The Morton Arb

The Nature Artists' Guild (NAG) is a special interest group of the Arboretum. We gather passionate nature artists for conversation, group "paint-outs", events, and formal art exhibits.

We meet six times a year at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every other month: February, April, June, August, October, and December at Thornhill Education Center.

Guild members receive the Nature Artist Quarterly, which includes educational information and photos of members' art work. Members are encouraged to participate in our bi-annual exhibit, which is open to Arboretum members and non-members.  

Membership is open to all who are interested in natural history art. Learn more about Nature Artists' Guild.

Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat Exhibit
Sept 2, 2011–Sept 2, 2012
7 a.m.-sunset
Conifer Collection 

A new outdoor exhibit shows that trees that we know and love are endangered in the wild. By protecting them, we help ourselves and the entire planet.

Just a few examples of the trees you'll learn about at Vanishing Acts:

Wild Apple. Apple pie. An apple for the teacher. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. The apple's delicious sweetness anchors our American traditions. The world's last remaining wild apple trees are being cut down to make room for houses.

Fraser Fir. At Christmas time, many enjoy Fraser fir's soft, fragrant foliage and perfect shape. A non-native insect has killed up to 95 percent of wild Fraser firs growing in the Appalachians.

Pacific Yew. Many cancer survivors and their families can thank the Pacific yew tree for a cancer-fighting compound discovered in its bark. Wild Pacific yews are recovering from overharvesting after the discovery.

"To save trees, we can accomplish more together than we can individually," says Gerard Donnelly, President and CEO of The Morton Arboretum. "With 8,000 endangered tree species worldwide, it's a huge issue with a direct link to climate change and other factors affecting the health of plants, people, and the planet."

Vanishing Acts was developed by The Morton Arboretum and will be shown here through September 2012 and will also tour nationally.

The Vanishing Acts exhibit is located in the Conifer Collection, just a short stroll off the Conifer Walk.

Come make a day of it by walking the .25 mile exhibit loop and then experiencing the outstanding autumn colors of our 4,100 kinds of trees from around the world.

Want to learn more about endangered trees?  Here are some suggested programs that may interest you:

This traveling exhibit is organized and circulated by The Morton Arboretum, in partnership with the Global Trees Campaign, and made possible by a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

The Arboretum wishes to thank the following Contributing Sponsor of Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat

Read MoreLeafing Through the Pages meets on the second Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. until noon in the Library, this group explores works of fiction and non-fiction relating to natural history, ecology and gardens. Participants need to obtain books and read each month's selection prior to the gathering to fully share in the discussion.

January 12, 2012 – Jensen, Jens. Siftings, 1939.

February 9, 2012 – Montgomery-Fate, Tom. Cabin fever: a suburban father's search for the wild, 2011.

March 8, 2012 – Film - Beatrix Potter: artist, storyteller and country-woman, 1993.

April 12, 2012 – Barry, John M. The rising tide: the great Mississippi flood of 1927 and how it changed America, 1998.

May 10, 2012 – Wells, Diana. Lives of the trees: an uncommon history, 2010.

June 14, 2012 – Wulf, Andrea. Founding gardeners: the revolutionary generation, nature, and the shaping of the American nation, 2011.

July 12, 2012 – Beston, Henry. The outermost house, 1928.

August 9, 2012 – Steinbeck, John. Travels with Charley: in search of America, 1962.

September 13, 2012 – Deakin, Roger. Wildwood: a journey through trees, 2009.

October 11, 2012 – Flannery, Tim F. Here on Earth: a natural history of the planet, 2010.

November 8, 2012 – Lindbergh, Anne Morrow. Listen! The wind, 1938.

December 13, 2012 – Adams, Ansel. Each group member selects a book with photo images by Ansel Adams. At our gathering, share your experience and reaction to his photos of the natural world!

School's almost out, and summer's upon us! Time to visit The Morton Aboretum to kick off the warm-weather season.

