City of Chicago Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Department of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg, Commissioner

312.742.1168 www.luriegarden.org

The Lurie Garden is owned by the City of Chicago, sustained by a generous endowment from Ann Lurie and managed by Millennium Park, Inc.

www.millenniumpark.org

© 2010 Millennium Park

5/10 10M

The Lurie Garden in Millennium Park is an urban oasis emerging from a

harmonious blend of symbolism, landscape design and ecological sensitivity.

Its design pays homage to Chicago’s transformation from flat marshland to

innovative green city, or “Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden).

Visitors find respite and inspiration in four seasons. In early spring, sun-hungry

bulbs and perennials stretch through soil and begin anew. Summer and fall

are celebrated with the flutter of butterflies and birds. Winter’s seed heads

and ornamental grasses capture snow and ice, creating graceful art forms.

The Lurie Garden is living art – a palette of texture and color blending Chicago’s

unique culture, ecology, history and people.

four season

splendor

FPO : Recycle Logo/Mark

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 1 4/15/10 11:55 AM

City of Chicago Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Department of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg, Commissioner

312.742.1168 www.luriegarden.org

The Lurie Garden is owned by the City of Chicago, sustained by a generous endowment from Ann Lurie and managed by Millennium Park, Inc.

www.millenniumpark.org

© 2010 Millennium Park

5/10 10M

The Lurie Garden in Millennium Park is an urban oasis emerging from a

harmonious blend of symbolism, landscape design and ecological sensitivity.

Its design pays homage to Chicago’s transformation from flat marshland to

innovative green city, or “Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden).

Visitors find respite and inspiration in four seasons. In early spring, sun-hungry

bulbs and perennials stretch through soil and begin anew. Summer and fall

are celebrated with the flutter of butterflies and birds. Winter’s seed heads

and ornamental grasses capture snow and ice, creating graceful art forms.

The Lurie Garden is living art – a palette of texture and color blending Chicago’s

unique culture, ecology, history and people.

four season

splendor

FPO : Recycle Logo/Mark

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 1 4/15/10 11:55 AM

Lurie GardenBP Bridge

Guided walk meeting point Parking Entrance

COLU

MBU

S D

RIV

E

MONROE STREET

Parking Entrance

Seam

Extr

usio

n Pl

aza

Great Lawn

Light Plate Dark Plate

Southeast Entrance

Shoulder Hedge & Frame

Through its structure and basic design, the Lurie Garden is a model of

sustainable horticulture.

Built over parking garages and an active commuter railroad, the Lurie

Garden is part of one of the world’s largest green roofs. Green roofs improve air quality, conserve energy, minimize stormwater runoff and

help reduce the urban heat island effect.

urban

modelenvironmental

Perennial Planting Bed & Soil – 4 feet

Cellular Polystyrene – 0 to 7 feet

Sand – 4 to 8 inches

Waterproof Membrane – about 1/8 inch

Concrete – 6 inches

Cleans the air Plants reflect heat, provide shade and help cool surrounding air through

transpiration, which happens when plants “sweat” water through pores in their

leaves. Plants act as filters, improving air quality by using excess carbon dioxide

to produce oxygen.

Saves precious water The garden is free draining, meaning water not absorbed naturally moves to the

waterproof membrane and drainage system below. With this ecological design,

the garden is watered only when necessary.

Celebrates natives The majority of the garden’s plants are native to North America and some to

Illinois. Native plants live longer, are drought and disease tolerant and help restore

plant diversity. They also create a self-sustaining, low-maintenance garden.

Provides perennial interest Leaving the garden uncut in winter gives it an appealing structure, texture and

overall form, and helps maintain soil temperatures. The garden is cut back in early

spring to make room for emerging bulbs and perennials.

Enhances biodiversity The garden provides safe shelter for migratory birds, butterflies and beneficial

insects. By maintaining its natural ecosystem and biology through environmental

best practices, plants are equipped to ward off disease, insects and viruses.

