Chicago Botanic Garden

for immediate release

Plan a Summer Getaway to the
Chicago Botanic Garden

 

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

GLENCOE, Ill. (April 4, 2009) — Summer is the season for vacations, a chance to get away from it all and recharge your batteries. But with household budgets getting tighter, many are looking for affordable trips closer to home. The Chicago Botanic Garden, with its nine islands among tranquil lakes, offers an escape from the everyday and a chance to get back to nature. Summer at the Garden features live music, family activities, food and wine tasting, horticultural wonders, sustainable living and educational opportunities. Hours are extended from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily from June 6 through September 7 to allow visitors to stay a little bit longer.

Admission to the Garden is free and as always, most special events are free. During summer weekends and select weekdays, a trolley provides direct service from the Glencoe Metra station to encourage visitors to take public transportation. Roundtrip tickets are $2; Garden members and children 5 and under ride free. The Garden offers so much value, with its 23 display gardens and more than 2.3 million plants to enjoy, it's difficult to find a more affordable vacation destination than the "Garden Off the Edens."

As you pass through the Visitor Center and cross the bridge to the Main Island, look up at the cascading flowers, including white lantana, yellow petunias, variegated plectranthus, yellow calibrachoa and white angelonia. Take in views of the Smith Fountain in the North Lake from the Crescent, where the summer display includes a mix of yellow and white annuals, including variegated agave, green and gold cordyline, cosmos, dahlias, foxglove, lantana, four varieties of marigolds, nicotiana, pentas, petunias, salvia and statice. Step up to the Heritage Garden and enjoy the return of the giant pyramid topiaries, made from red and yellow Joseph's coat. The fragrance and color of the Rose Garden will surely beckon you to explore its 5,000 rosebushes, at their peak of bloom around Father's Day. Make your way to the English Oak Meadow where a mix of mums, butterfly weed, zinnias, salvia, floss flower and black-eyed Susans show off their bright red, yellow, orange and purple colors, attracting many butterflies. The Circle Garden shows off a new design by Craig Bergmann this summer, with more plant diversity and color, including purples, pinks and yellows in both flowers and foliage.

For less walking, climb aboard the tram to explore the wonders of the Garden on 35-minute narrated Tram Tours. The Grand Tour winds its way around the 2.6 mile perimeter of the Garden, providing an overview of the Garden’s 385 acres. The Grand Tour has three drop-off sites, encouraging visitors to stroll through the Dixon Prairie and Evaluation Gardens. The Bright Encounters Tour provides an intimate view of the gardens of the main island. Trams run daily through Sunday, October 25. Tickets are available at the Tram Tour Ticket booth in front of the Visitor Center. Cost is $5 for adults; $4 seniors; $3 children. Members receive $1 discount on each ticket. Garden Plus members ride free on Wednesdays. Trams are wheelchair accessible.

Live Music

Weeknights are a great time to enjoy the Garden with our evening programming from Saturday, June 6 through Monday, Sept. 7. Free evening concerts, sponsored by National City, now part of PNC, include the Carillon Concert Series on Mondays, Music on the Esplanade on Tuesdays, Dancin' Sprouts on select Wednesdays and Hot Summer Nights on Thursdays throughout the season. Browse the Garden Shop, enjoy dinner at the Garden Grille or stroll through the Garden in the evening, one of the most beautiful and peaceful times to be at this special place. Picnicking is allowed on these evenings in designated areas.

Dancin' Sprouts concerts are for the Garden's youngest visitors and their parents on Wednesdays, June 3, 17, July 1, 15 and Aug. 5, 19 at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Carillon Concert Series is on Mondays, and features music from the Theodore C. Butz Memorial Carillon, located on Evening Island and complimentary carillon tours starting at 5:30 p.m.; concerts are at 7 p.m. Music on the Esplanade on Tuesdays features live music in a different style each week, including Spanish guitar, jazz, and big band artists, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hot Summer Nights are on Thursdays and feature professional dance instructors giving easy-to-understand mini lessons that correspond to the musical genre of the evening, such as tango, Celtic, samba and Cajun Zydeco from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Family Activities

