Chicago Botanic Garden Fall 2019

72 chicagobotanic.org In its own way, the change that deciduous plants undergo in the fall is as dramatic as any other season. “Deciduous” means falling out (your baby teeth are deciduous) or falling o , like the leaves of so many of our trees and shrubs do. Here in the Midwest, leaf drop signals the beginning of the cold season, but in other parts of the world, it’s a harbinger of the dry season. During this time, plants are resource-e cient, preparing for a lack of water and transferring the season’s nal carbohydrates and amino acids from their leaves to their stems, trunks, and roots to provide energy for the next growing season. Of course, this change is often visually stunning as well. Yellow and orange pigments (carot- enoids) are hidden in the summer; reds and purples (anthocyanins) are newly made as days get shorter. Photosynthesis slows to a halt and green pigments (chlorophyll) degrade. We’re lucky to see such striking colors. Many animals—your dog or cat, for instance—can’t. We’ve also prepared for a fall show, such as the beautiful cascade mums for the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden. e yellow ‘Megumi’ and orange ‘Vernal Falls’ have been growing in the Robert F. Finke Greenhouses since early May. Training the magni cent mum balls that will be in the Regenstein Center started in late March, with tiny cuttings. ese and the other mums we grow are superb, but we don’t limit ourselves. You shouldn’t either. Make sure to check out dozens of late-blooming and pollinator- friendly selections in the Sensory, Circle, Crescent, and other gardens as Bees & Beyond, our Garden-wide pro- gram on pollinators, draws to a close. Brian Barker has been working at the Garden for 37 years. His title—horticulturist—belies the breadth and depth of his talents, which are best seen in the Regenstein Center displays and in the stunning creations he masterminds for our annual Orchid Show. However, a little bit of Brian is sprinkled throughout the Garden; he’s a generous mentor to the rest of the team, who regularly consult with him on the ner points of their own seasonal designs. Like Brian, custodial supervisor Javier Figueroa is another 37-year Garden veteran who also works in the back- ground. Nevertheless, with his intimate knowledge of all our buildings and event operations, he’s as indispensable as the sun for our gardens. It takes all of our sta here to deliver our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. This season in the Garden Setting the scene for fall’s dramatic show McDonald Woods | 100-acre restored oak woodland | Renamed in 1994 to honor Mary Mix McDonald, former Cook County commissioner and Chicago Horticultural Society board member | Home to at least seven state-listed threatened or endan- gered plant species Fred Spicer, executive vice president and director