Fall into the Sterling Morton Library!

During the coming months, there are a number of noteworthy events at The Morton Arboretum including the following programs to be held in the Sterling Morton Library:

N732 - Green Fire : Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time
Thursday, September 22, 2011 – 6:30-9:00 p.m.
In his book, A Sand County Almanac, conservationist Aldo Leopold laid out the key insight that was the culmination of his life's work: a shared responsibility for the health of the land we inhabit. Explore Leopold's personal journey and the threads that connect to his legacy today through an intimate screening of the new documentary Green Fire.
Join us for a dessert reception preceding the film, and stay afterwards to discuss the film, Leopold, and his groundbreaking work with Leopold biographer Curt Meine, author Jim Ballowe, and more.

A411 - A Fascination with Flight
Saturday, September 24, 2011 – 1-4 p.m.
From the time we are quite young, the feathered creatures that perch high up in the trees and then take flight capture our imaginations. Meet artists such as Audubon, Fuertes, and Jaques, who took this fascination a step further and made their careers painting birds and helping us to see and understand them in a new way.

N 733 - A Trek Across the Chicago Wilderness
Thursday, November 3, 2011 - 7-8:30 pm.
In June 2009, Jack MacRae walked across Chicago Wilderness, from Chiwaukee Prairie in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, to Warren Woods in Berrien County, Michigan. Over 15 days he walked approximately 240 miles, visiting over 50 preserves, parks, and natural areas. Join Jack on his journey as he describes his walk and shares his experiences in prairies, sand dunes, forests, flatwoods, savannas, rivers, ponds, wetlands, ravines, and one great lake.

H734 - Jens Jensen, Frank Lloyd Wright, and My Small Garden
Thursday, December 1, 2011 – 7-8:30 p.m.
What can you do in a small garden? Join author Cathy Jean Maloney as she takes you on a virtual tour of her own historic cottage with a garden designed by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen. Designed ca. 1907 for the gardener of a large estate, this Frank Lloyd Wright home was landscaped by Jensen. Discover the enduring influences of the Jensen/Wright collaboration and how Maloney and her family enjoy the naturalistic, small-space garden today.

Pre-registration is required for all of these events. Registration details can be viewed at http://www.mortonarb.org/education.html or by stopping at the Arboretum’s Visitor Center.

Hope to see you at one or more of these programs that will be presented within the Sterling Morton Library!

A Man of Salt and Trees : the life of Joy Morton

At last! James Ballowe’s biography of Joy Morton, The Morton Arboretum’s founder, is tantalizingly close to publication. Jim made extensive use of the Sterling Morton Library’s Archives in preparation of this work which is the first full-length biography of Morton. “Using the voluminous correspondence of the Morton family, Ballowe tells the story of the Nebraska farm boy who grew up to be a small town banker who became a leading citizen of Chicago and Illinois and a major figure in the nation’s economic and technological development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.” This biography published by Northern Illinois University Press, will be available for purchase at the Arboretum Store.

There will be several upcoming Arboretum events heralding this remarkable book:

Saturday, April 25, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Arboretum Store
Meet Jim Ballowe, author of "A Man of Salt and Trees: The Life of Joy Morton." Jim will sign copies and answer questions about his book documenting the life of Joy Morton, founder of the Arboretum and the Morton Salt Company.

Saturday, May 16, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Thornhill Education Center
Salt, Chicago, and Trees: Joy Morton’s Life
Register for this class within the Arboretum’s Education Program to learn more about Joy’s contributions to the City of Chicago, the Burnham Plan and the State of Illinois.

Thursday, June 11, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Sterling Morton Library
Jim will join the Library’s book discussion group, Leafing Through the Pages, for a discussion of Joy Morton and this biography.

Sunday, June 28, 12 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sterling Morton Library
As part of The Morton Arboretum's Open House, Jim will be signing copies of his book and answering questions about his research. In addition to meeting the author, visitors will have the opportunity to view images and artifacts associated with Joy Morton from the Library's Special Collections.