Take a Soul-Stirring Hike
Bring your camera...or just enjoy the views from our 16 miles of hiking trails taking you around lakes, across prairies, and through restored woodlands. Early morning and late afternoon are the best time to find wildlife.
Daily
7 a.m.-sunset

Explore our Award-Winning Children's Garden
Catch tadpoles in Wonder Pond. Learn about trees through creative play at your own pace. Structured activities include Family Explorer Backpack, Goodies From Gardens (Saturday & Sunday) and Gardens Galore (Monday).
Daily
9:30 a.m.-5 p.m

Coast Under a Canopy of Trees
Bike nine miles of paved roads winding through our magnificent tree collections. Bring your own bike or rent one of ours (fees apply; rentals available 10 a.m.-4 p.m.).
Daily
7 a.m.-sunset

Discover Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat
Learn about the gifts that the world's endangered trees give us—and how you can join the Arboretum in saving them.
Daily
7 a.m.-sunset
The Conifer Collection

Enjoy Breakfast in the Ginkgo
Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the scenic Ginkgo Restaurant! Then take a walk around serene Meadow Lake to enjoy the morning pond wildlife. On Saturday, explore the Jens Jensen: Landscapes for People exhibit at the beautiful Sterling Morton Library (open Saturday only 10-4 p.m.).
Saturday & Sunday
9-11 a.m.

Bicycling is good for your health and good for the environment, too! Take advantage of this opportunity to explore our expansive grounds in a new and up close way. 

NEW! Bike rentals
Daily April 27-Mid-October
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
PLUS Thursdays, June 21-August 16, the rental trailer will remain open until 8 p.m. with the last rental at 6:30 p.m.
Visitor Center Parking Lot

Just stop by the Visitor Center Parking Lot to rent your bike, and let the adventure begin! First come, first served. (weather permitting) 

Bike Rental Prices
$13 ($15 Non-Member) for 2-hour rental
$23 ($25 Non-Member) for full-day rental

*Helmets and bike locks are included with rentals.

For more information see our Bicycle Rental Flyer

Free Guided Bike Tours
Fridays, May 4-September 28 (weather permitting)
10-11 a.m.
Every Fridays, bring your own bike or rent one of ours and enjoy a FREE guided bike tours. Tours will highlight Arboretum plant collections.  Ages 10 and up Free Guided Bike Tours May Meet in Parking Lot 1 near bike rental trailer.

"Auto-free" Zone
Bring your own bicycle and ride through the Arboretum's East Side
May 4-September 9
Fridays: 5:30 p.m.-sunset
Saturday & Sundays: 7-9 a.m.
Enjoy bicycling in an "auto-free" zone. (Weather permitting)

Look for bike racks at the Visitor Center, Big Rock and Prairie Visitor Stations, Administration & Research Center, Thornhill Education Center, and near the Gatehouses at the main entrance. Lock your bike at any of these racks, and see more of nature's beauty by enjoying a walk on our trails, or into our gardens.

Here, Wednesday is the new Friday! Celebrate the summer season with Wednesdays, Woods, and Wine.

Every Wednesday, June 6-August 15*
5:30-8 p.m. Ginkgo Veranda
$10 per person ($15 Non-Member)
For adults 21 and over (no children allowed)

For non-members attending this event, Arboretum admission fee is waived after 5 p.m. No reservations required.

Join us every Wednesday at the Arboretum and enjoy...

A glass of award-winning Wente wine
Live music in an intimate outdoor setting on the Ginkgo Veranda (Check back soon for musical lineup)
$10 per person ($15 Non-Member)

For additional purchase:
Extensive selection of delectable tapas
Wine, beer, and cocktails

* No event on July 4

Featured Wine of the Arboretum

In-kind Sponsor

Saturday, September 8 & Sunday, September 9
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Honey Expo

Taste Honey Products
Local vendors and The Arboretum Store will offer samples of honey and honey-related products. Beginning beekeeper kits and a host of bee-themed products will be available for sale.

Meet the Experts
Honey and bee experts, including the Arboretum's plant care experts and beekeeper, will answer questions about bees, beekeeping, and pollinator-friendly gardening.

Drop-in Lectures
Informal lectures about bees, honey, pollinator-friendly plants, and much more!

Honey Competition
NEW! A competition of extracted/liquid honey, evaluated by a certified honey judge on Friday, September 7.

Photo Contest
NEW, too!  This contest features photos of honey bees. Entries due August 13 - 17.

Fun for Families

Honey Bee Hikes
Family-friendly hikes take you past the Arboretum's beehives, and help you understand  honeybees, their favorite flowers, and how honey is made. Enrollment is limited in these fee-based programs. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration begins later this summer.

Happy Bee-Day!
The Children's Garden is celebrating its 7the Birthday with a bee-utiful event! Learn the bee dance, make a bee mask, and enjoy other crafts and activities! Local beekeepers will be in the garden to display beekeeping equipment and answer questions.

Bike to the Hives
Bike through the beautiful rolling terrain of the Arboretum to our hives for an informal presentation and tour of the hives. Bike rentals will be available at this fee-based program. Registration begins later this summer.

