for immediate release

Woody Plant Symposium

Chicago Botanic Garden Presents, Feb. 20, 2009

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

GLENCOE, Ill. (Jan. 8, 2009)—The Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden presents its annual Woody Plant Symposium, "Woody Plants for Midwest Landscapes" on Friday, Feb. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Alsdorf Auditorium of the Regenstein Center. This symposium will explore the value of the forests of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Green-industry professionals who work with woody plants will gain helpful tips for daily operations and long-range planning.

Speakers include Andrew Bell, curator of woody plants at the Chicago Botanic Garden presenting, "Chicago Botanic Garden Woody Plant Update;" Peter Hatch, director of gardens and grounds at Monticello, Charlottesville, VA, presenting, "Thomas Jefferson and the Trees of Monticello;" Shawn Kingzette, district manager, The Care of Trees, Wheeling, IL, presenting, "Biorationals: An Environmentally Friendly Approach to Pest Control;" David J. Nowak, project leader, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Syracuse, NY, presenting, "Ecosystem Services and Values from Urban Trees;" and Aaron Durnbaugh, deputy commissioner of the environment, Chicago, IL, presenting, "Planning for the Future of Chicago's Forests."

Hatch will discuss Thomas Jefferson's passion for arboriculture, the history of the trees of Monticello and the work that's been done to preserve Jefferson's arboreal legacy. He'll also address the issues involved in removing a tree considered original to the Jefferson era from Monticello this past summer.

Kingzette will discuss biorationals, which are newer pesticides that tend to be more biologically based and have been shown to be effective and more environmentally friendly than traditional controls.

Nowak will share information on the cost savings inherited through a healthy urban forest when taking into consideration factors like carbon storage and sequestration, pollution removal, energy conservation, and hydrological impacts of neighborhood trees.

Durnbaugh will detail the 2009 multifaceted plan for the City of Chicago that improves tree canopies, increases tree diversity and generally promotes the health of urban forests that will be exposed to future climate changes, insects and diseases.

Registration is $163 through Friday, Jan. 23. Chicago Botanic Garden members pay $129. After Jan. 23, cost is $187. Chicago Botanic Garden members pay $149. Morning coffee, lunch, parking and handouts are included. Final registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 13. To register, or to request a brochure, call (847) 835-8261, or visit the Garden’s website at www.chicagobotanic.org/school/symposia/woodyplant.

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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.