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Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden is a world-renowned living museum and conservation science center that offers multiple unique nature courses spread throughout 26 gardens and four natural areas on 385 acres.

Upcoming Classes at Chicago Botanic Garden (205)

All courses are held at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL unless indicated.

Singing Bowl Meditation

1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Wednesday, April 23rd
6:30–7:30pm CDT

$32

Thursday, April 24th
6:30–8:30pm CDT (4 sessions)

$187

Tea Tasting and Blending

1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL

Friday, April 25th
11am–1pm CDT

$93

Saturday, April 26th
8–11am CDT (4 sessions)

$112

Saturday, April 26th
9am–3:30pm CDT

$45

Saturday, April 26th
9am–12pm CDT (2 sessions)

$225

Saturday, April 26th
10am–1pm CDT

$187

Saturday, April 26th
10am–12pm CDT

$124

Saturday, April 26th
1–3:30pm CDT

$118

Sunday, April 27th
10am–12pm CDT

$93

Monday, April 28th
9–10am CDT

$25

Monday, April 28th
6–8pm CDT

$93

Wednesday, April 30th
6–8pm CDT

$93

Thursday, May 1st
12:30–3pm CDT

$187

Thursday, May 1st
5:30–8pm CDT

$118

Thursday, May 1st
6–9pm CDT

$224

Saturday, May 3rd
11am–1pm CDT

$93

Saturday, May 3rd
1–2pm CDT (2 sessions)

$249

Saturday, May 3rd
1–3pm CDT

$40

Sunday, May 4th
2–4:30pm CDT

$118

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Provider Description

The Chicago Botanic Garden opened a little more than 40 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world's great living museums and conservation science centers. In 2013, one million people visited the Garden's 26 gardens and four natural areas, uniquely situated on 385 acres on and around nine islands, with six miles of lake shoreline. The Garden also has a renowned Bonsai Collection.

The Chicago Botanic Garden has 50,000 members—one of the largest memberships of any U.S. botanic garden. People of all ages, interests, and abilities participate in programs, take classes, and stroll the grounds year-round. Within the nine laboratories of the Garden's Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, scientists and graduate students conduct a wide array of plant research. The Garden is one of only 17 public gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. Its Lenhardt Library contains 110,000 volumes — including one of the nation's best collections of rare botanical books.

HISTORY

The Chicago Botanic Garden traces its origins back to the Chicago Horticultural Society, founded in 1890. With the motto Urbs in Horto, meaning "city in a garden," the Society hosted nationally recognized flower and horticultural shows, its third the World's Columbian Exposition Chrysanthemum Show, held in conjunction with the world's fair in October 1893.

After a period of inactivity, the Chicago Horticultural Society was restarted in 1943. In 1962, its modern history began when the Society agreed to help create and manage a new public garden. With the groundbreaking for the Chicago Botanic Garden in 1965 and its opening in 1972, the Society created a permanent site on which to carry out its mission. The Garden today is an example of a successful public-private partnership. It is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and operated by the Chicago Horticultural Society.

1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022
Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe, Suburbs
1000 Lake Cook Road
Btwn Edens Exprsswy/Rt 41 & Green Bay Rd
Glencoe, Illinois 60022

Reviews of Chicago Botanic Garden

(4.4-star rating across 140 reviews)
  • Painting the Natural World

    Mindy M. • April 9, 2025
    Judith was great! Can’t do next session, but will be back! M
  • Wet-Felted Rose Workshop

    Anonymous • March 12, 2025
    Enjoyed learning the art of wet felting. Will definitely sign up for another class.
  • Houseplants 101

    Alicia S. • February 12, 2025
    I loved the class, I learned a lot of things because I am a new learner in this subject, but I needed more time to take more notes
  • iPhone Photography

    Anonymous • December 9, 2024
    I definitely learned from this class, although it was a bit disorganized. The instructor covered how to use the editing tools within the Camera app on the iPhone as well as an app called Snapseed. He also recommended a variety of other editing apps. He showed us examples of photos he had edited. The class was listed as 6 PM - 8:30 PM and actually was 6:30-8:30 PM. For the first class, I waited on Zoom from 6 PM wondering what was going on. The instructor would benefit from a planned curriculum. He seemed to meandered through tools and his own photos with a lot of repetition.
  • Creating a Garden Sanctuary: Online

    Rene C. • October 22, 2024
    Helpful. Good intro but not what I expected.
  • Needle-Felted Pumpkin

    Anonymous • October 17, 2024
    The course was fun! Well organized, clear instructions and positive feedback. I love the pumpkin I made. My only criticism is that there is insufficient handicap parking at the learning center. In my opinion, all of the spaces right at the learning center should be reserved for handicapped people.
  • Forest Bathing Experience

    Anonymous • May 27, 2024
    Loved this class!
  • Elements of the Garden: Patios

    John E. • May 23, 2024
    It was a good class. I learned a lot. The instructor was quite informative and obviously an expert in this field of study.
  • Spring Lawn Care

    John E. • April 20, 2024
    Well, informative. Helpful tips that will improve my "green thumb" effort.
  • Container Gardens: Pots with Panache

    Anonymous • April 12, 2024
    I enjoyed the instructor and the slides were very helpful to her presentation. I think the course could run 90 minutes rather than 2 hours and would have appreciate a few more tips on putting containers together with a video showing the steps. But, I enjoyed it and appreciated the pacing and her recommendations on different potting soils and plants for the various seasons.
  • Arranging Store-Bought Bouquets: Online

    Eileen P. • April 11, 2024
    I learned good flower arranging techniques from this class and really liked the instructor
  • Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects

    Nadine T. • April 8, 2024
    The class was very good, I learned a lot. More than I thought I would on the subject. The teacher took her time, I was able to follow everything she said.
  • Snowflake-Inspired Sashiko Workshop

    Marlene C. • February 25, 2024
    I thoroughly enjoyed the class. I have done Sashiko before and this class helped me improve my skills. Justin made the zoom class relaxing and fun. I would definitely take a class from Justin again.
  • Pruning Principles

    Anonymous • February 9, 2024
    The instructor was very good! But 1. The remote option wasn't great -- screen projections weren't always visible. 2. Classroom setting was not what I'd expected - I'd hoped to see some actual pruning take place in a garden or nursery, to be able to see up close where cuts were made, what tools used, etc 3. I'm in California, so much of the material wasn't pertinent. Info on dogwoods, lilacs and other hedges and trees we don't have here. That's perfectly fine and makes sense since it came from Chicago but it would be helpful if the course blurb mentioned what geographic planting zones it would helpful. It really wasn't designed for folks out west
  • Mosaic Bird Pendant Workshop

    Janice V. • January 21, 2024
    Wonderful, as are all Bonnie's classes!
  • Holiday Calligraphy Workshop

    Kimberly B. • December 22, 2023
    I learned some of the basic’s. Would really like more time and maybe more one on one. But, this might be a case of practice makes perfect, and I just need a lot of practice. I appreciate that I have finally had a class on calligraphy. Thank you. I know teaching to adults is much harder than teaching kids in class. We want to learn overnight.
  • Goat Milk Soap Making

    yolanda M. • November 12, 2023
    The person who was supposed to teach;just talk about his family and his worked hiw tiredness might be,and people in the class were interested in the goats life;I went to learned how to do the soaps plus the person I asked how much oil,coconut oil,fat was the measurements and he told me that he wasn’t going to tell me,If he is afraid that someone still his recipe;he is wrong;when somebody gives a class…….teach not just live you in a limbo,very insatisfied For the money was a poor class
  • Arranging Store-Bought Bouquets: Online

    Shelly L. • October 8, 2023
    The class was canceled and no communication to inform students and no one was on the phone to answer what was going on with the class.
  • Forest Bathing Experience

    Michelle M. • September 11, 2023
    This was my first experience but I have done a lot of research on forest bathing. Sally did a great job! She is so kind and generous and even stayed a little after to talk to me about how I am trying to set up a business of my own around forest bathing. My only suggestion is that the gardens provide a detailed explanation on where to find the group. I was 15 minuets late because I am not the greatest map reader and had to figure out where to go once I parked. Maybe drawing on the map or suggesting a specific parking lot would help. It was a beautiful day and I am SO glad I attended!
  • Outdoor Survival and Shelter Building

    LAURA G. • June 19, 2023
    In the advertising for this course they show a photo of people actually in the forest . We were on a manicured lawn area with clean branches and brush tied up in a pile . Not exactly foraging ! You can’t learn much that way . In a real life situation there wouldn’t be a pile ready and waiting for you . I wanted to learn which branches are suitable vs those that aren’t . Also wanted to learn how to start a fire . What types of material would be good for that . Learning in a class room is fine but hands on is so much better . You will remember hands on as opposed to taking notes in a class room . Handouts of the presentation should have been included for the price paid .
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Review Summary by CourseHorse

According to student reviews, the classes at Chicago Botanic Garden cover a wide range of topics such as forest bathing, beekeeping, painting, gardening, plant care, and more. Many students reported learning a lot of information and gaining new skills from their classes. Some specific skills mentioned include learning about brushes and paint mixing in painting classes, gaining knowledge about specific plants and how to care for them in gardening classes, and learning about the process of making soap. The instructors are frequently praised for their knowledge and teaching abilities, with many students expressing a desire to take more classes with them. Quotes: - "My first class at the Botanical gardens. It was great! Looking forward to other related classes. Mr. Lucas had a lot of knowledge. I love his teaching techniques. Thank you" - "This class was a delight! I learned so much. It is an intensive class, so expect to spend time out of class studying, but also expect to come away with newly gained understanding of the plant world and how much we rely on it." - "The best Bonsai teacher ever... Chris Baker! Learnt a lot in those two three short hours. Me Baker was very generous with sharing his knowledge and expertise on the subject. I only wish we could have had a week-long workshop. Thank you."

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