive Watercolor ART requirement, expressive track Explore the fluid beauty of the watercolor medium. Each session will begin with an instructor demonstration. Then students will work from a looser to a tighter application, from a wet into wet beginning, to a more controlled found finish. There will be a strong emphasis on values and design. Thomas Trausch, artist, TWSA master status $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Saturdays, March 2 – April 6, 1 – 4 p.m. Design Studio
Color Mixing
Tulip Mania!
Color Mixing 2
Marilyn Garber, Watercolor Workshop Visiting Artist Program
ART elective
ART elective Tulips, the harbinger of spring and the plant that created quite a stir in the 16th century, are the subjects of this class. Students will draw and paint in watercolor the entire plant from bulb to flower. This three-day workshop will focus on composition, creating translucent petals, foreshortened leaves, the texture of the bulbs, and roots. Bring your watercolor skills to the next level! The School’s CEUs= 1.8 Marilyn Garber, artist and educator, Minnesota School of Botanical Art at The Bakken Museum in Minneapolis $449 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Friday – Sunday, April 12 – 14, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Design Studio
Through exercises and demonstrations, this class will explore the more advanced aspects of color such as simultaneous contrast, color vibration, composing with color, mixing neutrals, and atmospheric perspective. Watercolor will be the primary medium but students may also work in hard pastel or colored pencil. The School’s CEUs=1.2 Marlene Hill Donnelly, scientific illustrator, The Field Museum $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Tuesdays, April 23 – May 14, 6 – 9 p.m. Design Studio
ART requirement Learn to mix accurate, exciting color including the vivid, specific hues of flowers, the bright and subdued greens of leaves, and the deep, subtle colors in shadows. We’ll make charts for permanent reference and then apply this knowledge to paint flowers and leaves from live specimens. We will work in watercolor, but exercises apply to all media. Marlene Hill Donnelly, scientific illustrator, The Field Museum $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Tuesdays, March 5 – April 9, 6 – 9 p.m. Design Studio
Botanical Drawing 2 ART requirement
The Chicago Botanic Garden has a practice carillon in the Regenstein Center, which makes it possible for the Garden to offer instruction in carillon performance. Wylie Crawford, the Garden’s resident carillonneur, will begin teaching in mid-April. For more information, please call (847) 835-8261.
Continue to build your drawing skills with advanced graphite techniques, light and dark media on toned paper, and carbon dust. We will work outside whenever the weather permits. Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing 1. Marlene Hill Donnelly, scientific illustrator, The Field Museum $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Sundays, March 10 – April 28, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (no class March 31 or April 21) Design Studio
Visit www.chicagobotanic. org/school/faculty for faculty biographies. Refine your watercolor techniques in Marilyn Garber’s Tulip Mania Workshop.
58 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
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Adult Education: Botanical Arts & Humanities
Outdoor Sketching ART requirement
Sunflower Study © Derek Norman
Learning how to make quick studies in the field is an important skill. You will gain the experience to create these sketches, complete with notes on field conditions, colors, plant measurements, and textures, for a complete work-up in the studio. Please dress for the weather. Folding chairs are provided. In case of inclement weather, the class will draw in the Greenhouses.
Discover pen-and-ink techniques in Pen and Ink 1 and 2.
Priscilla Humay, freelance artist, CPSA $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Saturdays, June 8 – July 20, 9 a.m. – noon (no class July 6) Design Studio
Watercolor 1 ART requirement Students will build skills, starting with basic color mixing and paint-handling exercises. Students will progress to rendering textures and form in color and using paint-layering techniques to achieve a naturalistic style. Nancy Halliday, freelance artist and naturalist $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Tuesdays, July 16 – August 20, 6 – 9 p.m. Design Studio
Pen and Ink 1
Pen and Ink 2
ART requirement, traditional track
ART requirement, traditional track
This studio class will examine pen-and-ink drawing by the study of natural botanical forms, shapes, and dissections. We will study the use of a variety of pen-and-ink techniques (stipple, cross-hatching, contour-line, and combinations); the execution of black-and-white elements to create value, tone, and texture (such as leaf venation, stem texture, and shading); and create positive and negative tones to create depth and dimension. Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing 1.
This studio class will cover advanced pen-and-ink techniques and composition in classic 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 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.
Botany for Botanical Artists
Derek Norman, artist and director, Midwest Center for Botanical Documentation $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Mondays, May 6 – June 17, 6 – 9 p.m. (no class May 27) Design Studio
Derek Norman, artist and director, Midwest Center for Botanical Documentation $287 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Mondays, July 29 – September 9, 6 – 9 p.m. (no class September 2) Design Studio
Richard D. Hyerczyk, botanist $224 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 5 Wednesdays, July 24 – August 28, 6 – 9 p.m. (no class August 7) Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center
Adult Education Information Session From watercolor to yoga and birding to botany, adult education has something for everyone. Begin your day with a fitness walk and finish with an afternoon class on viburnums. Join us at this free information session to discover a range of classes for the beginner, the hobbyist, the career changer, and professionals. Please register to save your space! Monday, March 4, 6 – 8 p.m. Linnaeus Room
60 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
ART requirement 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.
Visit www.chicagobotanic. org/school/faculty for faculty biographies. Chicago Botanic Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on classes.
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Adult Education: Photography Highlights
Photography New! Tram Photo Safari Grab your camera and join us on this first-ever photo safari to often unexplored areas of the Garden. First, join Jack Carlson, Garden instructor and tram driver, for photo tips and information. We will then board the tram and travel to the 100-acre oak ecosystem of the Mary Mix McDonald Woods, followed by the 15-acre Dixon Prairie Preserve with such photogenic areas as Marsh Island and the dunes. Enjoy individualized photo instruction along the way. Digital or film cameras only. Tripod strongly suggested. Please pencil in June 15 as a rain date. Jack Carlson, certified professional photographer $99 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Saturday, June 8, 8 a.m. – noon Meet in Garden View Room
FOCUS ON PHOTOGRAPHY CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS (FPC) 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, the functions of lens aperture and shutter speed, proper exposure, and some minimal photo processing. By the end of class, participants will be confident in using their camera’s manual settings. Course requires a digital SLR camera. No previous experience required. Jenn Gaudreau, professional photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Wednesdays, March 20 – April 24, 10 a.m. – noon Design Studio
Expand your photography skills while discovering the Garden.
New! Black and White Photography: A Study of Shadows and Texture
Intermediate Photography Portfolio Workshop
FPC elective
FPC requirement, fine art track
Students will explore the creation of photographic images beyond color, looking into the shadows and textures that lay beneath nature’s color spectrum using plants and objects found at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Tonality and dynamic range will be included as well as the potential of depth of field. The Zone System of shooting in black and white will also be discussed. Digital SLR cameras are mandatory. The School’s CEUs=1.25
The Garden will serve as a natural laboratory as we explore a variety of photographic techniques to take you from an ordinary snapshot to botanic art. Heavy emphasis will be put on finding your own artistic style while advancing your photographic skill set and beginning to create your own botanic art portfolio. This course is designed for intermediate photographers. You will walk away with your own set of professionally produced images. Digital SLR cameras are mandatory.
Tobin Fraley, photographer $229 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 5 Thursdays, March 28 – April 25, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Design Studio
New! Documenting Nature FPC requirement, nature and wildlife track
Advanced Photography Portfolio Workshop
Students will learn how to document the natural world and how to tell a story through the creation of compelling images. Class will be held outside for part of each day, so please dress for the weather. A review of your images will be available online through Flickr. A macro lens, telephoto lens, and knowledge of your camera settings are required.
FPC requirement, fine art track
Carol Freeman, naturalist photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Saturdays, March 30 – April 20, 8 – 11 a.m. Seminar Room, Plant Science Center
You do not need to pursue a certificate to participate in these courses unless a prerequisite is listed.
Sarah Postma, professional photographer, Sarah Postma Photography $374 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 8 Tuesdays, April 2 – May 21, 9 – 11:30 a.m. Design Studio
This course is designed for photographers comfortable with the skills and techniques necessary to produce portfolio-quality images. Must be comfortable with aperture and shutter speed. With skills honed, the class will heavily explore art direction, composition, and elements within the art of photography. Time in the classroom is immediately followed by time outdoors dedicated to practicing new artistic components. You will walk away with your own set of professionally produced images, which will be ready to submit for the 2013 Student Botanical Photography Exhibition. Digital SLR mandatory. Prerequisite: Intermediate Portfolio Class. Sarah Postma, professional photographer, Sarah Postma Photography $374 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 8 Tuesdays, April 2 – May 21, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school/registration_policies for information on registration procedure and policy. 63
Adult Education: Photography Regenstein School
Basics of Editing – Photoshop I
Spring Garden Photography
Basics of Editing – Photoshop 2
FPC requirement option
FPC elective
FPC elective
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.
