for immediate release

Seventh Biennial "A Rare Affair" Plant Collectors' Auction

Chicago Botanic Garden, Friday, June 12, 2009

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

GLENCOE, Ill. (May 28, 2009)—Unusual, hard-to-find and rare plants from around the world, as well as fine collectibles and exciting domestic and international trips, will be auctioned at A Rare Affair™: A Collectors’ Auction of Rather Unique Plants. Hosted by the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society, the biennial event begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction. Steven J. Zick, President of Christie's Fine Art Auctioneers, will lead the exciting live auction and elegant dinner at 8 p.m. in McGinley Pavilion, overlooking the Gardens of the Great Basin. Co-chairs of the event are Susan Green and Susan Spears.

Plant experts will be available at the sale, including Jennifer Brennan and Tony Fulmer of Chalet Nursery and Garden Shops, Roy Diblik of Northwind Perennial Farm, David Fiore of Charles J. Fiore Nursery, Galen Gates, Kris Jarantoski, and Boyce Tankersley of the Chicago Botanic Garden, and Brent Markus of Markus Specimen Trees, Inc.

Plant categories include "Annuals & Tropicals," "Art of Foliage," "Classy Conifers," "Collections for the Connoisseur," "Créme de la Créme," "Culturally Challenging," "Fabulously Formed," "Perennial Palette," "Shady Characters," "Signature Containers," "Sweetly Scented," "Travel Trophies," and "Wild About Woodies." Trips and treasures other than plants that will be auctioned include a trip to Keukenhof Garden in Lisse, The Netherlands; a pair of Longshadow planters in art deco style; a Chinese meditation stone and a trip to the Brandywine Valley to visit Chanticleer, Winterthur, Mt. Cuba, and Longwood Gardens.

Tickets are $250 and can be purchased by calling (847) 835-6944. Proceeds from the event will go toward the Woman's Board pledge of $1 million towards the science initiative.

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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.