Read Sophia’s letter on the power of nature to turn spring seedlings into an abundant summer harvest of fresh food, and the important skills and hands-on experience the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden offers apprentices and students who work there. Science Center Opening Dinner Join us for the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center Benefit Dinner with remarks by Michael Pollan, author of Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education; The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-eye View of the World; and The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. Antiques & Garden Fair April 16 – 18, 2010 The The Antiques & Garden Fair will be back and we want President's Circle members to be among the first to know. President's Circle members can purchase tickets to the April 15 preview beginning October 1 by calling (847) 835-6944. Exclusive President’s Circle members’ seating areas will be reserved for Music on the Esplanade: Tuesday, September 1, 6 to 8 p.m. The Mojo Daddies, an up-and-coming Chicagoland-area rock band, will have you humming to a mix of originals and cover tunes. Reserved seating will be available along the Esplanade. Bring your blanket and picnic dinner, or pick up snacks, a bottle of wine, or grilled selections from the Garden Café and enjoy! Family Summer Send-off and Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social Sunday, September 13, 1:30 to 4 p.m. $10 for adults (13 and older) $5 for children (3-12) Free for children ages 2 and under Don’t miss the second annual Family Summer Send-off! New this year, grab your family and friends and compete in a fun-filled Scavenger Hunt while exploring the Chicago Botanic Garden. After the hunt, enjoy ice cream, popcorn, and refreshments in the Rose Garden. Children of all ages are welcome. The Scavenger Hunt will begin promptly at 2 p.m. and will last approximately 45 minutes. Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams and this event is rain or shine. Click here and reserve your tickets today! For more information about this event, rain plan, or to place your reservation over the phone, please call the President’s Circle hotline at (847) 835-6925. View photographs from these and past President’s Circle events (the password is “circle”). Gardens of Distinction A magnificent East Lake Shore home and rooftop terrace played host for the annual President’s Circle signature event, Gardens of Distinction, on July 19. Many thanks to Barbara Bluhm-Kaul and Donald Kaul for inviting the President’s Circle into their lovely home to enjoy the views from their rooftop garden. It was a spectacular venue for discussing our visions for the Garden, including the important research that will soon get underway on the Green Roof Garden atop the Plant Science Center. If you haven’t already seen it, I encourage you to watch this video interview of Emily Shelton, the Green Roof Garden horticulturist. Hard-hat Tour Greg Mueller, the Garden’s vice president of science and academic programs, hosted the July 21 hard-hat tour of the Plant Science Center. Every day, it is an honor and privilege to serve the Chicago Botanic Garden and I am so grateful for your support. You help us bring joy to people’s lives, and help to save the planet by saving plants. Please know I would love to hear from you at any time. Thank you so very much. Sophia Siskel President & CEO Chicago Botanic Garden			In this Issue: • Sophia's Letter • Science Center    Opening Dinner • Evenings Music • Family Summer    Send-off • Recent Events • Antiques &    Garden Fair The President's Circle Steering Committee Sophia Siskel President and CEO Jane O’Neil Michael Busch Co-chairs George Bodeen Nancy Bodeen Mary Boyer Susan Canmann John Deimel Frank Farwell John Fornengo Dorothy Gardner James Glasser Alice Goltra Robert Gordon Tricia Hagenah Will Hagenah Florence Hart Mary Hill Marci Holzer Betsy Karp Jennifer Kasten May Cat Kneibler Cindy Lenhardt Laura Linger Anne Loucks Stephanie Madigan John McEnaney Brooks Morgan Terry Moritz Michael Rhoades Arch Shaw Charlene Shaw Robert Shaw Susan Stone Pam Szokol Paula Trienens Ernest Waud Nicole Williams Heather Wright