Join Jack Carlson on a photographic journey through the Garden to capture those subtle signs of the season that are often overlooked. From new pinecones in the Dwarf Conifer Garden to cygnet trumpeter swans, spring will be here in many forms just waiting to be photographed. Participants are strongly urged to bring a tripod. A close-focusing lens would be helpful, but is not required. Both film and digital capture are welcome. The School CEUs=1.2
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
Iris Allen, freelance photographer and instructor $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Thursdays, April 18 – May 9, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
Jack Carlson, certified professional photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Saturdays, April 27 – May 18, 9 a.m. – noon Linnaeus Room
New! Textures and Patterns in Nature Photography FPC fundamental course, fine art track
Classes are subject to change. For the most current listings visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school.
Explore Textures and Patterns in Nature Photography.
Develop your artistic vision by using natural and artificial light to discover textures and patterns in the Chicago Botanic Garden. With your SLR camera flash, flashlights, the sun, and other light sources you will capture textures to create a 3D world showing the rhythm of nature. This intermediate class will include an opportunity to use strobe lighting, light tables, and backdrops for the study of textures in composition. Class will include lecture, critique, and time in the Garden. Dianne Kittle, fine art photographer $225 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 6 Wednesdays, May 1 – June 5, 10 a.m. – noon Design Studio
Iris Allen, freelance photographer and instructor $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Thursdays, May 16 – June 6, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
New! Basics of Editing – Aperture 1 FPC requirement option Aperture 3 is the next logical step for photographers still using iPhoto. Aperture is a professional-grade processing software designed by Apple to help photographers manage and edit their images with a higher level of control and expression. In this course, you will learn Aperture 3 setup, workflow, file management, processing, and image exporting. You’ll also learn to tag, name, size, and sharpen your images. By the end of this course, you will have taken control of the organization and archiving of your photos, and have the skills to create your own processing workflow in Aperture 3. A personal laptop with Aperture 3 installed is required. Kevin Malella, fine art/commercial photographer $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Tuesdays, June 18 – July 9, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
New! Basics of Editing – Aperture 2 FPC elective In this course, you will polish your editing workflow, file management, and increase your processing skills in Apple’s Aperture 3. You’ll also learn to create slideshows, map the locations of your images, utilize the facial recognition built into the program, and publish your images to social media and websites directly from Aperture. By the end of this course, you will have created customizations and workflow changes in your copy of Aperture 3 that will take your image processing to the next level. A personal laptop with Aperture 3 installed is required. Prerequisite: Aperture I, or approval of instructor. The School’s CEUs=1.0 Kevin Malella, fine art/commercial photographer $187 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 4 Tuesdays, July 16 – August 6, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Design Studio
64 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
Treewhispers: Awakening Your Heartfelt Connection to Trees Today we will be inspired by hundreds of artists, poets, students, and tree lovers who have shared their stories and art with the Treewhispers project. Your morning will proceed with meditative visualizations and flute music played from the heart to awaken your connection to trees. Next, we will explore the Garden to find a tree that speaks to you—to study and to listen to during quiet meditative moments. Come prepared to learn, relax, and enjoy the morning. Please dress for the weather. Pamela Paulsrud, artist and creator of Treewhispers $59 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Thursday, March 7, 9 a.m. – noon Linnaeus Room
Meditation Walk: The Cycles of Life What better way to enjoy the spring 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 with accompanying music. 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, May 18, 8 – 10 a.m. Meet at Visitor Center
Fitness Walks
Gentle Yoga
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.
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.
Esther Gutiérrez-Sloan, certified personal trainer and president, SALSArobics, Inc. # of Sessions Nonmember Fee (members receive 20% discount) 4 Sessions 8 Sessions 12 Sessions 16 Sessions Season Pass Drop-in Rate
$63 nonmember $119 nonmember $166 nonmember $199 nonmember $337 nonmember $15
Saturdays, April 6 – November 16, 8 – 9 a.m. Meet in Visitor Center
Adult Education: Highlights Wellness & Fitness
Wellness & Fitness
Steve Nakon, director, and Patricia Nakon, co-director, Whole Journey Northwest Yoga Spring session $170 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Mondays, April 1 – June 10 (no class April 15), 9 – 10:15 a.m. or 5:15 – 6:30 p.m. Summer session $135 nonmember, members receive 20% discount 8 Mondays, June 24 – August 12, 9 – 10:15 a.m. or 5:15 – 6:30 p.m. Garden View Room
Introductory Yoga 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. Steve Nakon, director, Whole Journey Northwest Yoga
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 75 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 for a Balanced Body Workshop Yoga brings balance to our lives. In this workshop we create a safe, positive environment to reconnect with our bodies and quiet the counterproductive messages that often arise in our minds. Through movement, breath, and contemplation we will explore the ways we can regain our body’s balance toward an optimum weight. Learn how we can change the relationship between mind and body, including our approach to food and eating. Bring a yoga mat and water. Dress for comfort. A catered lunch will be part of the experience. All are welcome. Steve Nakon, director, Whole Journey Northwest Yoga $150 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Friday, April 5, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fairchild Room
Spring session $170 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Wednesdays, April 3 – June 12 (no class April 17), 5:15 – 6:30 p.m. or 7 – 8:15 p.m. Summer session $135 nonmember, members receive 20% discount 8 Wednesdays, June 26 – August 14, 5:15 – 6:30 p.m. or 7 – 8:15 p.m. Garden View Room
Yoga Flow Beginner The Yoga Flow series combines movement linked to the breath, working the body and engaging the mind. A moderately challenging course for students with some yoga experience. Steve Nakon, director, Whole Journey Northwest Yoga Spring session $170 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Tuesdays, April 2 – June 11 (no class April 16), 9:15 – 10:30 a.m. or 6 – 7:15 p.m. Summer session: $135 nonmember, members receive 20% discount 8 Tuesdays, June 25 – August 13, 9:15 – 10:30 a.m. or 6 – 7:15 p.m. Garden View Room
Take advantage of the Garden’s beauty as you exercise in Fitness Walks.
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Adult Education: Wellness Regenstein & Fitness School
Yoga Flow Intermediate
Tai Chi Classes
Tai Chi: Traditional Yang-Style Long Form
The Yoga Flow series combines movement linked to the breath, working the body and engaging the mind. A more exhilarating, challenging Flow series. For students who have taken Beginner Flow or have comparable experience.
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. 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 101 or some Tai Chi experience recommended.
Steve Nakon, director, Whole Journey Northwest Yoga Spring session $170 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Tuesdays, April 2 – June 11 (no class April 16), 8 – 9:15 a.m. Summer session $135 nonmember, members receive 20% discount 8 Tuesdays, June 25 – August 13, 8 – 9:15 a.m. or Spring session $170 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Thursdays, April 4 – June 13 (no class April 18), 9 – 10:15 a.m. or 6 – 7:15 p.m. Summer session $135 nonmember, members receive 20% discount 8 Thursdays, June 27 – August 15 (no class July 4), 9 – 10:15 a.m. or 6 – 7:15 p.m. Garden View 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.
Tai Chi 101 This course will introduce students to Sun-style and Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan. 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 Spring session 10 Wednesdays, March 13 – May 22 (no class April 17) 8 – 9 a.m. Summer session 10 Wednesdays, June 5 – August 14 (no class July 3) 8 – 9 a.m. Burnstein Hall
Steve Nakon, director, Whole Journey Northwest Yoga $170 nonmember; members receive 20% discount 10 Wednesdays, April 3 – June 12 (no class April 17), 9:15 – 10:30 a.m. Linnaeus Room
Students at every level enjoy yoga with instructor Steve Nakon.
Gordon Lock, instructor $165 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Spring session 10 Wednesdays, March 13 – May 22 (no class April 17), 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Summer session 10 Wednesdays, June 5 – August 14 (no class July 3), 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Burnstein Hall
Tai Chi: Traditional Sun-Style Long Form This course continues with in-depth study of the Sun style. 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 101 or some Tai Chi experience recommended. Gordon Lock, instructor $165 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Spring session 10 Thursdays, March 14 – May 23 (no class April 18), 8 – 9 a.m. Summer session 10 Thursdays, June 6 – August 15 (no class July 4), 8 – 9 a.m. Burnstein Hall
Simplified Yang-Style Tai Chi Chuan We will practice all 24 postures of Tai Chi Chuan and the technique for each movement will be discussed. The routine may be completed in less than ten minutes. Members will build a solid foundation for balance and coordination. Qigong exercises will also be introduced to improve overall fitness. Gordon Lock, instructor $165 nonmember; members receive 20% discount Spring session 10 Thursdays, March 14 – May 23 (no class April 18), 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Summer session 10 Thursdays, June 6 – August 15 (no class July 4), 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Burnstein Hall
66 To register, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261.
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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.