The Model Railroad Garden: “Landmarks of America” celebrates its tenth year as a popular exhibition this summer, from May 9 through Sunday, Oct. 25. Visitors of all ages enjoy the seventeen garden-scale trains traveling past miniature scenes of America’s best-loved landmarks and beautiful gardens planted to scale. New landmarks include Philadelphia attractions, including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Bartram House, and a train on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad line chugging around the White House. Also, discover the many new details such as the Indiana Dunes and the new South Shore Line Train with South Shore Line Train platform, the "W" sign atop Wrigley Field and the sound of Harry Caray singing "Take me out to the ball game" will be back.

Visit the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden on the first and third Sundays, June 7 through Oct. 4 (except Aug. 16) for hands-on activities related to Japanese gardens and culture during the Malott Japanese Garden Family Sundays. Each Sunday features a different take-home project as well as hands-on activities, including raking miniature dry gardens, trying chopsticks and practicing calligraphy.

Weekends are a good time to drop into the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden and discover where food comes from with fun, free activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn about plant parts, the life of a bee, different types of seeds, how to plant a rainbow garden, worm composting and more. Activities vary from week to week.

Enjoy the simple pleasure of flying a kite at the Kite Festival on Saturday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 9 and see stunt kite-flying teams stage performances set to music. The Chicago Fire Kite Team and members of the Kite Society of Wisconsin & Illinois put on a captivating show. Catch the complimentary tram out to the event site, learn to make your own paper kite and enjoy time flying your own kite at the festival site. Lunch items, beverages and ice cream are available for purchase. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Travel to Japan and learn about summer festivals (matsura) celebrated in Japan during the Malott Japanese Garden Summer Festival on Saturday, Aug. 15 and Sunday, Aug. 16. Listen to musical performances, enjoy storytelling and watch a tea ceremony. Kids of all ages can make projects to celebrate summer – create a paper fan, make a kite and more at family-friendly hands-on stations. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Food and Wine

The Garden Chef Series demonstrations offer a wonderful chance to improve your culinary skills with tips from the best chefs in the area on Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 4. Become inspired by their passion for good food and learn how grow, cook with and eat a variety of seasonal, fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits.

The novice wine consumer as well as the experienced oenophile won't want to miss the Chicago Botanic Garden's Wine Festival on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7. More than 250 domestic and international wines will be featured from more than 40 exhibitors. Food from local restaurants will be available for purchase. Cooking demonstrations, wine seminars and live music round out the offerings. Hours are from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Fee applies.

Take a trip to Italy during the Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19. Barilla and local chefs will cook with fresh Italian ingredients such as those found in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Presented by Barilla, this event features plant and recipe giveaways, family activities, gourmet olive oil, balsamic vinegar and tastings of delicious Barilla pasta recipes, and more. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Spice up your life at the All About Peppers Weekend on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 23. Pepper tours, shopping for pepper products from select vendors and special chili pepper décor are all part of the fun. See the many varieties of peppers — both hot and sweet — growing in the garden, learn pepper facts and tips from signs posted throughout the Garden and visit “Pepper Discovery Carts” to explore the history of peppers, how to cook with peppers and the many types that can be grown in a home garden. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Horticultural Wonders

The American Flower Show Series, a growing national horticultural program, brings together amateur and expert gardeners and educators by offering floral exhibits and programs that focus on America’s favorite flower groups. Visitors can discover the best plant varieties to grow in their own home gardens, see the "Best of Show" plants on display, learn about plant diversity at its finest, buy plants to take home and have their questions answered by the Midwest's leading plant enthusiasts and experts. All shows are held in Burnstein Hall in the Garden's Regenstein Center.

