Students, families, horticulture enthusiasts and new gardeners alike can find something to love at a botanical garden. You can see exotic and local plants, breathe in the various aromas of different themed displays, and obtain information on home gardening and conservation. For little or no cost, botanical gardens are attractive and educational destinations for people of all ages and education levels. Illinois alone has a variety of gardens to visit.
All Illinois Botanical Gardens and arboretums strive to increase community knowledge about conservation and plant life, as well as provide an outlet for botanical researchers to study the environment. The Chicago Botanical Garden, for example, hosts conservation science laboratories and a public plant science center.
This 385-acre garden is the most widely visited of botanic gardens in the country. It is spread over nine islands surrounded by lakes, and contains 24 different types of display gardens on its property. These displays include an aquatic, bonsai, fruit and vegetable, native plant, rose, waterfall, and many more types of gardens. They also have a Plant Evaluation Program that studies the adaptability of various plants to the Midwest. According to Sandra Mason, professor of horticulture at the University of Illinois, this plant evaluation program is “one of the largest and most diverse in the United States.”
The Klehm Arboretum in Rockford, Ill., boasts an array of plant and tree life that does not usually thrive in the Midwest, making it a prime place for study and observation. Its 155-acre space was originally a family-owned nursery with landscape architecture by William Lincoln Taylor. In modern times, the Klehm Garden is growing in size and diversity with new facilities to meet guests’ needs.
This botanical center has indoor and outdoor gardens for tropical plants, perennial plants, butterfly gardens, and plenty of hands-on activities for children. It is located in Rock Island, Ill., by the Mississippi River. The Quad City mission is to provide exhibits that promote the enjoyment and accessibility of plants, and to increase and inspire knowledge of the environment.
This garden in Peoria, Ill,, has an indoor conservatory for tropical plants and an outdoor scene with a rose garden and unique landscaping. They have a lily show and orchid show for Mother’s Day, as well as an annual spring plant sale. They also offer a garden membership for frequent visitors, as well as gardening classes, education programs, and availability for special events.