Spring Break Camp Offers New Adventures Daily Discover how nature is connected to art, cuisine, and conservation. Spring Break Camp is March 25 to 29, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, for children ages 5 to 8. Handson activities take place outdoors and inside and are taught by highly qualified, caring instructors. Every day offers a different adventure! Sign up for one day, several, or all five. Fee: $69 per day, per child. Register at www.chicagobotanic.org/springbreakcamp by March 18. New summer program for tiny tots, too! This summer, babies, toddlers, and their caregivers also can enjoy fun in the sun. Our brand new Bloomin’ Garden Strollers program provides ample social play and outdoor activities for budding gardeners, ages 6 to 24 months, and accompanying adults. Enjoy brisk walks through the Garden. Stop at a different destination each week and chat with a Garden expert. Bloomin’ Garden Strollers meets on Fridays from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m., June 21 to August 16. Fee: $25 per day, per child. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/camp to register online. 68
www.chicagobotanic.org/forfamilies
This summer, get your first-choice camp session! Sign up now for Camp CBG while space is still available for our most popular programs.
Fee-based Programs
Free Programs
Weekend Family Classes
Discovery Backpacks
9:30 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 2:30 p.m. $22 nonmember per child Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount
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.
Story Time Mondays through May 20 10 – 11 a.m. Stop by the Lenhardt Library on Monday mornings for nature-themed stories and hands-on activities. Geared toward children ages 2 to 5 with a caregiver. No program April 22. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/familyprograms for more information.
ScreenBreak Family Drop-in Activities Wednesday, March 6 & Friday, March 8 9 – 11 a.m. Stop by for hands-on fun with plants and nature in the Greenhouses — try a scavenger hunt, practice watering plants, and more! Activities are geared toward 2- to 5-year-olds with a caregiver. No registration is required. Parking is free from March 3 – 9 for those families with a ScreenBreak button, wristband, or card. Offered in collaboration with the Winnetka Alliance for Early Childhood’s ScreenBreak.
Malott Japanese Garden Spring Weekend
Saturdays and Sundays
Together, adults and children ages 4 – 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. Homemade Ice Cream Sunday, March 3, or Saturday, March 23 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. Insect Investigations Saturday, April 6, or Sunday, April 14 Explore tiny critters like bees, crickets, and butterflies. Create a scientific tool to help you study insects at home, find out how bugs see, and plant some flowers that pollinators love to visit. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/familyprograms or call (847) 835-6801 for more information.
Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/familyprograms/ dropin for more information.
Malott Japanese Garden Children’s Festival Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Learn about children’s celebrations in Japan during this special weekend of activities. Listen to music, enjoy traditional folktales, and watch a tea ceremony. Kids of all ages can make projects to celebrate Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day — design a kimono paper doll, create a miniature carp kite, construct an origami samurai helmet, and more at family-friendly hands-on stations. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/familyprograms/ dropin for more information.
Saturdays, 5 – 7:30 p.m.* $25 nonmember per child Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Bring a picnic dinner and spend an evening in the Garden! Children ages 4 – 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. *Don’t forget to bring a picnic dinner! Dessert is provided. New! Ready, Set, Garden! June 1 or 15 Discover what plants need to grow and learn some gardening basics as you plan, plant, mulch, and water in the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden. Then, pot up a plant to grow in your own garden at home. New! Abounding Butterflies July 6 or 20 As you wander the Butterflies & Blooms exhibition, learn how butterflies sense the world around them, find out about the butterfly life cycle, and discover how to attract butterflies to your garden. Take home a plant that will entice butterflies to visit your yard. Aquatic Adventure August 3 or 17
Free Summer Drop-in Programs start June 1, 2013.
Gather your own water sample and look at plants, insects, and animals that live in the water at the Kleinman Family Cove using scientific tools. You’ll even make an aquatic garden to take home. Prairie Prowl September 7 or 21 Explore the Dixon Prairie to learn how prairies grow, find the plants and animals that call it home, and pot up a native plant to take home.
Saturday, March 23 & Sunday, March 24 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Celebrate spring by writing a seasonal haiku, making a cherry blossom hanging scroll, or trying other hands-on activities. Enjoy suminagashi painting, storytelling and musical performances, and take a walk in the Japanese Garden.
Nature Nights
Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/naturenights or call (847) 835-6801 for more information. Adults and children explore the Garden together in Weekend Family Classes and Nature Nights.
Youth & Family Programs
Family Programs
Youth & Family Programs
Birthday Parties Celebrate your child’s birthday with a garden-themed party! Choose from a variety of topics. 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 yearround on Saturday or Sunday mornings or afternoons for children turning 4 and up. Garden Plus membership required. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/birthdays or call (847) 835-8275 for more information.
Group campouts will be back this spring! Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ afterschool/campouts for details.
Youth Programs Scouts Scout Badge Programs $10/scout for 90-minute programs (ages 6 – 8) $15/scout for 2-hour programs (ages 9 – 12) Scouts can work toward badges with challenging activities. Our wide range of scout programs take children throughout the Garden, and can be scheduled after school Monday through Friday and on Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/scout or call (847) 835-8239 for more information about these programs.
Spring Break Camp March 25 – 29, 2013 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. $69 nonmember per child per day Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Children ages 5 to 8 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 www.chicagobotanic.org/springbreakcamp to register or call (847) 835-6801 for more information.
Scout Seasonal Workshop: Earth Day Saturday, April 27 9:45 a.m. – noon $12 per scout Celebrate Earth Day with hands-on activities! Scouts will discover signs of spring around the Garden on a scavenger hunt, give back to the earth with a project to help improve the Garden, and save resources by reusing items to make art inspired by the beautiful gardens. Adults should plan to stay with their Scouts for the duration of the program. At least one adult chaperone for every five Scouts is required. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/scout/seasonal or call (847) 835-6801 for more information. Scouts earn badges with challenging activities throughout the Garden.
NEW! My First Camp Bloomin’ Garden Strollers
Small Scientists June 25 & 27 or July 30 & August 1
$25 nonmember per child per week 9:45 – 11:15 a.m. Friday Caregivers are invited to join our new social play program. You’ll enjoy a brisk walk through the Garden, talk with a Garden expert, get behind-the-scenes information, and finish your morning with activities designed for our smallest visitors. Every week we will explore a new Garden theme. Camp meets in the Visitor Center.
My First Camp Age 3 Born on or before September 1, 2010
Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount
New format and pricing for our youngest campers! Would you like to spend some time learning, exploring, and bonding with your child in an engaging environment? Welcome to My First Camp! Each camp is offered two different weeks each summer. Choose a 9 or 10:30 a.m. camp to attend with your child.
My First Camp Age 3 Information
2
Age
Born on or before September 1, 2011 $40 nonmember per child per week
Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount My First Camp Age 2 Information Camp meets one Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
3
$60 nonmember per child per week
My First Camps
My First Camp Age 2
Camp meets one Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. • An adult must accompany each registered child. • To make camp enjoyable and fair to all, do not bring unregistered children, including siblings, to camp. Nursing mothers may call (847) 835-8361 to make arrangements. • Camp meets in the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden, weather permitting. In the event of rain, camp will take place in the Learning Center. • Dress for the weather. • Pack a water bottle and peanut-free snack daily.
• An adult must accompany each registered child.
Art & Music July 15, 17, 19 or August 12, 14, 16
• To make camp enjoyable and fair to all, do not bring unregistered children, including siblings, to camp. Nursing mothers may call (847) 835-8361 to make arrangements.
Preschoolers’ creativity will thrive with nature inspired art and music activities. Engage in clay work, movement, music, and interactive storytelling with your little one at the Garden.
• Camp meets in the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden, weather permitting. In the event of rain, camp will take place in the Learning Center.
Fantastic Foods July 8, 10, 12 or August 5, 7, 9
• Dress for the weather. • Pack a water bottle and peanut-free snack daily. Art & Music July 16 & 18 or August 13 & 15 Share the joy of creating garden-inspired art with your child. Have fun practicing fine and gross motor skills while developing your child’s appreciation of nature and the arts. Fantastic Foods July 9 & 11 or August 6 & 8 Is your tot interested in helping out in the kitchen, setting the kitchen table, or eating new foods? Discover new foods, prepare a tasty snack, and work on kneading, mixing, grating, and spreading skills.
Jk-K
$205 nonmember per child per camp
Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Green Sprouts Information
Toddlers will explore the world using magnets, water, sand, and the colors of the Garden. Discover textures and smells in nature, practice observation skills, and use scientific tools.
Age
Ages 6 months – 2 years
Most children are 4 or 5
Grades
Your little gardener will dig, sow, and harvest with our child-sized tools! Grow those gardening skills by digging in the dirt and helping us create a garden!
