Garden History

1997

	The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden Renovated The display was transformed into a learning center, complete with public demonstrations and activities.
	Celebrations Debut The Garden’s five-week holiday festival dating back to 1976 was renamed, Celebrations!.
	A Rare Affair Debut The Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society hosted its first Rare Affair, a biennial rare plant auction.
	Garden 2000 Campaign A campaign helped grow the endowment of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

1998

	Harvest Ball Debut The Guild of the Chicago Botanic Garden hosted its first Harvest Ball fundraising gala with proceeds supporting Garden programs.
	Puryear Sculpture Donated An untitled pair of breeches sculpture by Martin Puryear was given by Ernest P. Waud, III, and placed atop a hill south of the Japanese Garden.
	First Guild Meeting The first meeting of the Guild of the Chicago Botanic Garden was held on October 14, 1998.

1999

	Buehler Enabling Garden Opened A new garden was dedicated to promoting accessible gardening for people of all abilities.
	The Bulb Bazaar Debut The Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society planned this sale of spring-blooming bulbs in time for fall planting.

2000

	Prized Bonsai Donated to Garden Japanese bonsai master Susumu Nakamura donated 19 prized specimens to the Garden.
	Antiques & Garden Fair Debut The event opened, offering the best in classical and contemporary garden furnishings, botanical art, and home and garden design from exhibitors from the United States and Europe.
	Junior Railroad Exhibit Opened Visitors watched miniature trains traverse 12 of America’s national parks. The exhibit now features nearly 50 familiar American landmarks and is called Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America.
	Plants of Concern Inaugurated This rare plant monitoring program was designed to allow citizen scientists to assess regional long-term trends in species.
	Shoreline Restoration Began Informed by a study revealing that 80 percent of the Garden’s lakeshores were experiencing moderate to severe erosion, an extensive shoreline restoration project was launched.
	Blooming Campaign The Blooming Campaign helped fund many gardens and buildings including Evening Island, Arch and Serpentine Bridges, and Spider Island.

2001

	Spider Island Opened Surrounded by birches, alders, and serviceberries, the island opened to reveal tranquil views of the lake and shoreline. The island was named after the donor’s wife who was nicknamed Spider. Through her love of all living things, it was said, she couldn’t even hurt a spider.
	Botanic Garden Center Opened The new facility created space for teaching and administrative operations. This building is now called the Barbara Whitney Carr Administrative Center.
	Executive Vice President Appointed Kris Jarantoski was appointed Executive Vice President.
	CLM Internship Program Launched In partnership with the Federal Bureau of Land Management, the Garden launched the Conservation and Land Management Internship Program. The mentoring program was developed to train and employ graduates from various fields. Participants help land managers protect and preserve public lands.

2002

	Gardens of the Great Basin Opened Evening Island (formerly Evergreen Island), Lakeside Gardens, and Water Gardens opened. Together, they represent the largest horticultural development in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s history.