Trees as a Legacy in Design & Development

9 a.m.

Registration

9:15 a.m.

Toward a legacy of trees

Peter Walker, FASLA, senior partner, PWP Landscape Architecture, Berkeley, California

Trees are iconic design elements that can provide balance between built and natural systems, while bestowing lasting beauty to both.  From creating comforting outdoor rooms to standing as arresting, sculptural focal points, trees are central to landscape design and urban regeneration. High-profile designs, including the National September 11 Memorial, will demonstrate the power and complexity of leaving a legacy of trees.

10:30 a.m.

Refreshment Break

11 a.m.

Aliens in our Midst: Non-native insects and plants and the sustainability of urban forests

Michael Raupp, Ph.D., professor and extension specialist, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, Maryland

The deliberate and accidental importation of non-native species is one of the major forces of global change reshaping natural and urban forests. Learn the legacy of these aliens, the threats and sometimes surprising benefits of non-native species in managed ecosystems. 

Noon

Lunch & Networking

1 p.m.

Garden Tours (Choose from the following):

The Secret Life of Trees at the Garden*
Led by Andrew Bell, Ph.D., curator of woody plants, Chicago Botanic Garden

Bugged? Integrated Pest Management at the Garden*
Led by symposium speaker Michael Raupp, Ph.D., and Tom Tiddens, M.S., plant health care supervisor, Chicago Botanic Garden

Grand Tram Tour
An overview of the Garden, showcasing a variety of collections, habitats, and evaluation gardens.

1:55 p.m.

Overcoming the Challenges of Urban Soils

Kelby Fite, Ph.D., arboricultural researcher, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Charlotte, North Carolina

Heavy clay and compacted soils, restricted growing space, and limited access to nutrients and water are just a few of the challenges facing trees in urban landscapes. But new ways to manage urban soils are increasing tree survival. A look at legacy trees around the country that have measurably benefited from these new technologies and approaches will demonstrate the possibilities.

2:45 p.m.

Money Doesn't Grow on Trees, But... The Retail Benefit of Trees

Kathleen Wolf, Ph.D., research social scientist, College of the Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

Central business districts go to great lengths to lure shoppers. Those that figure trees into the equation benefit in surprising ways, with increased retailer revenues prime among them. Learn about the latest research in the economic impact of the urban forest on Main Street and hear retail-friendly recommendations for incorporating trees into streetscape design.

3:35 p.m.

Stretch Break

3:50 p.m.

The Role of Trees in Chicago's Great Historic Parks

Julia S. Bachrach, historian and preservationist, Chicago Park District, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago parks feature dozens of historically significant landscapes created by such acclaimed designers as Frederick Law Olmsted, the Olmsted Brothers, Jens Jensen and Alfred Caldwell. They conceived these public spaces for both recreation and refuge – where senses could be heightened, people of all backgrounds could come together, and urban dwellers could commune with nature. Discover the role that trees play in these living works of art.

4:30 p.m.

Reception

6 p.m.

Music
Stay for live music as the Chicago Botanic Garden presents Hot Summer Nights on the Esplanade.