Lurie Garden Quick Facts:
Location – Millennium Park, Chicago, Il
Hours – Open Monday- Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cost – Free!
Located at the southern end of Millennium Park (one of the world’s largest green roofs) the 2.5 acre Lurie Garden offers a serene break from the city’s grid of skyscrapers. Designed by Landscape architect Gustafson Guthrie Nichol and perennial garden designer Piet Oudolf, the garden is meant to resemble Chicago’s past and present. There are many reasons why people travel from all over the world to visit Chicago’s Lurie Garden. If you haven’t been, here are just a few reasons you should put it on your list.
- Experience nature as it should be: free of charge –
The Lurie Garden welcomes as many as four million visitors each year from all over the world, making it one of Chicago’s most popular free attractions. The upkeep and maintenance are funded by a $10 million endowment by Ann Lurie and is aided by many volunteers giving their time to keep it thriving all year. If you are budgeting for travel to Chicago to visit the Lurie Garden, rest assured your entry is covered.
- Encounter garden design at its finest –
The Lurie Garden was designed to be enjoyed year-round by famed Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, who is also responsible for New York City’s High Line. Ouldolf is known for his naturalistic style and use of perennials; evident in the 35,000 perennial plants he selected for the Lurie Garden. Something we all can take away from his design perspective is his ability to see a plant for its lasting beauty; avoiding instant gratification. He would choose grasses that look as beautiful covered in snow as they do basking in the summer heat over something that dies early and ugly. He says, “It’s not about how nicely it blooms but how beautifully it decomposes.”
- Escape city noise for chirping birds and buzzing bees –
The Lurie Garden has attracted over 60 species of birds and enough bees to produce 70 pounds of honey in 2016. For seasoned bird watchers and those just looking to trade crowded streets for relaxing views of creatures in flight, the Lurie Garden is the perfect place.
We hope this quick list of the best features of the Lurie Garden has inspired you to visit one of our favorite Gardens of the World. If you have visited the Lurie Garden, or plan to soon, please let us know what you loved the most about it either on our Facebook page or in the comments below.
Stats via: http://bit.ly/2uIPG7K