Learning Opportunities for Adults

Wanna-bee a backyard beekeeper? Just curious about the role bees play in our lives? We'll be offering a series of classes so you can learn about the importance of bees and their impact on the health of our planet.

• Take a tour of the Arboretum's bee hives.
• Explore the history of beekeeping, bee anatomy,
• Learn all about starting and managing a bee colony, equipment basics, honey bee pests and diseases, harvesting honey, and more.

PLUS! CHECK BACK FOR MORE EVENTS!

Tours will highlight Arboretum plant collections. Meet in Parking Lot 1 near bike rental trailer.

Ages 10 and up

Free Guided Bike Tours
Fridays, May 4-September 28 (weather permitting)
10-11 a.m.

Footloose with the family on a summer night. Chilling out with friends and a glass of wine. Enjoying an outdoor play on a summer's day. It's all here at The Morton Arboretum all summer long.

Wednesdays, Woods & Wine
Enjoy a glass of Wente wine, cheese, and live music in an intimate outdoor setting on the Ginkgo Veranda.
Wednesdays June 6–August 15 (except July 4)
Visitor Center Area
5:30–8 p.m.
$10 ($15 non-member)
Must be 21 years or older

Thursday Family Nights
NEW! Live music and extended hours in the Childrens Garden and Tree House Tales Exhibition highlight this free evening of family-friendly activities. Food service available.
Thursdays June 21–August 16
5–8 p.m.
Visitor Center Area
Free for members.
Non-members enjoy $5 Arboretum admission after 4:30 p.m

Tree House Tales
Opens June 15, 2012! Every tree has a story just waiting to be told! Come explore a magical village of 6 whimsical tree house structures. Learn about the vital roles trees play in our lives in a way that engages the imagination.
Daily
7 a.m. to sunset
Free with admission

Theatre-Hikes® at The Morton Arboretum
Experience theatre without walls on nature's stage. Walk along with the action among trees and beautiful landscapes. This summer's line-up includes The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Wind in the Willows, The Tempest, and Werewolf's Curse. Season tickets available.
Saturdays and Sundays
Adults: $12 Member ($19 Non-member)
Children (2-17): $8 Member ($13 Non-member)

Family Twilight Adventures
Hike around enchanting tree houses and embark on a twilight tram ride. Themes change monthly.
Select dates in June, July, and August
6–8 p.m.
Children's Garden

Society members will be available to answer questions and provide planting advice. Some iris varieties will be available for purchase.

Saturday, June 2
11:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Visitor Center Area

It's the 50th anniversary of the Arboretum's Schulenberg Prairie, one of the first restored tall-grass prairies in the nation! Learn more about this important native landscape type at this new symposium.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, landscape design in the Chicago region went through a major transformation. For the first time, people began to value native plants and natural landscapes. Who were the pioneering people behind this movement?

Jensen. Simonds. Olmstead.

Learn about them through the lens of three prominent landscape historians: Christopher Vernon, Bob Grese, and Robin Karson.

Explore research presented in their new books, Graceland Cemetery: A Design History and The Native Landscape,

Plus, view and discuss the short film by Daniel Morrison, Designing in the Prairie Spirit.

This event is partially underwritten by the Library of American Landscape History and forms a part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Founding of Graceland Cemetery.

Both books will be available for purchase and signing at the presentation.

Wednesday, June 20
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Sterling Morton Library
Program #H493

$21 Member ($25 Non-Member)
Non-members: One-day admission fee to the Arboretum included in event fee.

REGISTER NOW!

ONLINE

CALL630-719-2468, Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

VISIT The Visitor Center, daily during regular hours

Not a member? Begin or renew a membership now.

Join us, Sunday, September 30, as we celebrate Fall at the Arboretum with the ninth annual Fall Color 5K Run & Walk. Challenging USATF-certified course follows the East Side Main Route through rolling terrain.

Registration opens June 1.

5K Run & Walk: 8 a.m.
Member $25 (Non-Member $30)
Race Day: $35

Kids Dash 9 a.m. (ages 2-10)
Member $10 (Non-Member $12)
Race Day: $15

Not a Member? Join or renew NOW.

Event Highlights include:

• ChronoTrack B-Tag timing system
• Kids Dash (separate cost)
• Awards
• Recovery food
• FREE admission to explore our 1,700-acres, including the award-winning Children's Garden.

We gratefully acknowledge our 5 K Run & Walk sponsors:

$65 Member (Non-members $78)

Listen for birds, view evening blooming flowers, and share marshmallows and stories around the campfire.

June 23, August 10
7–9 p.m.
Thornhill Shelter

$22 Member ($26 Non-Member)