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The Morton Arboretum, located 25 miles west of Chicago, is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,117 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?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????????the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier and more beautiful world.
The sparkling Children?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Garden at The Morton Arboretum has now drawn six prestigious awards from professional design or construction organizations. The latest is the ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????President’s Award?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? in the commercial design category from the American Society of Landscape Architects, Illinois Chapter. This is the organization?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s top award. The garden was designed by Herb Schaal, FASLA, of EDAW Ft. Collins, Colo. see ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????The Best Backyard in the World?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? www.landscapearchitect.com/research/article/6509.
The Hitchcock Design Group of Naperville did the construction docs and the construction of the garden (see the Hitchcock profile on p. 102, 103).
Jurors from the Indiana chapter who judged the Illinois entries concluded the garden ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????exhibits leadership, sensitivity and highly effective education,?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? according to Ann Viger, ASLA Illinois chapter president. When Ann Viger visited the Children?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Garden, she marveled, ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????It blew me away, it was incredible. I spent an hour there. I wish I could have spent the whole day.?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????
The ASLA?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Colorado Chapter bestowed its President?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Award for Commercial Design on the Children?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Garden design as well.
?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????Given the diminishing opportunities for children to have meaningful experiences in nature, the Children?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Garden provides a vital service to boys and girls, and increases their appreciation for trees,?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? Katherine Johnson, Children?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Garden Manager, said.
Nationally, the $10.5 million Children?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Garden is one of the largest gardens of its kind with four acres of trees, shrubs, aquatic plants and play spaces, It is one of the best and most unique outdoor destinations in Chicagoland.
The garden features 10 smaller gardens where children explore larger-than-life roots and an elaborate water garden. Youngsters follow stepping stones through a pond, crawl across a net suspended above the ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????prairie,?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? slide down giant tree roots and climb colossal acorns.
The Morton Arboretum won a 2005 Conservation and Native Landscaping award from the EPA and Chicago Wilderness for ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????outstanding?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? restoration of Meadow Lake with native plants. Approximately 68,000 plants representing more than 100 species restored the 5.2 acre Meadow Lake shoreline. The plants anchor soils, improve storm water management, provide habitat and help the public better understand the benefits of restoration with native plants. Among the plants are uncommon species like the pinkish flowers of the obedient plant (the ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????False Dragonhead?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????), which stay in the position that you bend them. There is the sweet flag, planted in the water, which is not often found in wetlands. If a sweet flag leaf breaks, a sweet aroma is emitted. Great angelica features enormous leaves with beautiful, purple stems and white flowers. Shoreline species more commonly found in a prairie include Indian grass, big bluestem, little bluestem, yellow coneflower and sweet black-eyed Susan.
The intriguing wooden sculptures were created by internationally-acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty, recipient of three fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. His more than 175 sculptures around the world, have been nests, cocoons, shelters, huts, haystacks and even household items. He sculpted these larger-than-life creations at the Morton Arboretum in 2006. Dougherty began by digging postholes and inserting wooden poles, then laid branches and twigs so they ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????snagged?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? together, working with scaffolding as the sculpture grew. Soon, the creation took form and seemingly came to life, stimulating the imagination. The Arboretum commissioned the sculptures to help visitors appreciate trees on a deeper level, and to encourage them to plant and conserve trees. The sculptures remained on display for 11 months.
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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