Plants & Parks

Whether feeling the tickle of grass under our toes, admiring summer’s huge sunflowers or breathing air that has been cleansed of dust by nearby trees, our daily lives intertwine with plants in ways both seen and hidden. From downtown’s Lurie Garden – nestled within the sleekly modern Millennium Park – and majestic lakefront Grant Park, to the west and south sides’ historic Garfield and Jackson Parks, to the hundreds of neighborhood parks and gardens sprinkled throughout the city, Chicago earns its nickname “City in a Garden.” These titles take a closer look at our greenest citizens and our urge to know and nurture them.

Titles

Anatomy of a Rose: Exploring the Secret Life of Flowers
– Sharman Apt Russell
A joyous look at the science and the splendor of flowers, as well as the secret tricks they use to tempt birds, animals and insects to come a little closer.

The Tree-Sitter: A Novel
– Suzanne Matson
College student Julie Prince follows her boyfriend to the forests of Oregon for what she thinks will be a romantic summer trip, and is forced to decide how far she will go to protect the trees she grows to love.

The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring
– Richard Preston
An adventure tale fraught with danger, beauty and innovation, Preston’s book traces the recent discovery of the rich treetop ecosystem of the giant redwoods, the world’s tallest organisms.

The Man Who Planted Trees **
–Jean Giono
The simple tale of a man who quietly plants 100 acorns a day in order to bring life and hope to his home in war-torn France.

Wild Iris
– Louise Glück
In this Pulitzer-Prize winning collection, Glück speaks of the natural world from the point of view of its most poetic manifestation, flowers.

Chicago’s Urban Nature: A Guide to the City’s Architecture + Landscape
– Sally A. Kitt Chappell
Chicago leads the way in the international movement towards greener cities, and this book highlights the places where buildings and green spaces come together to form the “City in a Garden.”

Inspired by Nature: The Garfield Park Conservatory and Chicago’s West Side
–Julia Sniderman Bachrach & Jo Ann Nathan
Lavish with photographs, this book lovingly tells the hundred-year history of the Garfield Park Conservatory.

 

**Breezy Reads: light, entertaining books for both adult and teen readers.