The summer schedule includes:

Sogetsu School of Illinois Ikebana Exhibition – June 6-7
Ikebana International Show – June 13-14

Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society Lily Show –July 11-12

Northshore Iris & Daylily Society Daylily Show & Sale –July 18-19

Cactus & Succulent Society of Greater Chicago Show & Sale –July 25-26
Bromeliad Society of Greater Chicago Show & Sale –Aug. 1-2

Gardeners of the North Shore Show – Aug. 8-9

Mid-America Bonsai Show & Sale – Aug. 14-16

Garden Clubs of Illinois District Nine Show – Aug. 22-23

Illinois Mycological Association Show & Sale – Sept. 6

Northeastern Illinois Rose Society Show & Sale – Sept 6

Sustainable Living

The Chicago Botanic Garden is committed to making the planet a better place and wants to support a sustainable lifestyle for its visitors. One small way we do that is the Plant Giveaways in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden from Wednesday through Sunday in the summer. Visitors can pick up a free, edible plant and learn how to grow it and cook with it at home.

Another sustainable event is our Farmers’ Market on the first and third Sundays from June 7 through Oct. 18. Local and organic farmers sell fruits, vegetables, cut flowers and herbs to the public outside the Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors include the Green Youth Farm and Windy City Harvest, two Garden programs that focus on sustainable urban agriculture. Visitors can purchase a special reusable market bag to carry their items from the market.

The Chicago Botanic Garden marks its second annual World Environment Day celebration with a symposium designed to improve the health and welfare of Chicago's underserved communities. This symposium, entitled "Urban Agriculture Symposium: Feeding the Movement" is on Friday, June 5 and focuses on the nexus between urban agriculture and food security. Featured will be Rose Hayden-Smith, Ph.D., a nationally recognized Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Fellow, and Kate Maehr, executive director for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. A Post-Conference Bus Tour is on Saturday, June 6 and takes participants to several sites in Chicago that are advancing the urban agriculture movement, including the Garden's own Green Youth Farm and Windy City Harvest. Cost includes transportation and lunch from a sustainable restaurant. Call (847) 835-8261 to register for the symposium and/or tour or visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school.

Dining and Shopping

What's a vacation without great food and something to remember it by? Summer hours for the Garden Café are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The Rose Terrace Café is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting. The Garden Grille is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, weather permitting. The Garden Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The Wheelbarrow is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Educational Opportunities

For those who want to learn more about nature, the botanical arts or how to create a beautiful garden at home, the Garden offers many educational programs. The Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden offers plant-related classes in many areas from culinary courses to roses to Certificate and Professional programs. Visit the Garden's web site for the schedule of classes or make plans to attend the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden Open House on Saturday, Aug. 29. This open house is a chance to ask questions, meet with school staff, participate in a raffle for a $50 course gift certificate and view a variety of class demonstrations. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/school or call (847) 835-8261 for a free course catalog or to register for classes.

The Plant Information Service is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday; and closed on holidays. Visitors can obtain great gardening advice from Master Gardeners and Horticultural Specialists.

The Lenhardt Library is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and by appointment; closed on holidays. Visitors can browse the collections for great books on everything horticultural and members have borrowing privileges. Through Sunday, Aug. 9, they'll find the library exhibition, Fruitful Abundance: Pomologies from the Rare Book Collection. Pomology is derived from the Latin word pomun, or fruit. This exhibition includes abundant examples of hand-colored engravings from the Rare Book Collection. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, Ed Valauskas will give the library talk, "The Ripest Fruit First Falls" — Shakespeare. The library exhibition, Kew: 250 Years of Science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, is on display from Friday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Nov. 15. Publications (both books and journals) issued by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have made a significant impact on science over the last 250 years. Many of these works are in the Lenhardt Library and will be on view during this exhibition.

Learn about different types of nests in the exhibition, Peggy Macnamara: The Natural Art of Nests, on display in the Joutras Gallery in the Regenstein Center through Monday, Sept. 28. Original artwork by Peggy Macnamara from her recently published book, Architecture by Birds & Insects, will be on display.

Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. For more information about any of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s programs and events, call (847) 835-5440, or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.

Membership to the Chicago Botanic Garden offers year-round benefits including free parking and discounts on classes, tram tours and shopping. Memberships can be purchased by calling (847) 835-8215, or by visiting www.chicagobotanic.org/member.

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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.