Youth & Family Programs: Camp CBG
Camp CBG
Green Sprouts
My First Garden June 18 & 21 or July 23 & 25
You and your preschooler will discover the different foods that come from plants. Plant an herb garden, practice slicing, pouring, and chopstick skills, and make a fruit salad! My First Garden June 17, 19, 21 or July 22, 24, 26 Your preschooler will create a garden and care for plants, from planting to watering to harvesting. Taste the bounty of the Garden and sell produce at our Farmers’ Market! Small Scientists June 24, 26, 28 or July 29, 31, August 1 Preschoolers will be introduced to the parts of a flower; learn about ants and their body parts; and explore wind, water and worms through developmentally appropriate activities.
Camps meet Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon or 12:30 to 3 p.m. • Dress for the weather. • Pack a water bottle and peanut-free snack daily. Bug Brigade June 24 – 28, 9:30 a.m. – noon or July 22 – 26, 9:30 a.m. – noon or August 5 – 9, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Is your child fascinated by bugs? Children will get up-close and personal with butterflies and bees, learn how their favorite insects see, and make a bug sucker to collect and study insects. Fun with Physics July 15 – 19, 9:30 a.m. – noon or August 12 – 16, 9:30 a.m. – noon Green Sprouts will perform basic physical science experiments and discover the laws that rule the natural world. They’ll explore why items sink or float, how magnets work, and static electricity. Garden Expedition July 8 – 12, 9:30 a.m. – noon or August 12 – 16, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Young ecologists will investigate trees, leaves, prairie plants, and aquatic creatures, discovering all that the natural world of Illinois has to offer. They’ll learn how to preserve these wonders for future generations. Habitat Hunters June 24 – 28, 9:30 a.m. – noon or July 22 – 26, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Habitat Hunters will explore the different habitats the Garden has to offer, learn how to track animals, and make a habitat for one of the creatures that live here. Hidden Treasures June 17 – 21, 9:30 a.m. – noon or July 8 – 12, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or August 12 – 16, 9:30 a.m. – noon Campers will use a map to find their way, create a treasure chest, and dig up a treasure to keep. They’ll also bring home a plant with a hidden treasure to share. Mad Scientists June 17 – 21, 9:30 a.m. – noon or July 22 – 26, 9:30 a.m. – noon or July 29 – August 2, 12:30 – 3 p.m. For young explorers who have ever wondered how fireflies glow, why leaves change, whether fish sleep, or just WHY? They’ll find these answers and many more as they become not-so-mad scientists.
www.chicagobotanic.org/camp
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Explore all the ways to make art from nature! Green Sprouts will use the sun’s power to make prints and dyes, use clay for sculpture, and become inspired by flowers with watercolor painting. Salad Science July 15 – 19, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or August 5 – 9, 9:30 a.m. – noon We eat parts of plants every day. Young food scientists will explore the Garden to discover how foods grow. We’ll discover how plants change the sun’s energy into energy for our bodies, prepare our own snacks, and plant a salad to take home!
Green Thumbs Most children are 6 or 7
1-2
Grades
Youth & Family Programs: Camp CBG
Nature Art June 17 – 21, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or July 15 – 19, 9:30 a.m. – noon or August 5 – 9, 9:30 a.m. – noon
$205 nonmember per child per camp Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Green Thumbs Information Camps meet Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon or 12:30 to 3 p.m. • Dress for the weather. • Pack a water bottle and peanut-free snack daily. Art in the Garden June 17 – 21, 9:30 a.m. – noon or August 5 – 9, 12:30 – 3 p.m.
Sprouting Wizards June 24 – 28, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or July 29 – August 2, 9:30 a.m. – noon
Green Thumbs discover different natural artistic styles while they explore the Garden. They’ll sculpt with clay, make plant dyes, and create their own paper.
Kids become science wizards as they explore basic chemistry and the properties of solids, liquids, and gases through experimentation. No need to bring magic wands…we’ll make our own!
Incredible Edibles July 15 – 19, 9:30 a.m. – noon
Super Seedlings July 8 – 12, 9:30 a.m. – noon or July 29 – August 2, 9:30 a.m. – noon Campers will dig, plant, water, weed, and sow in the Garden. Working together, they’ll create a garden, practice seed dissection, and become true gardeners!
Young chefs will explore the Garden with their taste buds and find out how plants turn the sun’s energy into fuel for our bodies! We’ll explore how we eat plant parts every day, harvest food grown in the Outdoor Classroom, make our own tasty snacks, and plant an herb garden to take home.
Kinetic Kids July 15 – 19, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Budding physicists will discover cool science tricks, explore the laws of motion, and perform physical science experiments with toys. Treasure Hunt July 8 – 12, 9:30 a.m. – noon or August 12 – 16, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Campers will develop map-reading skills, use compasses, and discover how archeologists excavate sites. They will create a hidden treasure map and find secret plant treasures, too. Expert Wizardry June 24 – 28, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Young wizards will discover the magic of science as they create strange potions and perform unbelievable experiments while learning basic chemistry. No book of spells necessary—we’ll make our own. Explore Your World July 29 – August 2, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or August 12 – 16, 9:30 a.m. – noon Curious campers will learn about the natural world through guided exploration and discovery by visiting the many habitats at the Garden. They’ll also learn how to help preserve these habitats. Plant People July 8 – 12, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Young horticulturists will explore the fascinating life cycle of plants with plenty of opportunity for scientific discovery, hands-on experiments, and garden cultivation. Grossology June 17 – 21, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or July 29 – August 2, 9:30 a.m. – noon Campers will uncover the science behind “gross” things around and inside them as they explore slimy and smelly natural phenomena. They’ll use their observation skills along with scientific tools. Wildlife Wanderers June 24 – 28, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or July 22 – 26, 9:30 a.m. – noon Junior ecologists will study creatures on the ground, in the air, and in the water. Create a science kit, plant a terrarium, identify trees and animal tracks, and record everything in your journal. Insect Investigation July 22 – 26, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or August 5 – 9, 9:30 a.m. – noon Bug lovers, unite! Green Thumbs will search for insect homes, make insect display cases, and create insect-vision glasses to take home.
$205 nonmember per child per camp Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Explorers Information
Camps meet Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon or 12:30 to 3 p.m. • Dress for the weather. • Pack a water bottle and snack daily. Alfresco Art July 15 – 19, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or August 5 – 9, 9:30 a.m. – noon Campers will become artistically inspired by the Garden and try their hand at botanical illustration, sculpture, printmaking, and painting. We’ll explore new techniques each day of this outdoor art program. Botany in the Kitchen July 8 – 12, 9:30 a.m. – noon or August 12 – 16, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Young chefs will discover how fruits, vegetables, herbs, and nutrients make cooking fascinating. They’ll harvest vegetables and plant an herb garden. Camera Craft June 17 – 21, 9:30 a.m. – noon or July 29 – August 2, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Campers will learn the elements of composition and framing snapshots, and practice shooting photos around the Garden. They’ll create a pinhole camera and rediscover the magic of nineteenth-century photography. Each camper must bring two disposable film cameras on the first day of camp.
5-7
Grades
Grades
Most children are 8 or 9
3-4
Dirty Jobs July 22 – 26, 9:30 a.m. – noon or August 5 – 9, 12:30 – 3 p.m.
Adventurers
Have you ever wondered how dirty, grimy, and grubby you can get working in a garden? Campers see what is in a day’s work at the Garden. Help keep our worm bins healthy, learn about the importance of compost, design and plant a garden, and meet a Garden scientist!
$420 nonmember per child per camp Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount
Forensic Investigators June 24 – 28, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or July 29 – August 2, 9:30 a.m. – noon This year’s all-new mystery will require young CSI team members to try investigative techniques used by the pros to help us get to the bottom of this summer’s hot case. Garden Caching June 17 – 21, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or July 15 – 19, 9:30 a.m. – noon A new Garden adventure awaits! Explorers will search for hidden caches using compasses, maps, and GPS as they learn the etiquette of geocaching. They’ll also create a cache for others to find. Konnichiwa Japan July 8 – 12, 12:30 – 3 p.m. or August 12 – 16, 9:30 a.m. – noon Time for immersion in Japanese culture as we explore Sansho-En, learn the art of bonsai, create sushi-inspired snacks, discover the art of calligraphy, and visit the Shoin House. Surviving Outdoors June 24 – 28, 9:30 a.m. – noon or July 22 – 26, 12:30 – 3 p.m. Explorers will discover the secrets pioneers used to find water, make a collection of safe and useful plants, create a shelter, and learn about how to predict weathers and storms.
