Antiques & Garden Fair
Susan A. Willetts, Chairman Robert F. Finke, Vice Chairman Thomas E. Lanctot, Vice Chairman Benjamin F. Lenhardt, Jr., Vice Chairman William E. Moeller, Vice Chairman John L. Howard, Vice Chairman Catherine M. Waddell, Vice Chairman Sophia Siskel, President & CEO DIRECTORS Thomas F. Aichele Andrew Armishaw Sharon Brady Neville F. Bryan John H. Buehler Michael J. Busch Susan Keller Canmann Timothy C. Coleman Peter R. Crane John F. Cregan John V. Crowe Christopher A. Deveny James W. DeYoung Suzanne S. Dixon Timothy A. Dugan Peter M. Ellis Anthony L. Farino Peter B. Foreman John D. Fornengo Thomas C. Freyman Dorothy H. Gardner Nancy Gidwitz Sue L. Gin James J. Glasser Ellis M. Goodman John K. Greene Joseph A. Gregoire William J. Hagenah Caryn L. Harris Thomas B. Hunter III Jane Irwin Joan M. Johnson Gregory K. Jones Catherine C. Kirby, ex officio Posy L. Krehbiel Donna La Pietra Eric C. Larson M. James Leider Laura M. Linger Alec Litowitz Josephine P. Louis Barbara A. Lumpkin Mary Ann S. MacLean Jeanne K. Mason Gloria Masterson, ex officio Michelle McKenna Jeanine McNally Edward Minor Jane S. O’Neil Riley O’Neil, ex officio Homi B. Patel George A. Peinado Janet Meakin Poor Anne Pramaggiore Toni Preckwinkle ex officio Arnold Randall, ex officio Susan L. Regenstein Harrison I. Steans Susan Stone Pam F. Szokol Richard L. Thomas Howard J. Trienens Nicole S. Williams Arthur M. Wood, Jr. LIFE DIRECTORS Marilynn B. Alsdorf J. Melfort Campbell Barbara Whitney Carr Kent Chandler, Jr. Gary P. Coughlan Thomas A. Donahoe Ralph F. Fujimoto Florence S. Hart Pamela K. Hull Bill Kurtis Robert H. Malott Mary L. McCormack Mary Mix McDonald Peter H. Merlin William A. Osborn John E. Preschlack Anne O. Scott Dain Searle David Byron Smith William P. Sutter Ernest P. Waud III
The mission of the Chicago Botanic Garden is to promote the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation of plants and the natural world. Dear Members, This year, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Chicago Botanic Garden. In all four seasons of Keep Growing, we will mark this moment by honoring our history and demonstrating how this young—but now world-renowned—Garden is achieving its mission, fulfilling a promise to you and to our earth that is more critical today than ever before. Managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society, the Chicago Botanic Garden opened in 1972 on land owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. To put the Garden’s anniversary in the context of our peers, the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, was founded in 1759, Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia was founded in 1798, and the Missouri and New York Botanical Gardens were founded in 1859 and 1891, respectively. The accomplishments of Chicago’s botanic garden in just four decades are the results of visionary, disciplined leadership and the support of countless people and organizations. Our current vision is guided by our strategic plan, which we update annually on our website, http://strategicplan.chicagobotanic.org. In this issue of Keep Growing, we focus on one of the four strategic pillars on which the plan is based: education. The three others—buildings and gardens, visitor experience, and conservation science—will be featured in the next three issues. Today, through the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Garden offers educational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities from all neighborhoods and economic backgrounds. The Garden’s programs allow students to spark an interest in nature, supplement their education, pursue a passion, qualify for a job, further a career, or enhance their physical and emotional well-being. Garden courses help teachers augment their training and expand science-based curricula. In partnership with Northwestern University, the Garden also offers graduate students the opportunity to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in plant biology and conservation using the innovative laboratories of the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. For students in all stages of life, the Garden’s gardening, urban agriculture, conservation, and wellness programs are at the forefront of education. On behalf of the tens of millions of people whose lives have been touched by the Garden, I thank each and every one of our past and present members, volunteers, donors, board members, and staff, as well as all of our corporate, public, and civic partners, in particular the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. Because of you, the dream of building a public garden in Chicago became a reality. And because of you, the future of one of the world’s finest botanic gardens holds incredible promise: offering good health and inspiration in every season to those who will walk the Garden’s paths in our footsteps.
Sophia Siskel President & CEO P.S. The official first day of spring may be March 20, but as far as we’re concerned, in Chicago spring really begins at the Garden’s Antiques & Garden Fair, April 20 to 22! Turn to page 6 and find complete information, including how to buy advance tickets to the Fair. Plan to join me for the special Preview Evening and the lectures by our compelling guest speakers, David Easton and David Howard.