Enjoy Your Visit — WALK THE GARDEN

A Sculpture Walk

No matter what season or which path you choose, walking at the Garden is a constantly satisfying adventure. Paths lead visitors to places near and far — around the perimeter of the 385 acres for a grand overview of lakes and landscapes, or they curl quietly through individual gardens, bringing plants and garden designs into sharper focus. There is always something new to see or experience, for the Garden offers unique pleasures — one of which is the Garden's sculpture collection.

Sculptures placed throughout the Garden are intended to enhance both the individual garden settings and the specific artworks. A fitting place to begin this walk is the Heritage Garden, in front of the large bronze statue of Carolus Linnaeus by Robert Berks. Among the great accomplishments of the Swedish botanist, physician, and plant collector was the invention of binomial nomenclature, a system of naming every plant and animal in the world with a scientific Latin name, to distinguish it from every other plant or animal. The plants in the Heritage Garden are organized by their geographic origins and their scientific classification in tribute to Linnaeus, seen here with his collector's bag slung over his shoulder, reaching for a new plant to identify.

PHOTO: The Sower Nestled into a green niche of spruces in the Esplanade is the black bronze statue of The Sower in full stride. Created by Albin Polasek for the Art Institute of Chicago, which in turn gave it to the Garden, it symbolizes the importance of sowing seeds of knowledge as well as plants. Located outside the steps to the Regenstein Center, which houses the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, it reaffirms the Garden's commitment to scientific education.

PHOTO: Canadian Geese Close to the water's edge in the Native Plant Garden, adjacent to the Merlin Waterside Terrace, is a large bronze statue of Canada Geese by William and David Turner. These familiar birds appear in full motion, as if they had flown across the lake and were landing in the water close to the Native Plant Garden, a garden filled with plants that attract water birds, migrating birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, and insects.

Follow the path to the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, where Tony Tasset's bountiful and whimsical Pumpkin causes many visitors to do a double take. Is this giant vegetable real or is it a painted bronze replica? What did you think? Along a path to your right are seated two identical cast aluminum Birds on Eggs by Sylvia Shaw Judson, facing each other, surrounded by the greenery of tall hedges.

Outside the Bulb Garden, standing tall in an angular pool, is Bulb Form, by Jerry Caplan. Nine soft jets of water cascade down the curving terra cotta sculpture with companion water canna lilies imitating the statuesque form of the sculpture. Partially visible down the same path is Caricia by Olivier Sequin, a black sculpture of semipolished lava stone, whose name means “caress” in Spanish.

PHOTO: Naughty Faun The Home Landscape Garden contains five sculptures, all set in different settings typical of what home gardeners might encounter. Opposite the traditional border is an oval pool containing a bronze sculpture of another familiar bird at the Garden, the great blue heron. Gregory Glassen has sculpted his Great Blue Heron poised on a low branch, wings slightly open, caught at the very moment before it strikes. Further along, in the streamside garden, is a weathered-copper Preening Heron, by W. J. Frey. Great blue herons are often seen flying overhead or fishing on the shorelines of the Garden islands. Across the path, look closely for the small Tennessee marble Sitting Bear by G. E. Olsen next to the waterfall, as he appears to have just left the cool waters of this woodsy scene. In the formal herb garden is a charming Otter Girl statue by Gerry Lewis-Amendola, fashioned of lead. Set in a circular pool, decorated with shells, she pours water into the pool below, while the tame otter curls at her feet. Coins and flower petals are often left in the crook of her arm. This piece is one of many artworks that combine plants, water, and sculpture. Almost hidden away under an apple tree is Naughty Faun, another piece by Sylvia Shaw Judson. Crafted from Bedford stone, he clearly appears to be up to mischief!

Tucked away on a hill in the Sensory Garden is another piece by William Turner, a solitary bronze Goose. In addition to Canada geese, the Garden is a stopping point for many migrating geese, some quite rare, which use the lakes as a resting place in early spring and fall.

On an opposite hill, much further to the east, under the canopy of mature trees over the Lakeside Gardens, is a pair of benches, Untitled, by Martin Puryear. While both art forms are exactly the same size and shape, one is constructed of stainless steel in an open, lattice design, while the other is solid carnelian granite. As visitors take in the surrounding views of several garden areas, the large painted aluminum Sundial by Joseph Burlini appears across the lake in the Plant Evaluation Garden, a test garden for evaluating sun-loving plants.

PHOTO: Guardian Passing between the English Walled Garden and the Rose Garden, visitors might hear Harry Bertoia's Sounding Sculpture, constructed of rods of beryllium bronze, before they actually see it. This piece of musical sculpture vibrates with soft tones as the wind passes through it — an effect similar to the pleasurable sounds of water in the garden. Standing before the entrance to the English Walled Garden is Simon Verity's Guardian. Designed as a garden folly, this decorative ornamental piece combines classical elements with semiprecious stones and minerals.

At the entrance to the Rose Garden, surrounded by roses of every color, is the highly polished curving Composition in Stainless Steel #1 by Gidon Graetz. Within the garden, working quietly among thousands of rosebushes, is the bronze figure of Boy Gardener by Margot McMahon.

As you leave and pass once again through the Heritage Garden, the statue of Carolus Linnaeus bids you farewell and wishes you more pleasurable excursions among the world of plants.