Chicago Botanic Garden

for immediate release

Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
to Speak at Chicago Botanic Garden

Thursday, October 8

 

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

GLENCOE, Ill. (Aug. 14, 2009)—The Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden presents a lecture by Dr. Stephen Hopper, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 8. Dr. Hopper is visiting the Garden during the 250th anniversary of Kew Gardens and will speak about the international role botanic gardens play in plant conservation study and research.

Dr. Hopper is a plant conservation biologist, best known for pioneering research leading to positive conservation outcomes in southwest Australia (one of the few temperate-zone global biodiversity hotspots) and for the collaborative description of 300 new plant taxa including eucalyptus, orchids, and Haemodoraceae — a family of flowering plants sometimes known as the “Bloodwort family.” He is the author of more than 200 scientific publications, including several books and scientific monographs, and has also published extensively in popular literature. Dr. Hopper joined the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 2006.

Cost for the lecture is $24. Chicago Botanic Garden members pay $19. President’s Circle members may call (847) 835-6925 to register. Graduate and undergraduate students with a student ID may register free by calling the Regenstein School at (847) 835-8261. To register for the symposium or to request a brochure call (847) 835-8261, or visit the Garden’s website at www.chicagobotanic.org/symposia.

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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 $20 per car; free for Garden members. 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. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. 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.