Most children are 10 – 12
Adventurers Information Camps meet Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Dress for the weather. • Pack a water bottle and peanut-free snack daily. • Campers must bring a peanut-free lunch that does not require refrigeration. Art July 8 – 12, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. or August 5 – 9, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Artists will introduce Adventurers to the use of various media to create their own art. Using the Garden as a backdrop, students will develop their photography, sculpture, and drawing skills. They’ll will explore the use of natural materials and learn various tricks of the trade used by professional artists. Chemistry July 15 – 19, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. or August 12 – 16, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Who knew chemistry could be so cool? Adventurers will explore the basics of chemistry and chemical reactions. By performing simple experiments, they will develop a basic understanding of acids and bases, fine-tune measurement skills, and understand the importance of accurate data observation and recording. Cuisine June 24 – 28, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. or July 29 – August 2, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Calling all aspiring chefs! Campers will discuss menu techniques and preparation; learn principles of cooking with fruits and vegetables; improve basic chopping skills; and learn the importance of kitchen safety, setting a table, plating dishes, and creating a healthy meal. We’ll use our harvest in simple summer recipes—ice cream, pasta, and more! Ecology June 17 – 21, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. or July 22 – 26, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. What does an ecologist do at the Garden? Adventurers will discover what scientists do as they explore the Garden’s native Illinois habitats. Campers will conduct studies in our prairie, wetland, and woodland habitats, becoming familiar with native species. They will perform their own surveys, identifications, and field observations.
www.chicagobotanic.org/camp
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Youth & Family Programs: Camp CBG
Explorers
Youth & Family Programs: Camp CBG
NEW! Two-Week, Full-Day Camps
Science Trekkers July 8 – 19 August 5 – 16
Science Explorer July 8 – 19 August 5 – 16
9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
It is a whole new adventure at Camp CBG in our two-week, full-day camps for Green Thumbs and Explorers! Campers will explore all the Garden has to offer, make new friends, and jump into a fun-filled, outdoor, and educational camp program. Remember to pack a water bottle and snack daily, along with a peanut-free lunch that does not require refrigeration.
$840 nonmember per child per camp Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount
$840 nonmember per child per camp Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount
Campers will dig deeper into the scientific process while discovering the crazy, fun, science happening at the Garden. We will investigate plant, animal, and human adaptations, try our hand at chemistry, and dabble in some physics. Science activities will connect the Garden with the Land of Oz.
Explorers will investigate plant, animal, and human adaptations, while utilizing the scientific process. Ecology, botany, and physics, plus chemistry equals a whole lot of fun in this exciting two-week camp.
1-2
Create & Grow June 17 – 28 July 22 – August 2 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. $840 nonmember per child per camp Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Calling all creative kids! Campers will explore the Garden with art, music, cooking, yoga, and planting activities that encourage creative multimedia expression. Spend two weeks of your summer being inspired by the Garden.
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www.chicagobotanic.org/camp
Explorers Most children are 8 or 9
3-4
Grades
Most children are 6 or 7
Grades
Green Thumbs
Artist-in-Residence June 17 – 28 July 22 – August 2 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. $840 nonmember per child per camp Garden Plus members receive a 20 percent discount Does your child enjoy the arts? Explorers will discover all that the Garden has to offer an aspiring artist. We will create one-of-a-kind masterpieces that are visual, culinary, movement- or textile-based. Spend two weeks of your summer being inspired by the Garden.
New for 2013!
Registration Deadline
Please Do Not Bring To Camp
Before- and After-Care
Registration is open until camps fill or one week prior to the start date of camp. You will receive an automated reply immediately upon completion of your online registration.
The Garden is NOT responsible for any item lost or broken during camp. Please leave the following items at home: personal video game players, cell phones, and MP3 players/iPods.
Membership
Camper Code of Conduct
We are happy to offer before-camp and after-camp care for your camper. Program will be supervised by Camp CBG staff. Activities will include games, art projects, and gardening. Pack an extra snack for your camper for after-care. Fees are per week, and cannot be prorated for partial use; no discount for Garden Plus members is available. Comprehensive guidelines, including late fees, are available on the Camp CBG webpage.
Garden Plus and above members receive a 20 percent discount on all Camp CBG programs! Those holding individual Garden memberships will not receive this discount. Please call (847) 835-8215 if you would like to upgrade your membership in order to receive the discount. You will need to provide a member ID number at the time of camp registration. Please note that Garden membership is nontransferable.
You will be asked to review the CBG Camper Code of Conduct upon completion of the Online Emergency Form:
Age Limits
Please read and discuss these expectations with your child. In the event that a camper does not follow the Code of Conduct, or his or her behavior endangers other campers or interferes with an instructor’s ability to provide programming, the coordinator of Camp Programs or camp instructor will inform the parent at pick-up or through a phone call. If a second incident occurs, parents may be asked to withdraw their child from camp. Refunds will not be given for behaviorrelated withdrawals.
Please note the age groupings for each camp group. Campers must be entering the listed grade in fall 2013. We regret that we cannot make any exceptions to this policy. Campers in the Green Sprouts group and above must be toilet trained.
Online Emergency Forms Camp CBG does not require a medical examination to attend camp; however, we ask that you fill out our Online Emergency Form as soon as you complete your online registration. In order for your child to attend camp, we must have a completed health form on file by June 1, 2013. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/contact/ index_camp.php to see the form.
Extra-Special Attention: Please let us know on your child’s Online Emergency Form, if your child has special needs: i.e. physical, emotional, educational, or medical. Advise us of any severe allergies or chronic illness. This includes information regarding food or airborne allergies. If your child will require special accommodations, please call (847) 835-8361 to discuss your situation prior to registering.
Pick-up/Drop-off Camper drop-off and pick-up take place in our Learning Campus entry drive. You may park and walk your child to camp, or take advantage of our direct car drop-off/pick-up. Details will be communicated via e-mail to all registrants by June 1, 2013. Morning drop-off is 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. Morning pick-up is at noon. Afternoon drop-off is 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Afternoon pick-up is at 3 p.m. Camp groups will leave the drop-off area promptly at 9:30 a.m. for morning camps and 12:30 p.m. for afternoon camps. If a child misses the departure of his camp group, it is the responsibility of the caregiver who brings that child to check in, and then escort the camper to his/her camp location for that day.
• Campers will treat their fellow campers, instructors, and volunteers with respect. • Campers will follow directions and stay with their group.
Cancellation Policy You may cancel your child’s Camp CBG registration up to two weeks before the first day of that camp. We are not able to give refunds for cancellations with less than two weeks’ notice. Transfers will be granted up to one week before the start of a camp. A 10 percent administrative handling fee per child per camp will be assessed for all cancellations. To cancel, please call (847) 835-6801. If your child is unable to attend camp due to medical reasons, you may receive a refund (minus a 10 percent processing fee) at any time prior to the start of camp by providing a doctor’s note. We are unable to refund for missed days of camp. Camp CBG registration fees are nontransferable. Camps canceled by the Garden because of low enrollment or Garden closure will be automatically fully refunded. The Garden reserves the right to cancel a camp due to low enrollment.
Grades PreK to 7 June 17 – August 16 Morning care 8 – 9:30 a.m. $45/week per camper Afternoon care 3 – 5 p.m. $60/week per camper Lunch Camp CBG offers a supervised lunch period for Green Sprouts, Green Thumbs, and Explorers campers for $10 per child per week. Pack a peanut-free lunch for your child that does not require refrigeration, and we will supervise your child during lunch (noon to 12:30 p.m.) and escort your child to his or her afternoon camp.
Leader in Training Our Leaders in Training (LITs), ages 13 – 15, will help prepare for camps, assist teachers during the day, and learn life skills in our two-week program. These skills will help LITs in future job searches and college preparation. For an application and further information regarding the LIT program, please contact the camp manager at (847) 835-8361.
Youth & Family Programs: Camp CBG
Camp Registration and Cancellation Policies
Time
June 17-21
June 24-28
July 8-12
July 15-19
July 22-26
Bloomin’ Strollers
Bloomin’ Strollers
Bloomin’ Strollers
Bloomin’ Strollers
Bloomin’ Strollers
9 – 10 a.m. T Th 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. T Th
My First Garden
Small Scientists
Fantastic Foods
Art & Music
My First Garden
Small Scientists
Fantastic Foods
Art & Music
9 – 10 a.m. M W F 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. M W F
My First Garden
Small Scientists
Fantastic Foods
Art & Music
My First Garden
Small Scientists
Fantastic Foods
Art & Music
9:30 a.m. – noon
Hidden Treasures
Bug Brigade
Garden Expedition
Nature Art
Mad Scientist
Super Seedling
Salad Science
Fun with Physics
9:30 a.m. – noon
Mad Scientists
Habitat Hunters
Super Seedlings
Fun with Physics
Bug Brigade
Sprouting Wizards
Nature Art
Hidden Treasures
12:30 – 3 p.m.
