Garden History

1990

	Perennial Evaluation Garden Opened This garden, where perennials are trialed for four-to-six years alongside shrubs and vines, opened. The site began to serve as a place for the evaluation of plant performance, winter hardiness, resistance to disease and insects, and more. It is currently called the Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden.

1991

	English Walled Garden Opened Designed by John Brookes, the English Walled Garden contains six “rooms” that demonstrate traditional English gardening styles: Vista Garden, Cottage Garden, Pergola Garden, Daisy Garden, Courtyard Garden, and Checkerboard Garden.
	Three Prairie Demonstration Gardens Constructed This area was dedicated as the Suzanne S. Dixon Prairie in 1993, featuring plants that thrive in fen, gravel hill, and sand environments.
	First Plant Evaluation Notes Published The journal, published by the Garden’s research team, shared plant evaluation research with the horticultural industry.
	Gateway to the Garden Campaign This campaign helped fund the Gateway Center (now Visitor Center), the English Walled Garden, and the Plant Resource Center.

1993

	Gateway Center Opened Visitors were welcomed to the Garden in this new facility with a Garden Café and Garden Shop. Currently, the building is called The Visitor Center.
	Garden Collection Surpassed One Million Plants The plant census topped the million mark with 1,127,757 plants! The 1 millionth plant was Abies sibirica, collected by staff members Galen Gates and Richard Hawke in Central Siberia in 1993.

1994

	Garden Acquired Turnbull Woods Cook County Forest Preserve District transfered management of 85 acres of Turnbull Woods to the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the Garden’s scientists became responsible for its restoration.
	Restoration of Skokie River Began In partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, the Garden undertook the restoration of land along the Skokie River. As a demonstration of stream bank restoration, five wetland areas were created with more than 69,000 plants.
	Learning Garden for the Disabled Redesigned First called the Garden for the Handicapped and later named The Buehler Enabling Garden, this area was redesigned to include colorful raised beds, dramatic container gardens, adaptive tool displays, and model exhibits illustrating gardening techniques that can be used to make gardening accessible to everyone.
	College First Program Launched This eight-week, paid, summer internship program began to reach 20 Chicago Public School students per year. Participants continue to receive career mentorship, field ecology and conservation science experience, and college preparation.

1995

	Collections 2000 Launched The first of a series of plant-collecting trips began.
	Agave Americana Bloomed A century plant, Agave americana, attracted attention as it flowered for the first time in 30 years. Chicago Botanic Garden staff removed a glass panel of the Arid Greenhouse’s roof, enabling the plant to grow and bloom.
	New Leaders Appointed Barbara Whitney Carr became the Garden’s fourth CEO and Chicago Horticultural Society President. Kris Jarantoski became Director. Thomas J. Nissly became Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
	The Rice Foundation Plant Resource Center Dedicated The building with office space for horticulture staff along with laboratory and research space for science staff was designed by Moretta & Sheehy.

1996

	McGinley Pavilion Dedicated The new facility created space for public activities and private events.
	Mary Mix McDonald Woods Dedicated The entire 100-acre woodland was dedicated as Mary Mix McDonald Woods.

1997

	Waud Circle Garden Opened Named for its circular boundary, the garden opened with a fountain and two “secret” gardens to each side. Unusual combinations of annuals changed each season.
	English Oak Meadow Opened The Betty Brown Meadow, a hillside of blooming bulbs, flowers, and shrubs set amid a variety of oak trees, opened to the east of the English Walled Garden.
	The School of the Chicago Botanic Garden Opened The School opened with an array of adult education classes and training for amateur and professional gardeners. It is currently called the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden.