Chicago Botanic Garden Spring 2019

Dramatic views included Beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces at the Chicago Botanic Garden are perfect for events large and small, from wed- dings to business meetings. Guests will be delighted by exclusive catering, natu- ral beauty, and year-round spaces made for memorable experiences. Visit chicagobotanic.org/events or call (847) 835-8370 Across the Preserves Discover the signs of spring on the move Each spring, millions of birds migrate through the Chicago area. In the Forest Preserves of Cook County, you can see such visitors as black-throated green warblers and green herons on their way to their summer homes. But look close- ly on your next visit, and you will spot a few more subtle movements also tak- ing place this season. ere are eight di erent species of bats in the Forest Preserves, and all but one migrate in the spring. Some stay for the summer, while others only stop for a day or two on their way further north. Even if you don’t see one, be happy they’re here. All our local bats eat in- sects: A single half-ounce little brown bat can eat half its body weight in in- sects each night. After ve months of overwintering in Mexico, monarch butter ies come north, each generation hatching the next en route. e butter ies that reach southern Canada may be the great- great-grandchildren of those that start- ed the trip. Monarchs lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed plants during their migration. Adding milkweed to your garden is an easy way to support this incredible journey. Turtles hibernate for the winter, spend- ing the snowy season with a dramati- cally lower metabolism, buried in mud or near water. When the weather con- sistently warms, the six species that can be found in the Forest Preserves awak- en. Please don’t disturb any turtle eggs you see! We want to keep adding to our population of young turtles in the pre- serves. Plan a trip to the Forest Preserves to see these spring movers. Learn more map.fpdcc.com