At the Lurie Garden’s base, a waterproof membrane protects the concrete

and parking garage below from leaks. A layer of free-draining sand underlies

complex structural insulation, called cellular polystyrene, and creates a level

surface without adding weight. A layer of soil defines the planting areas.

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 4 4/15/10 11:55 AM

Millennium Park’s Lurie Garden is a celebration of

Chicago and its landscape and was designed by

Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Robert Israel and

renowned Dutch planting designer Piet Oudolf.

One of the first examples of Oudolf’s now-signature

“New Wave Planting Style,” the garden is relaxed,

natural and less controlled than traditional designs.

The Lurie Garden creates an idealized version of

nature, which supports biodiversity and an integrated

planting system.

Thoughtfully grouped perennials and bulbs form a

tapestry of stunning combinations through varied

seasons. Each plant’s appearance is considered,

including growth habit, leaf shape, flowers, seed

heads and winter silhouette. The garden’s planted

2.5 acres contain more than 35,000 perennials, 5,200

woody plants and 120,000 spring flowering bulbs.

design by

nature

Piet Oudolf, Lurie Garden’s planting designer.

A Deeper LookThe Lurie Garden is a patchwork of intersecting elements rich in Chicago

symbolism. Light and Dark Plates evoke the city’s past and future. The

meadow is loosely structured, and its subtle intermingling of trees and

plants symbolize the area’s dwindling prairies. The captivating Salvia

River flows across the Light Plate, creating an evolving, seasonal pattern.

Seam: Chicago’s past (Dark Plate) and

future (Light Plate) meet on either side

of the Seam – an angled wooden board-

walk suspended over water. The Seam

recalls Chicago’s marshy origins, when

raised wooden boardwalks offered pas-

sage over muddy streets and sidewalks. Its angle recalls historic retaining

walls, which once set boundaries between land and lake.

Made from Ipê – strong dense wood harvested from naturally sustainable

South American forests – the boardwalk floats over stepped pools. A 5-foot

wide, exposed surface of water floats along the Dark Plate’s vertical stone

wall. A wide step runs along the entire length of the boardwalk on the Light

Plate, providing an inviting ledge for seating and toe-dipping in summer.

Shoulder Hedge: The Lurie Garden

is protected by the muscular form of its

Shoulder Hedge, recalling Carl Sand-

burg’s famous poem in which he refers to

Chicago as the “City of the Big Shoulders.”

The hedge encloses the garden on its

north and west sides, and protects the plants within. A tall metal framework

defines its shape and contains several plant materials that together form a

monumental hedge.

• Bike parking available in the McDonald’s Cycle Center, a state-of-the-art facility located in the northeast corner of Millennium Park – visit www.chicagobikestation.com

• Northwest Exelon Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St. • Maps, tour information, free public programs

• Convenient parking located in the Millennium Park Garage, Grant Park North, Grant Park South and East Monroe Garages - 312.616.0600

• Visit www.luriegarden.org

• Visit www.millenniumpark.org

• Metra Electric and South Shore Line trains at the Randolph Street Station or www.rtachicago.org

• CTA Red Line – Lake or Monroe Street exit • CTA Brown/Green/Orange and Purple Lines –

Madison/Wabash Street exit or www.transitchicago.com• Pedway enclosed walkway entrance located at

Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street

• Ask at the Millennium Park Welcome Center or visit www.luriegarden.org

• Group private, guided walks and field trips are available. Email Lurie.Garden@cityofchicago.org

• Audio tours of Millennium Park are available at www.millenniumpark.org

• Wheelchairs free at the Millennium Park Welcome Center, sponsored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Public transportation

Bicycle parking

Millennium Park Welcome Center

Parking garages

Lurie Garden information

Millennium Park information

Lurie Garden tours

Wheelchairs

Transportation / Information / Tours

For more detailed information, visit www.luriegarden.org

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 2 4/15/10 11:55 AM

Millennium Park’s Lurie Garden is a celebration of

Chicago and its landscape and was designed by

Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Robert Israel and

renowned Dutch planting designer Piet Oudolf.

