September Events
TBA
AUTUMNFEST AT THE MORTON ARBORETUM LAUNCHES THE COLORFUL SEASON
September Activities, Events, and Festivals for All Ages
AutumnFest at The Morton Arboretum……………………………………………………………
LISLE, IL (June 27, 2011) – Celebrate the cool crisp weather and the changing of the seasons in nature! “AutumnFest at The Morton Arboretum” is a two-month long festival of activities to entertain the entire family. From the Honey Bee Festival to the Fall Garden Shoppe, the sticky taffy apples of AutumnFest Fare, and the new Glass Pumpkin Patch, fun is nestled in a radiant nature show of reds, golds, and oranges. All ages. Various activities September and October. For more information visit www.mortonarb.org.
Bring autumn home! Chose stunning fall perennial favorites, spring bulbs, and other plants at the “Fall Garden Shoppe.” Fall is a great time to plant! Let Arboretum experts help you add color and texture to your home landscape. All ages. Entrance to the Fall Garden Shoppe is Free with Arboretum admission. Costs per item. Arbor Court.
Daily, September 17 – September 25: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Travel the globe from inside the Arboretum! Go Around the World in 80 Days at September’s “Theatre-Hike.” Encounter stampeding elephants, raging typhoons, and runaway trains as you follow the fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg and his faithful servant Passepartout in a race around the world. After entering an outrageous wager that puts his fortune and his life at risk, Fogg and Passepartout set out to cover seven continents in 80 days while dodging a detective who thinks he’s a robber on the run. Danger, romance, and comedic surprises await all who attend. Each theatre-hike presents a different scene at a new location on the Arboretum grounds. Audience members hike to each location to enjoy the unfolding story. Regular hikes are on Saturdays and low-impact hikes (suitable for strollers, walkers and wheelchairs) are on Sundays. Costs for individual shows $13 - $19 (discounts for Arboretum members). All ages, Thornhill Shelter.
Weekends September: 1 p.m.
Honey Bee Festival…………………………………………………………………………………….
Have a honey of a time all weekend at the “Honey Bee Festival!” Local vendors display and sell a variety of honey and honey-related products. Beeswax candles, honey soaps, and lotions are just some of the irresistible items available for purchase. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Costs per items. Visitor Center.
September 10 and 11: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Walk with the bees! Go on exciting “Honeybee Hikes” with the entire family. Discover the honeybees’ favorite flowers and how honey is made. Then get an exclusive tour of the Arboretum’s beehives. Ages 2 and older. Costs $6 (discounts for Arboretum members) plus general Arboretum admission. Register via Education at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Children’s Garden.
September 10 and 11: 11 – 11:45 a.m.; 1 – 1:45 p.m.; and 3 – 3:45 p.m.
Get the buzz on bees! Learn about the importance of bees in our world from the Arboretum’s own beekeeper on a “Bee Hive Tour.” Get an exclusive tour of the Arboretum’s bee hives and sample some of the sweet honey. Protective bee netting is provided. Ages 16 and older. Costs $32 (discounts for Arboretum members). Register via Education at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Research Center.
September 9: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Want to be a beekeeper? “Beginning Beekeeping” explores the history of beekeeping and bee anatomy with the Arboretum’s beekeeper. Learn how to start and manage a colony, equipment basics, honey bee pests and diseases, how to harvest honey and much more! All participants will receive their own hive tools to take home. Ages 16 and older. Costs $94 (discounts for Arboretum members). Register via Education at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center.
Tuesdays; September 13 – October 4: 6 – 8 p.m.
Brunch with the bees! Join a master beekeeper to find out how easy and fun beekeeping is! Over a delicious, honey-themed brunch, explore the pleasures of home beekeeping, discover the importance of local beekeepers in pollinator health, and get honey recipes to take home. Ages 16 and up. Costs $32 (discounts for Arboretum members). Register via Education at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Ginkgo Restaurant.
September 10: 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Bees at the movies! See the critically acclaimed documentary, Queen of the Sun. Examine the dire global bee crisis through the eyes of biodynamic beekeepers, scientists, farmers, and philosophers. On a pilgrimage around the world, this limited release film unveils 10,000 years of beekeeping, highlighting how our historic and sacred relationship with bees has been lost, and how a new generation of beekeepers is rediscovering this tradition. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Costs $4 - $6 (discounts for Arboretum members) plus general Arboretum admission. Register via Education at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Administration Building.
September 11: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; 1 – 2:30 p.m.; 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Have a “Happy Bee-Day!” Celebrate the Children’s Garden’s sixth birthday with a buzzing good time. Do a bee dance, create a bee mask and learn about beekeeping in this hands-on discovery activity. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children’s Garden.
September 10 and 11: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (beekeeper meeting from noon – 3 p.m.)
Other September Events……………………………………………………………………………
Now one we see them…for for how long? Explore the precarious plight of the world's trees in “Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat.” This new outdoor exhibit premiers at The Morton Arboretum and travels to other arboreta and botanical gardens across the U.S. Learn how trees enrich our lives, explore the forces that threaten them, and find out how you can help these endangered trees. Free with Arboretum admission. All ages. Conifer Collection.
