Things to Do
PHOTOGRAPHS: TOP LEFT: COURTESY CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN; TOP RIGHT, BOTTOM RIGHT: COURTESY CHICAGO PARKS; CENTER RIGHT: COURTESY CHICAGO LIGHTS URBAN FARM
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Edited by Nick Kotecki
nick.kotecki@timeout.com @bykotecki
GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY
KILBOURN PARK ORGANIC GREENHOUSE
Help weed and water the beds at the Chicago Park District’s only teaching greenhouse, and take care of one of the first public fruit tree orchards planted in a major U.S. city. Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, 3501 N Kilbourn Ave (773-685-3351,
chicagoparkdistrict.com).
Bask in city blooms
Welcome the thaw with bountiful gardens and nature escapes. By Nick Kotecki
C
hicago adopted the motto Urbs in Horto, Latin for “City in a Garden,” when the small settlement between the river and lake incorporated in 1837. Shortly after, a parcel of land that is now part of Grant Park was put aside “forever to remain vacant of buildings,” and the legacy of that philosophy lives on today. Our many parks and gardens grow lush every spring, but have you actually taken time to stop and smell the flora? Explore Chicago’s gardens big and small with this guide to the city’s spectacular flowers and foliage.
Jackson Park
While the Wooded Island and its Japanese gardens are being renovated, you can still enjoy the cherry blossoms along the Columbia Basin just south of the Museum of Science and Industry. Look for blossoms to appear in early April or even earlier if the warm weather holds. 5700 S Lake Shore Dr (773- 684-1414,
msichicago.org). Free.
Lurie Garden
Head to Chicago’s front yard for views of the skyline and thousands of hand-planted flowers in the southeast corner of Millennium Park. Protected by two 15-foot hedges, the garden is home to more than 60 species of birds and one of the largest green rooftops in the world. Millennium Park (312- 228-1004,
luriegarden.org). Free.
Chicago Botanic Garden Take the Metra or go for a short drive to one of the largest curated outdoor spaces around the city. With 25 garden displays and four natural habitats, there’s more than enough wilderness, foliage and blooms to get lost in. 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL (847-835- 5440,
chicagobotanic.org). Free, parking $25.
Morton Arboretum
For those craving an experience a little more au naturel, consider a visit to this preserve of
approximately 1,700 acres of woodland, wildflower-strewn prairie and ponds. Sixteen miles of hiking trails wind through the grounds. 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL (630-968-0074, mortonarb .org). Free.
Garfield Park Conservatory Azaleas, spring bulbs and perennials complement the reds and blues of art collective Luftwerk’s LED light installation, solarise: a sea of all colors. 300 N Central Park Ave (312-746-5100,
garfieldconservatory.org). Free. Through May 8.
Lincoln Park Conservatory At the Spring Flower Show, find a rotating selection of spring blooms, including the leafy descendants of the azaleas that bloomed at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. 2391 N Stockton Dr (312-742-7736,
chicagoparkdistrict.com). Free. Through May 8.
EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP Join volunteers in one of Chicago’s biggest and most beautiful green spaces, Humboldt Park, to assist in cleaning and making improvements to the grounds. Work gloves and T-shirts provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Humboldt Park, 1400 N Sacramento Ave (312-742-7549,
earthdaychicago.com).
March–May 2016
TIMEOUT.COM/CHICAGO 37
CHICAGO LIGHTS URBAN FARM Each Saturday, volunteers gather to work at the urban farm at Fourth Presbyterian Church, planting, harvesting and tending the gardens. May require a background check. Fourth Presbyterian Church, 444 W Chicago Ave (312-274-3801).
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