One of the first examples of Oudolf’s now-signature

“New Wave Planting Style,” the garden is relaxed,

natural and less controlled than traditional designs.

The Lurie Garden creates an idealized version of

nature, which supports biodiversity and an integrated

planting system.

Thoughtfully grouped perennials and bulbs form a

tapestry of stunning combinations through varied

seasons. Each plant’s appearance is considered,

including growth habit, leaf shape, flowers, seed

heads and winter silhouette. The garden’s planted

2.5 acres contain more than 35,000 perennials, 5,200

woody plants and 120,000 spring flowering bulbs.

design by

nature

Piet Oudolf, Lurie Garden’s planting designer.

A Deeper LookThe Lurie Garden is a patchwork of intersecting elements rich in Chicago

symbolism. Light and Dark Plates evoke the city’s past and future. The

meadow is loosely structured, and its subtle intermingling of trees and

plants symbolize the area’s dwindling prairies. The captivating Salvia

River flows across the Light Plate, creating an evolving, seasonal pattern.

Seam: Chicago’s past (Dark Plate) and

future (Light Plate) meet on either side

of the Seam – an angled wooden board-

walk suspended over water. The Seam

recalls Chicago’s marshy origins, when

raised wooden boardwalks offered pas-

sage over muddy streets and sidewalks. Its angle recalls historic retaining

walls, which once set boundaries between land and lake.

Made from Ipê – strong dense wood harvested from naturally sustainable

South American forests – the boardwalk floats over stepped pools. A 5-foot

wide, exposed surface of water floats along the Dark Plate’s vertical stone

wall. A wide step runs along the entire length of the boardwalk on the Light

Plate, providing an inviting ledge for seating and toe-dipping in summer.

Shoulder Hedge: The Lurie Garden

is protected by the muscular form of its

Shoulder Hedge, recalling Carl Sand-

burg’s famous poem in which he refers to

Chicago as the “City of the Big Shoulders.”

The hedge encloses the garden on its

north and west sides, and protects the plants within. A tall metal framework

defines its shape and contains several plant materials that together form a

monumental hedge.

• Bike parking available in the McDonald’s Cycle Center, a state-of-the-art facility located in the northeast corner of Millennium Park – visit www.chicagobikestation.com

• Northwest Exelon Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St. • Maps, tour information, free public programs

• Convenient parking located in the Millennium Park Garage, Grant Park North, Grant Park South and East Monroe Garages - 312.616.0600

• Visit www.luriegarden.org

• Visit www.millenniumpark.org

• Metra Electric and South Shore Line trains at the Randolph Street Station or www.rtachicago.org

• CTA Red Line – Lake or Monroe Street exit • CTA Brown/Green/Orange and Purple Lines –

Madison/Wabash Street exit or www.transitchicago.com• Pedway enclosed walkway entrance located at

Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street

• Ask at the Millennium Park Welcome Center or visit www.luriegarden.org

• Group private, guided walks and field trips are available. Email Lurie.Garden@cityofchicago.org

• Audio tours of Millennium Park are available at www.millenniumpark.org

• Wheelchairs free at the Millennium Park Welcome Center, sponsored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Public transportation

Bicycle parking

Millennium Park Welcome Center

Parking garages

Lurie Garden information

Millennium Park information

Lurie Garden tours

Wheelchairs

Transportation / Information / Tours

For more detailed information, visit www.luriegarden.org

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 2 4/15/10 11:55 AM

The Lurie Family: The Lurie Garden endowment was a gift from Ann

Lurie, in memory of her husband, Bob. Her gift is used to care for and

maintain the garden. It reflects the family’s commitment to Chicago, as

well as a desire to provide a tranquil and serene place for Millennium Park

visitors. During his lifetime, Mr. Lurie distinguished himself as a devoted

husband, father and preeminent real estate investor and entrepreneur.