Daily, September 2, 2011 - September 2, 2012: 7 a.m. to sunset
Trees as art! Discover how the trees at The Morton Arboretum inspired artists to develop a diverse and surprising set of creations. “Nature Unframed: Art at the Arboretum” displays eleven striking and unique works of art. Renowned artists from around the world designed their pieces specifically based on what they saw and felt on the grounds. The art complements the stunning beauty at the Arboretum, and changes with the seasons. Come see what September does to Nature Unframed! Free with Arboretum admission. All ages.
Now – November 27: 7 a.m. to sunset
Get lost in nature! Set off on an afterhours “Family Twilight Adventure” through the Arboretum. Hike, engage in nature-themed activities, and roast yummy marshmallows before going on a tram ride through the grounds. All ages. Children must be accompanied by adult registrant; one adult per five children. Costs $23 (discounts for Arboretum members). Register via Education at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Children’s Garden.
September 16: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
September 24: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
October 8: 7 – 9 p.m.
October 14: 6 – 8 p.m.
October 22: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Hidden beauties of autumn! “Fall for Wildflowers” celebrates the lesser-known colors of the season. Discover the prairie and woodlands aglow with asters, gentians, goldenrods, joe-pye weed, and glorious grasses. Different areas covered each week. Adults. Costs $19 (discounts for Arboretum members). Register via Education at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Prairie Visitor Station.
September 10: 9:30 a.m. – noon
September 14: 5 – 7 p.m.
What kind of tree are you? “Be a Tree” explores very unique trees. Find the one that you connect with most and then make a tree mask to take home! This is a self-guided discovery activity. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children’s Garden.
Weekdays in September: 1 – 4 p.m. (weather permitting)
Follow the pages to a great adventure! “Garden Story Time” brings families together for a nature-themed story under the magical canopy of trees. Stories change weekly. September’s theme is “Trees.” All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children’s Garden.
Fridays in September: 11 a.m.
Go wild! Kids will love seeing “Crazy Caterpillars.” Hunt for caterpillars, spy butterflies, and sniff their favorite flowers. Little guys and gals will also learn about the caterpillar’s cousin, the moth! Ages 2 – 3 with an adult. Costs $21 (discounts for Arboretum members). Register via Education at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Children’s Garden.
September 15: 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Trees give us many gifts! “Bountiful Trees” explores how trees provide food, shelter, and beauty. Make your own apple print at this is a self-guided discovery activity. All ages. Free with Arboretum admission. Children’s Garden.
Weekends in September: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (weather permitting)
To genetically engineer crops or not to genetically engineer crops? That is the latest discussion in September’s “Zone 5 Science Café.” This month’s topic is “Waiter, There are Genes in My Food!” Discuss with local scientists and interested citizens the myths and realities behind genetically engineered organisms. The use of genetic engineering is severely restricted in Europe, while in the U.S. its use is expanding the use. In the comfortable atmosphere of your local Whole Foods Café, share opinions, ideas, and plans for the future as you discuss today’s hottest environmental topics, including climate change, local food, and more. Zone 5 refers to the federal designation for the climate and growing conditions for plants in Chicagoland. Adults. Free but pre-registration is required for this evenings café. Register at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Occurs at Whole Foods Market Café in the South Loop: 1101 S. Canal St, Suite 107, Chicago, IL 60607
September 15: 7 p.m.
Watch an intimate screening of the new documentary “Green Fire!” Explore the world of Aldo Leopold, the father of the national wilderness system, wildlife management and ecological restoration. See his personal journey and learn how his ideas reached the entire American landscape, from inner cities to the remotest wildlands. He encouraged people to see the natural world as a community to which we belong. Before the screening, attend a dessert reception. Afterwards, discuss the film with a local panel, including Leopold biographer Curt Meine and author Jim Ballowe. Adults. Costs $18 (discounts for Arboretum members). Register at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Sterling Morton Library.
September 22: 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Part designer, planner, social reformer, conservationist and artist! Explore the world of one of America's most influential landscape architects with “Jens Jensen: Landscapes for People.” See original landscape drawings, archival photographs, and modern color photographs of Jensen’s ideas. Learn the impact of landscapes he presented in his 1939 book, ‘Siftings.’ Discover how Jensen has helped shape the landscape of the Chicago area by capturing the horizontal lines of the prairie while providing places for people to find relaxation, restoration, and renewal in nature. Free with Arboretum admission. Adults. Sterling Morton Library.
Now- September 1, 2012: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Friday; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday
Paint with wool! “Pictorial Felt Animal and Plant Portraits” teaches how to use felt to create beautiful art pieces from your drawing or photo. Traditional wet and needle felting is covered. After, see a show of quilt examples from different artists. No experience necessary. Adults. Costs $80 (discounts for Arboretum members). Register at www.mortonarb.org/education or call 630-719-2468. Thornhill Education Center.
September 17: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The Morton Arboretum gratefully acknowledges generous support from: Sara Lee Foundation; Harris Bank; UPM –The Biofore Company; Lisle Convention and Visitors Bureau, the featured hotel sponsor; the Illinois Arts Council; Whole Foods Markets; Navistar: Presenting Sponsor of the Children’s Garden; and Edy's Ice Cream.
Unless otherwise specified, all Arboretum events and destinations including the Children’s Garden are free with Arboretum admission. The 2011 rates are:
$11/adult, ($7 on Wednesday), ages 18-64
$10/senior, ($6 on Wednesday), ages 65 and over
$8/child ($5 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, or call to learn more.
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