April Events

CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY AT THE MORTON ARBORETUM

Giving Thanks to Trees and Nature

ARBOR DAY:
LISLE, IL (January 24, 2012) – Let your shoes speak for the trees! The "Arbor Day 10K Run" supports the Arboretum's mission to plant and protect trees with a joyful run through our lush grounds. Feel the freshness of spring as the crisp air blows on your face; see the wonders of nature as you run through a vast collection of trees, and taste the challenge of a USATF-certified hilly course. Plus, we've got a ChronoTrack B-Tag timing system, recovery food and $5 pancake breakfast after the race. And an added bonus: your entry fee gives you free access to explore our 1,700 acres after the race. Costs $33 in advance; $38 day of race. ($28 for Arboretum members in advance; $38 day of race). Not a member? Our 10K Runners Special New Member Offer includes member registration price plus a 1-year Morton 1 membership for only $72. Register at mortonarb.org or call 630-968-0074.
April 22: 8 a.m.

A special "Garden Story Time and Tree Planting" in honor of Arbor Day. Celebrate the best environmental holiday with your friends and everyone's favorite children's book character, Curious George! Curious George will lead the celebratory walk from the Children's Garden to the tree planting site. Listen to a tree-inspiring story, and then help Curious George plant a tree! After the planting George will take a short banana break. While you wait for his return, head over to the Arboretum Store and pick up Curious George Plants a Tree, plush items and more! After George's snack, he will return to the Arboretum Store to hang with the kids before leading "A Curious Walk with Curious George." Curious George and a docent friend will guide families around Meadow Lake pointing out some unusual trees while telling stories. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children's Garden.
April 27: 10:45 - 11:30 a.m. - Celebratory walk from Children's Garden to story and tree planting.
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - George's playtime in the store.
1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - "Curious Walk with Curious George"
*Curious George will take little 15 minute banana breaks to rest throughout the day. Don't worry he will come back out.

Hooray for trees! Show your love for trees and nature at the "Arbor Celebration" in the Children's Garden. Plant tree seeds, investigate tree cookies and hunt for five unique trees hiding in the garden. This is a self-guided hands-on discovery activity. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children's Garden.
April 27 - 29: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (weather permitting)

Get your gardening on! Choose from over 300 different types of trees, shrubs and other plants selected by Arboretum experts at the "Arbor Day Plant Sale." Plant geniuses are there to help you create your own oasis. It is recommended to bring photos if you have questions about specific parts of your garden. All ages. Cost per item. Main Parking Lot.
April 28: noon - 4 p.m. and April 29: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Other April Fun:
Hippity-hop down the bunny trail searching for bunny nests, bunny tracks and maybe even some bunny babies! Go incognito-wear your bunny ears to blend in with the other furry animals. Afterwards, read a bunny story and make a fuzzy bunny craft to take home to your parents. Ages 18 - 36 months with an adult. Costs $22 per child ($15 for Arboretum members). Limited space! Register at mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center Outpost.
April 4: 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Be your kids' nature hero! Reserve a self-guided "Family Explorers Backpack" to enhance your child's experience in the Children's Garden. You'll become your kid's science partner using the science tools, guides and props from the backpack to bring to life some of nature's mysteries. Suggested for families with children age 2 - 6. Costs $5 ($4 for Arboretum members). Visitor Center.
April 1 - October 31: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Do you know all the colors of the rainbow? "Playing with Rainbows" introduces your children to all the colors this mystical nature show exhibits. Make a rainbow bracelet of your own to take home. This is a self-guided hands-on discovery activity. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children's Garden.
Weekends in April: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Wind: you can feel it, but you can't see it! Where does it come from and where does it go? Play with tools that measure wind and other types of weather in "Blow Wind Blow," and unearth how these tools help us. This is a self-guided hands-on discovery activity. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children's Garden.
Weekends in April: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Yummy bunny time! "Breakfast with the Bunny" lets your kids have a delicious breakfast that mom or dad doesn't have to cook. While spending family time together, the Easter Bunny will visit with each table. All ages. $26 for children 4 - 12 years of age; Adults $32 ($21 for Arboretum member children; $25 for Arboretum member adults). All kids 3 and under free. Tickets on sale March 17, 2012. Register at mortonarb.org or call 630-968-0074. Ginkgo Restaurant.
April 6 - 7: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Put on your best Easter bonnet and come to the "Easter Brunch!" Have a wonderful family meal together while the Easter Bunny visits your table. All ages. $32 for children; adults $47 ($26 for Arboretum member children; $38 for Arboretum member adults). Tickets on sale March 17, 2012. Register at mortonarb.org or call 630-968-0074. Ginkgo Restaurant.
April 8: seating's at 9:30 a.m.; noon; and 3:00 p.m.

Save yourself time, frustration and money! "How to Plant and Care for Your Garden" gives you knowledge you can use in the maintenance of your oasis. Learn the best ways to plant, transplant and maintain trees, shrubs and perennials. Instruction on how and when to water, use mulches and fertilizers and many other tasks. Adults. Costs $99 ($83 for Arboretum members). Register mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center.
Wednesdays, April 11 - 25: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Books and nature, what a great combination! "Leafing Through the Pages Member Book Discussion" is a free perk for showing your support of the Arboretum through membership. This week's discussion covers John M. Barry's The Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America. Adults. Sterling Morton Library.
April 12: 10 a.m. - noon

Wander through the world of words! A family favorite returns for another year. "Garden Story Time" lets your kids experience an exciting nature-themed story in a beautiful outdoor setting. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children's Garden.
Fridays, April - October: 11 - 11:20 a.m.