Nature Art
Sprouting Wizards
Hidden Treasures
Salad Science
Habitat Hunters
Mad Scientists
Bug Brigade
Garden Expedition
9:30 a.m. – noon
Art in the Garden
Expert Wizardry
Treasure Hunt
Incredible Edibles
Wildlife Wanderers
Grossology
Insect Investigation
Explore Your World
12:30 – 3 p.m.
Grossology
Wildlife Wanderers
Plant People
Kinetic Kids
Insect Investigation
Explore Your World
Art in the Garden
Treasure Hunt
Science Trekkers
Create and Grow
Science Trekkers
Explorers
9:30 a.m. – noon
Camera Craft
Surviving Outdoors
Botany in the Kitchen
Garden Caching
Dirty Jobs
Forensic Investigators
Alfresco Art
Konnichiwa Japan
12:30 – 3 p.m.
Garden Caching
Forensic Investigators
Konnichiwa Japan
Alfresco Art
Surviving Outdoors
Camera Craft
Dirty Jobs
Botany in the Kitchen
Explorers
Green Thumbs
Create and Grow
Explorers
Green Sprouts
Green Sprouts
My First Camp
Bloomin’ Strollers
My First Camp
Bloomin’ Strollers
My First Camp
Bloomin’ Strollers
Green Sprouts
August 12-16
Green Thumbs
August 5-9
Green Thumbs
July 29August 2
9:45 – 11:15 a.m. F
Adventurers
6 mos to 2 yrs
5-7
Grades
Grades
3-4
3-4
Grades
1-2
Grades
Grades
1-2
Grades
Jk-K
Age
3 2
Age Age
Camp CBG Schedule
FULL-DAY TWO-WEEK 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
FULL-DAY TWO-WEEK 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Artist-in-Residence
Ecology
Cuisine
Science Explorers
Art
Chemistry
Artist-in-Residence
Ecology
Cuisine
Science Explorers
Art
Chemistry
www.chicagobotanic.org/camp
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Teacher & Student Programs 80
Teacher and Student Programs Plants deserve a prominent place in every school curriculum—after all, none of us would be here without them. Bring the world of plants to life in your classroom through our educational programs. From field trips to teacher workshops and student internships, educators and students will gain botanical knowledge and deeper appreciation for the natural world. All programs support Common Core standards and Illinois state goals for learning.
Put a Little Spring in Your Field Trip! Spring is all about new beginnings—for teachers and students, that means a brand new spring field trip program! The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Science Sleuths program has blossomed into something even better: Spring Garden Explorers. Taking advantage of our newly opened Kleinman Family Cove and Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden—highlights of the Garden’s innovative, three-acre Learning Campus—students in grades K through 5 will experience firsthand the wonders of horticultural and botanical sciences. For the first time, students will be able to plant an herb in-ground while learning proper gardening techniques and garden design. They will investigate fascinating garden creatures like pollinating insects, composting worms, and aquatic invertebrates. Students will each pot a plant to bring home. Spring Garden Explorers field trips are offered weekdays, April 23 to June 7. Programming aligns with Common Core standards and is grade differentiated, inquiry-based, experiential, hands-on, and FUN! Spring programs fill quickly, so register today! Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ ctl/fieldtrips/ for more information. 78
www.chicagobotanic.org/ctl
Located on restored shoreline gardens, the Kleinman Family Cove is the perfect place to investigate the importance of water quality and to study aquatic plants and animals.
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Spring 2013
Summer 2013
New! Edible Science
One- and Two-Day Programs The 15th School Garden Conference: Solving Problems with School Gardening
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 www.chicagobotanic.org/ teacherprograms for more detailed program descriptions and to register for classes.
$150 (20 percent discount for Educator Members)
Unless otherwise indicated, all programs are held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Garden. Become an Educator Member and receive a 20 percent discount on all professional development courses over $100.
Winter 2013 Fostering Early Childhood Inquiry March 16 at the Chicago Botanic Garden March 23 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Saturdays $150 (20 percent discount for Educator Members) Grade level: PreK – 2 CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1, Graduate credit (additional fee): 1 Children are naturally curious about the world. Learn how to encourage this curiosity through inquiry and help young students develop science process and critical thinking skills. Explore how to lead scienceand nature-based conversations, integrate natural objects and the outdoors into your teaching, conduct simple experiments, and more.
April 20 & 27 at the Chicago Botanic Garden Saturdays Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1, Graduate credit (additional fee): 1 Make science connections through one of your students’ favorite things: food! Conduct experiments using everyday foods to investigate concepts in biology and chemistry. Through simple hands-on activities, we will explore topics such as plant parts, nutrition, freezing points, yeast, and much more.
Form and Function May 11 at the Brookfield Zoo May 18 at the Chicago Botanic Garden Saturdays $150 (20 percent discount for Educator Members) Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 1, Lane credit: 1, Science graduate credit (additional fee): 1 Meet some weird and wonderful examples of life in the plant and animal kingdoms that inhabit a variety of ecosystems. Hands-on investigations will center on animal dentition, the structure of cells, camouflage, attracting pollinators, and taxonomy. Attention will be paid to structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations.
June 29 at the Chicago Botanic Garden Saturday $95 Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 7 Lane and Graduate credit available if combined with School Garden Road Trip (below) School gardens present many challenges and opportunities. This year’s conference will offer practical ways to keep your garden growing. It will incorporate inquiry-based lesson ideas that get your students using the garden to understand the real world. Session topics will include growing plants indoors and outdoors, science- and inquiry-based activities, gardening with different age groups and abilities, climate change in the garden, and funding resources. See registration form for lunch options.
School Garden Road Trip July 13 Saturday $75 Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 7 Teachers who attend both the School Gardening Conference and the School Garden Road Trip are eligible for 1 Lane credit and 1 Graduate credit (additional fee). Pack a lunch and join us on a tour of school gardens in the Chicago area. Learn directly from the schools about their challenges and successes and how their teachers use the gardens to enliven their curriculum. Explore school garden themes, techniques, and ideas for using school gardens to make cross-curricular connections. The bus will leave from the Garden at 8 a.m. and will make stops in the city to pick up other participants.
From Our Noses to Our Toes: Exploring Nature through Our Senses August 7 at the Chicago Botanic Garden Wednesday $85 Grade level: Birth – PreK CPDU credit: 7, Early Intervention credit: 6.5 Join us for a fun-filled day of nature activities for infants and toddlers. Learn techniques for introducing nature to our younger students through sensory exploration and hands-on learning stations. 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.
Teachers learn the characteristics of plant families by studying them close up.
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Teacher & Student Programs
Teacher Professional Development
Nature in the City July 8 – 10 & September 21 at the Chicago Botanic Garden Monday – Wednesday & Saturday July 11 – 12 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Thursday – Friday $285 Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 45, Lane credit: 3, Graduate credit: 3 Urban environments provide a wealth of opportunities for students to learn about plant and animal interactions. Join us in a weeklong exploration of urban ecology featuring pollination, seed dispersal, protection from herbivores, adaptations, and more. Engage in activities and experiments designed to connect your students to the nature in their community and discover ideas for enhancing the habitat on your school grounds.
Exploring Nature with Young Children July 15 – 16, 19 & October 5 at the Chicago Botanic Garden Monday – Tuesday, Friday & Saturday July 17 – 18 at the Kohl Children’s Museum Wednesday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $285 (20 percent discount for Educator Members) Grade level: PreK – 2 CPDU credit: 45, Lane credit: 3, Graduate credit: 3 Join the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Kohl Children’s Museum in exploring ways to connect young children with nature that foster inquiry and basic scientific skills. Learn about conducting nature walks and outdoor explorations, exploring plant and animal interactions and habitats, and connecting nature with art. Receive training in the Council for Environmental Education’s Growing Up Wild curriculum for PreK. Receive a copy of the curriculum guide for an additional fee.
Earth Partnership for Schools: Great Lakes Summer Institute July 29 – August 2 & December 7 Lake and McHenry counties Monday – Friday & Saturday $100 Grade level: K – 12 CPDU credit: 45, Lane credit: 3, Graduate credit: 3 In this outdoor, hands-on institute, teams will learn about the Chicago region’s rich culture and native plants in local Great Lakes habitats as a basis for interdisciplinary K – 12 curriculum activities, teacher professional development, and citizen science. Participants will gain the knowledge and leadership necessary to lead their students in building a native garden at their school. For registration for the EPS-GL please contact Melissa Alderson at (847) 968-3320.
Other Teacher Programs Custom Workshops Education staff can develop custom workshops to be delivered at your site. 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. Please call Teacher Programs at (847) 835-8253 for more information about scheduling and pricing for custom workshops.
