for immediate release

Learn to Create Containers for All Seasons

Regenstein School Offers Workshop Series

Media Only:
Julie McCaffrey
(847) 835-8213
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (Nov. 6, 2008)—The Joseph Regenstein School of the Chicago Botanic Garden offers a series of workshops and garden walks featuring the diversity and creativity of four seasons of container gardens. Each season, Garden horticulturist Nancy Clifton will lead a walk through the Garden to see a wide array of container gardens and the types of plants used. She will then help students create a seasonal container for a sun or partial shade patio or porch.

The schedule is as follows:

Spring: 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, April 21

Tour the Garden and then create a container with pansies, forced bulbs and other spring treasures that can tolerate varying spring temperatures.

Summer: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 16 or 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, June 17

After checking out the Garden’s summer containers, prepare a warm-season mixed container of annuals, perennials, herbs and decorative foliage.

Fall: 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, September 15

View the Garden’s fall containers, then create a cool-season mixed container including annuals, perennials, herbs, decorative foliage, vegetables, ornamental grasses, a decorative vine and gourds.

Winter: 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, December 1

On a walk to see the Garden’s winter containers, learn ways to extend containers into the winter season. Prepare a container with fresh-cut evergreen boughs and berried or brightly colored branches.

Two price options are offered for the series: one for terra cotta containers, and the other for a liner to be dropped into existing containers at home. Individual sessions are $112 (terra cotta container) and $74 (liner). Chicago Botanic Garden members pay $89 (terra cotta container) and $59 (liner). Those registering for all four sessions at once will save 10 percent.

For a course catalog describing programs and classes in more detail, or to register, call the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden at (847) 835-8261, or visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $15; free for members. On Tuesdays, senior citizens age 62 and older pay just $7 for parking. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. The Garden is also breaking new ground in urban horticulture and jobs training through a 15-acre project in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago called Windy City Harvest. The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.