Chicago Botanic Garden

for immediate release

Chicago Botanic Garden Offers Garden Plus Membership
and Family Discount Package; Admission Free, Weekend Family Activities and Evening Concerts at no Extra Cost

Explore and experience twenty-three display gardens, woods and prairie habitats

 

Media Only:
Gloria Ciaccio
(847) 835-6819
gciaccio@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (APR. 20, 2009)—As spring approaches and the weather starts to warm, the Chicago Botanic Garden offers the perfect stay-at-home vacation destination- a “staycation” for individuals and families who are looking to relax, rejuvenate and recharge after a long winter. With 385 acres of display gardens, lakes and three natural habitats, all accessible by public transportation, the Garden is an affordable escape from stress.

Throughout May and June, the Chicago Botanic Garden will offer a Spring/Summer Staycation Package that includes parking and tickets for a family of four for a Tram Tour around the Garden and admission to the Model Railroad Garden. Cost is $45. Tickets to the Model Railroad Garden and Tram Tour cost non-members $5 per adult and $3 per child, and parking is $20 per car. The family value package represents over a 10% savings for these activities. The Chicago Botanic Garden Spring/Summer Staycation coupon, which must be printed prior to visiting the Garden, can be found at www.chicagobotanic.org/staycation.

For those families who plan more than one outing to the Chicago Botanic Garden, a Garden Plus membership for $100 offers more savings. The membership includes year-round parking for two cars, a 10% discount at the Garden Shop; a discount coupon for the Garden Café; free admission to the Model Railroad Garden and Tram Tours on Wednesdays and discounts on other family programs and events at the Garden. Visitors who join will have the same day parking fee refunded.

During the spring and summer weekends, the Chicago Botanic Garden trolley provides direct service from the Glencoe Metra station, to encourage visitors to take public transportation, valued at $2 per person/per trip; kids 5 and under ride free but is free with the Chicago Botanic Garden Staycation package and is always free to Garden members.

Eclectic entertainment and family activities offered for free during the summer months include “Dancin’ Sprouts” children’s early evening concerts on the first and third Wednesday’s from June to August, and “Hot Summer Nights” every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., also offered in June, July and August, for adults who enjoy music and dancing from around the world. These events take place on the Esplanade and picnicking is allowed in designated areas during these events only.

Other activities to enjoy in May and June include the Malott Japanese Garden Family Sundays on June 7 and 21. Each Sunday features a different take-home project as well as hands-on activities, including raking miniature dry gardens, trying chopsticks and practicing calligraphy.

Garden visitors can also take advantage of the Discovery Programs in the Buehler Enabling, Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable, Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese and the English Walled Gardens, Wednesdays through Sundays starting May 13th. Volunteers are stationed throughout these four display gardens. In the Fruit and Vegetable Garden, volunteers work with children to teach them about bees, tools, herbs and composting.

Starting in May, volunteers give plants away every Wednesday and Saturday, so children can plant their own home gardens. Volunteers at the Buehler Enabling Garden demonstrate the advantages of a universal design garden and, in the English Walled Garden, share seasonal highlights with visitors and identify the variety of plants growing in the garden. For a complete calendar of free activities at the Chicago Botanic Garden go to www.chicagobotanic.org/events.

In addition to free events and activities, the Chicago Botanic Garden offers 385 acres of incomparably beautiful display gardens uniquely situated on nine islands surrounded by 81 acres of lakes, bordered by the splendor of native Midwestern woodlands, a prairie and a river.

Seasonal exhibits celebrate nature and life- indoors and out- with events, flower shows, guided walks, musical performances and more. In May, a free exhibition, “Peggy Macnamara: The Natural Art of Nests,” will be exhibited in the Joutras Gallery, located in the Regenstein Center.

Visitors can take advantage of free guided garden walks leaving from the What's in Bloom Cart outside the Visitor Center at 1 p.m. on Saturdays through May 16.

The Garden Chef Series, centered at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden's open-air amphitheater features noted chefs preparing recipes with garden fresh ingredients. The series begins May 23rd and demonstrations take place at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday through October 4.

For information about all of the free programs the Chicago Botanic Garden offers throughout the spring and summer, visit www.chicagobotanic.org or call (847) 835-5440. For more information on membership visit www.chicagobotanic.org/membership or call 847-835-8215.

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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 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.