Saturday, June 7, 2014
Support your local planet:
a day to take action
Conservation is a big term that covers a lot of ground. That's why we set aside a full day for kids and adults to explore conservation and sustainability on World Environment Day.
It's a day to learn about topics large and small, from climate change to the importance of butterflies and pollinators.
The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center will be buzzing with science activities from the rooftop to the rain garden!
Get the big picture on climate change from Tom Skilling, WGN-TV's chief meteorologist; Nobel Peace Prize winner Don Wuebbles, Ph.D.; and the Garden's chief scientist, Gregory Mueller, Ph.D., in a keynote presentation at the Regenstein Center.
Scott Hoffman Black of the Xerces Society presents a free lecture at 1 p.m.: "The Monarch Butterfly: How You Can Help Save This Iconic Species." THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
On the Esplanade and at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, you can ask our horticulturists, staff, and volunteer experts about our gardens—and about what's happening in yours.
Come for the day, have lunch at the Garden View Café, and then put what you've learned into practice at home!
The Day's Key Events
Learn at the Labs
Meet the scientists and check out plant science in action at the Plant Science Center, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Kids won't want to miss ecologist Jim Steffen's display about native spider identification and how spiders can be pollinators.) Learn more about prairie management and Chicago's native bees, and get a butterfly weed plant to grow in your garden to help support monarch butterflies.
Learn from Our Horticulturists
Meet the "horts," who will cover topics including organic vegetable gardening, water-wise gardening, butterfly gardening, ecofriendly lawn care, successful composting, and many more, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Learn at the Fruit & Vegetable Garden
Learn more about raising bees and take home a white cherry heirloom tomato seedling, too!
Learn from the Chefs
Nicole Pederson of Found Kitchen & Social House cooks with seasonal and locally grown produce at the Garden Chef Series, at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at the Fruit & Vegetable Garden's open-air amphitheater.
Learn at Play
Family drop-in activities are ongoing, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Esplanade, the Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden, and the Kleinman Family Cove.
Farmers' Market Stand
Our own Windy City Harvest sells fresh, organically grown produce harvested from our Fruit & Vegetable Garden and the farm's urban garden sites.
New this Year: Recycle Electronics and Recycle Plastic
Don't miss this opportunity to recycle a variety of consumer electronics and all those plastic pots and flats from your garden, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in parking lot 4.
View a list of accepted items for electronics recycling through Vintage Tech.
World Environment Day is generously supported by