Following his untimely death in 1990, Mrs. Lurie dedicated herself to their

six children and to quietly fulfilling their joint philanthropic vision. Noted

worldwide for her philanthropy, Mrs. Lurie’s gifts to Chicago have enhanced

the city’s medical, social services and cultural landscapes.

lurie garden

facts

About Millennium Park: The Lurie Garden

is managed by Millennium Park, Inc. Millen-

nium Park is the result of a unique partnership

between the City of Chicago and the philan-

thropic community. With its unprecedented

combination of architecture, sculpture and

landscape design, the 24.5-acre park features

the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists, landscape architects

and designers including Frank Gehry, Anish Kapoor and Jaume Plensa. Since

its opening in July 2004, Millennium Park has hosted millions of visitors.

Millennium Park is located at the northwest corner of Grant Park, between

Monroe and Randolph Streets along Michigan Avenue. For information about

all of the programming throughout the year, visit www.millenniumpark.org.

Plants of the Light Plate

Light Plate Dark Plate

For more detailed information about all of our plants, visit www.luriegarden.org

The Light Plate refers to Chicago’s modern and artistic control of nature.

Consisting of perennial plants that thrive in full sun, the Light Plate is warm,

dry and bright. Bold patterns emerge and recede through four seasons. Given

this careful orchestration of color progression and bloom time, the Light Plate

serves as a calendar, marking the time of year and shifts in seasons.

Strong, nostalgic, mysterious and cool, the Dark Plate references the site’s

historic landscape – once a wild shoreline and river delta. Plants thrive in the

shade of flowering trees. Lush, subtly-toned vegetation immerses the visitor in

a setting of unbridled growth, exuberant textures and soft, filtered light.

12

6

9

3

11

5

8

2

10

4

7

1

12

6

9

3

11

5

8

2

10

4

7

1

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME BLOOM TIME

1. Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ Giant Hyssop Summer/Fall

2. Allium ‘Summer Beauty’ Ornamental Onion Spring/Summer

3. Amsonia hubrichtii Arkansas Blue Star Spring/Summer/Fall

4. Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ Hybrid Wild Indigo Spring/Summer

5. Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta Calamint Summer/Fall

6. Camassia leichtlinii ‘Blue Danube’ Quamash Spring

7. Echinacea tennesseensis Tennessee Coneflower Summer/Fall

8. Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master Summer/Fall

9. Geranium soboliferum Cranesbill Summer/Fall

10. Salvia x sylvestris ‘Wesuwe’ Meadow Sage Spring/Summer

11. Sesleria autumnalis Autumn Moor Grass Summer/Fall

12. Sporobolis heterolepis Prairie Dropseed Summer/Fall

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME BLOOM TIME

1. Allium christophii Star of Persia Spring

2. Anemone hupehensis ‘Praecox’ Japanese Anemone Summer/Fall

3. Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii ‘Purpurlanze’ Purple Lance Astilbe Summer/Fall

4. Calamagrostis x acutifolia ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass Summer/Fall

5. Geranium sanguineum ‘Max Frei’ Cranesbill Summer/Fall

6. Gillennia trifoliata Bowman’s Root Spring/Summer

7. Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ Coral Bells Summer/Fall

8. Molinia litoralis ‘Transparent’ Moor Grass Summer/Fall

9. Narcissus ‘Actaea’ Daffodil Spring

10. Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’ Beard Tongue Summmer

11. Persicaria polymorpha White Dragon Knotweed Summer/Fall

12. Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ Rough Goldenrod Summer/Fall

Plants of the Dark Plate

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 3 4/15/10 11:55 AM

The Lurie Family: The Lurie Garden endowment was a gift from Ann

Lurie, in memory of her husband, Bob. Her gift is used to care for and

maintain the garden. It reflects the family’s commitment to Chicago, as

well as a desire to provide a tranquil and serene place for Millennium Park

visitors. During his lifetime, Mr. Lurie distinguished himself as a devoted

husband, father and preeminent real estate investor and entrepreneur.