Artists on display! "The Nature Artists' Guild Spring Exhibit" has over 100 works by nature artists, plus demonstrations during the shows. Adults. Free with Arboretum admission. Thornhill Education Center.
April 14 - 15: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Color your world! "Beginner's Drawing Workshops: Colored Pencil" shows you the basics for working with colored pencils in our historic Founder's Room, the former library to our founder, Joy Morton. You will start off simple by drawing a spring flower. Once you have created art of your own, the class will stroll through the Nature Artists' Guild Spring Exhibit. All supplies included. Ages 16 and up. Costs $42 ($35 for Arboretum members). Thornhill Education Center.
April 14 or 15: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Grow your own herbs! "Adding Herbs to Your Garden" shows you how to cultivate herbs for cooking and decor. Practical and pretty! You will learn many easy-to-grow herbs, how to care for them, and how to design your garden to include them. Plus discover some easy herb recipes. Adults. Costs $22 ($18 for Arboretum members). Register mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center.
April 19: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Spy the signs of spring! "Let's Explore Spring" takes your little ones searching for signs of spring. They may see animals building homes for their new families or even baby animals too. Then enjoy a spring story and create a colorful craft. For children ages 3 - 5 years with an adult. Costs $25 per child ($18 for Arboretum members.) Register mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center Outpost.
April 17 and 21: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet! Spring is here and so are the birds. "Spring Bird Walks" takes you and other bird-enthusiasts through the Arboretum to discover the Eastern bluebirds, rufous-sided towhees and the Eastern meadowlarks returning or passing through Illinois on their journey north. Dress for weather and bring binoculars and a field guide to enhance the experience. Adults. Costs $10 plus gate fee ($8 for Arboretum members). Register mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center Shelter.
April 21: 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Flowers and folklore! "Spring Woodland Wildflowers" takes you through the blooms emerging in our woodlands. Learn how to identify these wildflowers and discover the magical folklore behind them. Ages 16 and up. Costs $25 ($18 for Arboretum members). Register mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Parking Lot #8.
April 21: 9:00 a.m. - noon

Cheep, cheep! "A Nest Full of Eggs" teaches your toddler about the baby animals living at the Arboretum. Connect babies with their parents, see how they grow while playing games, singing songs, and looking for different animal homes on our grounds. For children ages 18 - 36 months with an adult. Costs $22 per child ($15 for Arboretum members). Register mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center Outpost.
April 25 and May 5: 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Capture spring! In "Native Spring Plants in Watercolor" visiting artist Lynne Railsback shows you how to work through the challenges of painting spring. Dry brush techniques and working with a Bristol board is also explored. Adults. Costs $270 ($230 for Arboretum members). Register mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center.
April 27 - 29: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

See beautiful gardens, woodlands, wetlands and prairies in a tram tour. Sixty minute and 30-minute tours aboard the open-air Acorn Express explain the rich Arboretum history, and describe the trees and plants you'll see. There's also an opportunity to see lovely wildlife in a native habitat. Tickets are $6; ($5 for Arboretum members). Call 630-968-0074 for times.
Daily April 14 through October, (weather permitting)

Functional and fabulous! "Creating Woodland Gardens" shows you how to blend native plants into your landscape. Learn the advantages of your site and explore adding forms to tie in your garden spaces together. Adults. Costs $78 ($66 for Arboretum members). Register mortonarb.org/education or 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center.
April 26: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
April 28: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Hundreds of thousands of Serbian spruce trees once rolled across the landscape of Europe. Now, fewer than 1,000 remain in the wild. Enhance your tree knowledge about spruces and other trees and learn how you can help in "Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat." A small outdoor exhibit premiered at The Morton Arboretum and also travels to other arboreta and botanical gardens across the United States spreading the ever important message: "Save Our Trees."All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Conifer Collections.
Now- September 3, 2012: 7 a.m. - sunset.

Walk through the life of Jens Jensen. "Jens Jensen: Landscapes for People" takes you through a journey of Jensen's landscape drawings, archival photographs and current photographs to introduce you to the wonderful philosophies and landscape style of Jens Jensen. This exhibit focuses on his 1939 book Siftings as an example of his naturalistic, prairie-inspired style of landscape design. As a major figure in American landscape architecture, Jensen always centered his designs on the people. They are aesthetically beautiful, but always an expression of the social impact of the land. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Sterling Morton Library.
Now - December 31, 2012: Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Morton Arboretum gratefully acknowledges generous support from: Navistar: Presenting Sponsor of the Children's Garden, UPM–The Biofore Company: Contributing Sponsor of Vanishing Acts; Wente Family Estates, the featured wine sponsor of the Arboretum; Target sponsor of "Reading Adventure Programs;" Dick Pond Athletics/New Balance and M&M Orthopaedics Contributing Sponsors and Waste Management and Whole Foods Markets In-kind sponsors for the Arbor Day 10K Run; Edy's Ice Cream; Illinois Arts Council,

Unless otherwise specified, all Arboretum events and destinations including the Children's Garden are free with Arboretum admission.

The 2012 rates are:
$12/adult, ($8 on Wednesday), ages 18-64
$11/senior, ($7 on Wednesday), ages 65 and over
$9/child ($6 on Wednesday), ages 2-17
Under age 2 is free. Parking is free

The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned leader in tree science and education, working to save and plant trees. The 1,700-acre outdoor museum features magnificent collections of 4,128 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. Central Time until sunset. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through February. Visit Press Room at www.mortonarb.org, call to learn more.

Media Contacts:

Mary Beth Sammons l 630.725.2103 l 847.757.3189 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Allison Phelps Ι 630.719.5768 Ι 773.724.1385 Ι This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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