Green Teacher Network The Chicago Botanic Garden, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, and Openlands have teamed up to form the Green Teacher Network. This collaboration encourages Chicago-area schools to adapt plant-based education activities, and supports teachers’ efforts to build and use school gardens as curricular tools. For more information or to become a member, contact Kristin LoVerde at Openlands at (312) 863-6153.
Gardening Courses Windy City Harvest offers gardening workshops that can help you start and maintain your school garden. Community Workshops are scheduled for 5 or more participants, and can be held at your school or our site for a fee of $39 per person. Topics range from starting seeds to pest control to small tool usage. For a complete list of topics and other information, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/windycityharvest/ courses or e-mail windycityharvest@chicagobotanic. org with “Community Workshops” in the subject line.
Free Classroom Resource Kits to Borrow We offer a variety of Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) educational loan kits with materials for teachers to use in the classroom. Borrowing a kit requires a $50 deposit, which is refunded upon the return of the complete kit. For IDNR kit availability and to arrange for kit pickup, call (847) 835-8253.
Teachers observe nature—big and small— in a woodlands ecosystem.
Teacher & Student Programs
Weeklong Summer Institutes
Teacher & Student Programs
School Field Trips at a Glance Age Group
Program
Early Fall 9/10-10/12/12
Late Fall 10/15-11/9/12
Holiday 11/26-12/14/12
Winter 1/28-4/5/13
Spring 4/23-6/7/13
PreK – K Discovering Plants PreK – 2 Trees and Trains K – 2 Garden Groceries Insect Investigations Sansho-En Spring Garden Explorers Surprising Seeds Woodland Habitat 3 – 5 Edible Botany Flower Lab Forest Food Chains and Webs Plant Propagation Pondering the Prairie Spring Garden Explorers 6 – 8 Ecosystems and Plant Adaptations Green Buildings Water Quality 9 – 12 Green Buildings Photosynthesis Lab Water Quality
Student Field Trips
Guided Field Trips
Guided Programs K – 2
Unless otherwise stated, programs cost $120 per class of 30 students. Available dates and times vary with the program.
$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.
Enrich your students’ lives with a visit to the Garden. Choose from a variety of programs that feature plant and nature topics appropriate for specific grade levels. Guided and self-guided options are available. Visit www. chicagobotanic.org/ctl/fieldtrips for complete program information and to schedule your visit.
Guided programs are led by trained facilitators, and engage students in hands-on activities to teach them about plants and habitats found at the Garden. Field trips include outdoor exploration activities, so please dress for the weather. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ ctl/fieldtrips for more detailed grade-specific program descriptions, applicable state standards, and to schedule your visit.
New! We changed the name of our popular Science Sleuths program to Spring Garden Explorers. It’s the same great program in a new location, and with a few new activities to engage students’ hands and minds. (See listings for more details.)
Maximum 25 students per class Available 9:30 – 11 a.m. or 10 – 11:30 a.m. A 1:5 ratio of chaperones to students is required.
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.
Guided Programs PreK
Discovering Plants Early Fall, Late Fall, Winter, Spring Students will become junior botanists as they learn about the roles of plant parts. To experience plant parts in action, students will explore the new Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden and pot a plant to take home.
Guided Programs PreK – 2 Maximum 25 PreK or 30 K – 2 students per class Available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – noon A 1:5 ratio of chaperones to students is required.
Trees and Trains Holiday Learn how to identify evergreen tree families by touch and sight. Learn about their special adaptations to the change in seasons. Visit the enchanting Wonderland Express exhibition to see the trees and trains. Students will take home a special holiday craft.
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Surprising Seeds Early Fall, Late Fall, Holiday, and Winter What is inside a seed? As junior botanists, students learn about seed parts and how they work together to produce a new plant. Students will pot a seed to take home and also look for seeds in the Garden.
Garden Groceries Early Fall 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.
Insect Investigations Early Fall 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.
Woodland Habitats Early Fall and Late Fall Students will learn about woodland habitats and survey the Garden’s woodland using their senses and will record their observations in a field book. Woodland programs take place outdoors in McDonald Woods.
Spring Garden Explorers
Green Buildings
Winter
Spring
Spring, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Your students will venture outside to tour Sansho-En, the Malott Japanese Garden, for an immersion experience in Japanese gardens. They will return to the classroom to create a take-home meditation garden.
Discovery stations around the Learning Campus make your visit an exciting outdoor experience with plants and the creatures living in the Garden and in our lakes. Design and plant a garden bed in the new Growing Garden and pot a plant to take home.
Visit the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center to learn about the sustainable features of this remarkable building. Students will explore the Green Roof Garden and create their own roof design.
Spring Garden Explorers Spring
Guided Programs 6 – 8
Discovery stations around the Learning Campus make your visit an exciting outdoor experience with plants and the creatures living in the Garden and in our lakes. Design and plant a garden bed in the new Growing Garden and pot a plant to take home.
$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.
Guided Programs 3 – 5
Early Fall
$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.
Flower Lab Early Fall, Late Fall, Holiday, and Winter Why do plants make flowers? As junior botanists, students learn about flower parts and how flowers, with pollinators’ help, produce seeds. Students will search for different flowers around the Garden and plant a flower seed to take home.
New! Edible Botany Early Fall 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.
Pondering the Prairie
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 for field investigations outside.
Ecosystem and Plant Adaptations
Forest Food Chains and Webs
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
Self-Guided Field Trips
How do plants fit their place? Discover how plants have adapted to abiotic factors in an ecosystem. Student investigations include learning about the unique abiotic conditions that define many of the ecosystems of the world, including those in Illinois.
$30 per classroom (maximum 30 students) No additional parking fee required
Green Buildings Spring, Tuesdays and Thursdays Visit the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center to learn about the conservation features of this remarkable building. Students will explore the Green Roof Garden and create their own roof design.
Guided Programs 9 – 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.
Early Fall and Late Fall
Water Quality
Students find evidence of food chains and food webs throughout the woodlands, and learn about common woodland trees. They record their observations in a field journal. Woodland programs take place outdoors in McDonald Woods.
Early Fall
Plant Propagation
Monday through Friday $120 (includes all materials) Maximum number of children: 15
Early Fall, Late Fall, Holiday, and Winter
Early Fall Students explore the prairie, focusing on plant adaptations and ecosystem interactions by comparing two prairie types. Prairie programs take place outdoors in the Dixon Prairie.
Guided Programs for Children with Special Needs K – 12
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 for field investigations outside.
Winter
Photosynthesis Lab
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.
Late Fall, Holiday, and Winter
Year-round Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
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, and distance to gardens.
Self-Guided Activity Backpacks Year-round Monday through Friday $10 per class Self-guided activity backpacks provide hands-on activities for teachers to lead while visiting the Sensory Garden, Malott Japanese Garden, and McDonald Woods. 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.). Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ctl/fieldtrips/selfguide for more information.
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 measure gas exchange in plants.
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Teacher & Student Programs
Sansho-En
Teacher & Student Programs
Additional Field Trip Experiences
In-School Programs
Guided Walking Tours
$150 per class (maximum 30 students) $100 for each additional class on the same day
Spring: April 23 through June 7 Tuesdays and Thursdays 30 minutes $80 classroom (maximum 30 students) A 1:7 ratio of chaperones to students is required. Explore the Garden with an expert. Tours allow students to explore one garden in more depth. Choose from one of the following: English Walled Garden, Greenhouse (select one), Malott Japanese Garden, or the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center (recommended for high-school students only).
School Tram Tours April 23 through October 27 $2.50 per person Grades PreK, K – 2, or 3 – 6 30 minutes 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. Grades 7 – 12 35 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.
Model Railroad Garden Available May 12 through October 27 $3 per person 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 www.chicagobotanic.org/railroad for more information.
Butterflies & Blooms Available June through August 2013 $3 per person Summer groups: visit our outdoor, screened butterfly exhibition to encounter hundreds of live tropical butterflies from South America, Asia, North America, and Africa as well as native species from Illinois. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/calendar/butterflies for more information.
College First students learn about species diversity by performing DNA tests on specimens at the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center.
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January 28 – April 5 Tuesday and Thursday
Schools located more than 20 miles from the Chicago Botanic Garden will be charged a $50 mileage fee. Let us come to you! Choose from a variety of programs that feature plant topics appropriate for specific grade levels. All programs support Illinois Science Standards, include live plants for students to study, and provide a plant for each child to pot and keep.
Real-World Science Investigations in the Classroom Project BudBurst
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 www.budburst.org. Project BudBurst is supported by an anonymous donor.
Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ctl/outreach/ for more information.
Science Career Continuum Great Summer Science Experiences for Students 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 age-appropriate opportunities to learn about science and conservation at the Garden.
Science First
Science First is a free four-week summer program for Chicago Public School 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. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ sciencefirst for more information. Applications for summer 2013 are due on April 26.
College First
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 www.chicagobotanic.org/collegefirst for more information. Applications for summer 2013 are due on April 12.
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 www.cbgreu.org for more information. The Science Career Continuum is made possible by the generous support of an anonymous donor, Capital One Financial Corporation, the William J. Clancy Foundation, Discover Financial Services, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Leo S. Guthman Fund, Institute of Museum and Library Services, ITW, Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust, Harold M. and Adeline S. Morrison Family Foundation, Sheridan Foundation, Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, The Trillium Foundation, and the W.P. & H.B. White Foundation. The Garden’s REU program is made possible by the generous support of the National Science Foundation.
Teacher & Student Programs
Teens and young adults in Cook and Lake County communities benefit from organic gardening programs that teach useful skills, encourage healthy living practices, and improve self-esteem.
Green Youth Farm
Each year, 70 students ages 13 to 18 learn and practice organic gardening from mid-May through mid-October, while earning money for their efforts. Through the program, students also learn teamwork, gain valuable job skills, and discover a whole new way to look at food. Students from Waukegan High School, North Chicago Community High School, North Lawndale College Prep, Manley Career Academy, and Farragut, Dunbar, Daniel Hale, DuSable, and Dyett high schools in Chicago are eligible to participate. Jr. Green Youth Farm serves middle-school students at Reavis Elementary School in collaboration with Elev8 and Quad Cities Development Corporation (QCDC). Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/greenyouthfarm for more information.
Windy City Harvest
Windy City Harvest trains adults in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture. Both are dimensions of the urban greening and healthy, affordable, local food movements to which the Chicago Botanic Garden has an institutional commitment. Certificate Training This nine-month college-credit certificate in organic vegetable production enrolls 15 to 20 students annually. Delivered by Garden staff at the Arturo Velasquez Institute, a Daley College campus, Windy City Harvest trains students in best practices for year-round gardening and sales of fresh vegetables. Graduates are now working in a range of full-time and seasonal jobs in the local horticulture and urban agriculture industry. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/ windycityharvest for more information.
Cook County Sheriff’s Vocational Rehabilitation Impact Center (VRIC) Windy City Harvest works with VRIC, training about 70 inmates in organic vegetable production. Participants gain skills and potentially find fruitful job opportunities after their release. Vegetables they grow are served in the camp’s mess hall and are donated to local food pantries. Program graduates are now employed at a local compost operation and at the Chicago Botanic Garden as landscape crew. Native Seed Garden Windy City Harvest is growing prairie plants in the city to see if urban farming of native species can be of service to the environment and gardeners alike. With the loss of natural habitat, seed production may be vital to preserving these increasingly rare plants. WCH participants learn about native plant gardening as a career option. The first site in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood resulted from a collaboration among Commissioner John P. Daley, Alderman James A. Balcer, the Chicago Botanic Garden, VRIC, and Archeworks. Major support for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Community Gardening 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, The J.R. Albert Foundation, The Bank of America Charitable Foundation, BMO Harris Bank, City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, Cook County Environmental Control Department, Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust, The Grainger Foundation, Leo S. Guthman Fund, Kraft Foods Group, Inc., Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Institute of Museum and Library Services, ITW, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Midwest Foods, Polk Bros. Foundation, Prince Charitable Trusts, North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, Spear Family Charitable Fund, State Farm Youth Advisory Board, Steans Family Foundation, Walgreens, and the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society.
Horticultural Therapy 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 greenhouse and enabling garden design, sensory landscaping, and horticultural therapy program planning. Visit www.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, Inc., Albers/Kuhn Family Foundation, The Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Edmond and Alice Opler Foundation, 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 following foundations and corporations support all education and community programs: The Brinson Foundation, The Helen V. Froehlich Foundation, HSBC, Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund, and Sterling Partners.
Additional support is provided by anonymous donors, Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, Grace Bersted Foundation, George and Amanda Hanley Foundation, Kaplan Foundation Fund/Carol and Ed Kaplan, Lake Forest Garden Club, Walter S. Mander Foundation, Northern Trust Charitable Trust, Sheridan Foundation, Starbucks Foundation, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Also contributing are the Albers/Kuhn Family Foundation, Laurance Armour Memorial Trust at the Chicago Community Trust, Baxter International Inc., Benefit Magic, LLC., Charter One Foundation, ComEd, Fields BMW, Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation, Home Depot, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, North Shore Garden Club, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Rotary Club of Deerfield, and 11 individual donors.
Planting seeds is the first step in a summer of growing food and growing as a person in Windy City Harvest.
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Teacher & Student Programs
Community Gardening
This Season&inGarden the Garden Antiques Fair
This season in the Garden Kris Jarantoski, executive vice president and director Spring is the most dramatic season at the Chicago Botanic Garden. It begins slowly in March and builds, crescendoing through May with an overwhelming profusion of color and fragrance. In an early year, snowdrops (Galanthus) and witch hazel (Hamamelis) may flower as early as February and March. You can see what’s flowering at the Garden by checking out the What’s In Bloom pages on the Garden’s website (www.chicagobotanic.org/inbloom). Our new GardenGuide app also offers a fun and easy way to discover which plants are in bloom (p. 23). Garden staff planted more than 105,000 bulbs throughout the Garden last fall to guarantee a gorgeous spring here. The Lake Cook entrance will greet visitors with an exciting mix of tulips: ‘Jenny’ (yellow with apricot edge), ‘Salmon Pearl’ (salmon pink with yellow blush), ‘Big Smile’ (yellow), ‘Caravelle’ (dark red), and ‘Negrita’ (purple), underplanted with Fizzy Fruit Salad pansies that incorporate all of the above colors. The Crescent Garden will feature 27,000 tulips, including ‘Shirley’ (white/ lavender), ‘Passionale’ (lavender) and ‘Havran’ (purple). Spring is always amazing around the Great Basin, with crocuses covering the lawn on Evening Island, followed by hundreds of thousands of daffodils, then canopies of crabapple blossoms. Visit our website for spring walk previews at www.chicagobotanic.org/walk, including one that highlights crabapples. A May walk through clouds of apple blossoms in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden’s orchard is also an unforgettable experience. Deer appreciate our bulbs almost as much as our visitors do, though for different reasons. The Garden has had a deer exclusion fence around it for three years, and last winter we installed a deer grate at our entrance and exit gates. We hope this will end deer predation not only on our bulbs but also on our hosta and trees, the latter of which suffer trunk damage from deer rubbing. A walk through the Fruit & Vegetable Garden may surprise you, not only with the number of vegetables already planted out at this time of year, but also with their beautifully contrasting textures and colors. Kale, lettuce, leeks, cabbage, mustard greens, spinach, radishes, collards, and peas, accented with the occasional pansy and sweet alyssum, illustrate the beauty of a productive vegetable garden. Retail outlets seem to offer vegetables and annuals earlier each year; be careful of planting cold-sensitive plants like basil, tomatoes, melons, impatiens, and begonias before Memorial Day (May 27), which is about when the Garden does its summer planting. At this time of year, our lawns are vigorously growing. The Garden has four levels of lawn care. Prime areas, like the Rose Garden and Esplanade—adversely impacted from our festivals yet integral to setting off the surrounding landscape—receive the most care. Lawn areas in the outer areas of the Garden receive the least. Francisco “Pancho” Mercado keeps our lawns looking gorgeous despite the foot traffic of almost one million visitors annually. Pancho began working at the Garden as a seasonal employee in 1975. He has worked full-time at the Garden since 1978 and is now a Grounds Crew leader in charge of mowing operations. Mowing is an art, and we can always tell when someone inexperienced has mowed. Pancho is a master of his trade, and we are grateful to have him here at the Garden.
Daffodils and tulips bloom under a spring canopy of crabapple blossoms, part of the spectacular spring scenery at the Chicago Botanic Garden. 88 www.chicagobotanic.org
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For more information, please visit Keep Growing online. www.keepgrowing.com
The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
Celebrate spring!
Antiques & Garden Fair Spring’s most exciting event returns to the Chicago Botanic Garden from Friday, April 19, to Sunday, April 21. Come and shop among 100 dealers of antique garden furnishings, exquisite vintage items, and distinctive garden-related merchandise from the United States and Europe. The event opens with a Preview Evening on Thursday, April 18. Lectures include a keynote address, “Building Beauty,” by Michael S. Smith, honorary chair, as well as presentations by renowned landscape architect Charles J. Stick and Jeanne Pinsof Nolan, founder of The Organic Gardener, Ltd. Style bloggers will also discuss “Living with Color” during a panel presentation. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/antiques to buy tickets and for more information. www.chicagobotanic.org/antiques