Following his untimely death in 1990, Mrs. Lurie dedicated herself to their

six children and to quietly fulfilling their joint philanthropic vision. Noted

worldwide for her philanthropy, Mrs. Lurie’s gifts to Chicago have enhanced

the city’s medical, social services and cultural landscapes.

lurie garden

facts

About Millennium Park: The Lurie Garden

is managed by Millennium Park, Inc. Millen-

nium Park is the result of a unique partnership

between the City of Chicago and the philan-

thropic community. With its unprecedented

combination of architecture, sculpture and

landscape design, the 24.5-acre park features

the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists, landscape architects

and designers including Frank Gehry, Anish Kapoor and Jaume Plensa. Since

its opening in July 2004, Millennium Park has hosted millions of visitors.

Millennium Park is located at the northwest corner of Grant Park, between

Monroe and Randolph Streets along Michigan Avenue. For information about

all of the programming throughout the year, visit www.millenniumpark.org.

Plants of the Light Plate

Light Plate Dark Plate

For more detailed information about all of our plants, visit www.luriegarden.org

The Light Plate refers to Chicago’s modern and artistic control of nature.

Consisting of perennial plants that thrive in full sun, the Light Plate is warm,

dry and bright. Bold patterns emerge and recede through four seasons. Given

this careful orchestration of color progression and bloom time, the Light Plate

serves as a calendar, marking the time of year and shifts in seasons.

Strong, nostalgic, mysterious and cool, the Dark Plate references the site’s

historic landscape – once a wild shoreline and river delta. Plants thrive in the

shade of flowering trees. Lush, subtly-toned vegetation immerses the visitor in

a setting of unbridled growth, exuberant textures and soft, filtered light.

12

6

9

3

11

5

8

2

10

4

7

1

12

6

9

3

11

5

8

2

10

4

7

1

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME BLOOM TIME

1. Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ Giant Hyssop Summer/Fall

2. Allium ‘Summer Beauty’ Ornamental Onion Spring/Summer

3. Amsonia hubrichtii Arkansas Blue Star Spring/Summer/Fall

4. Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ Hybrid Wild Indigo Spring/Summer

5. Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta Calamint Summer/Fall

6. Camassia leichtlinii ‘Blue Danube’ Quamash Spring

7. Echinacea tennesseensis Tennessee Coneflower Summer/Fall

8. Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master Summer/Fall

9. Geranium soboliferum Cranesbill Summer/Fall

10. Salvia x sylvestris ‘Wesuwe’ Meadow Sage Spring/Summer

11. Sesleria autumnalis Autumn Moor Grass Summer/Fall

12. Sporobolis heterolepis Prairie Dropseed Summer/Fall

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME BLOOM TIME

1. Allium christophii Star of Persia Spring

2. Anemone hupehensis ‘Praecox’ Japanese Anemone Summer/Fall

3. Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii ‘Purpurlanze’ Purple Lance Astilbe Summer/Fall

4. Calamagrostis x acutifolia ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass Summer/Fall

5. Geranium sanguineum ‘Max Frei’ Cranesbill Summer/Fall

6. Gillennia trifoliata Bowman’s Root Spring/Summer

7. Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ Coral Bells Summer/Fall

8. Molinia litoralis ‘Transparent’ Moor Grass Summer/Fall

9. Narcissus ‘Actaea’ Daffodil Spring

10. Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’ Beard Tongue Summmer

11. Persicaria polymorpha White Dragon Knotweed Summer/Fall

12. Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ Rough Goldenrod Summer/Fall

Plants of the Dark Plate

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 3 4/15/10 11:55 AM

Lurie GardenBP Bridge

Guided walk meeting point Parking Entrance

COLU

MBU

S D

RIV

E

MONROE STREET

Parking Entrance

Seam

Extr

usio

n Pl

aza

Great Lawn

Light Plate Dark Plate

Southeast Entrance

Shoulder Hedge & Frame

Through its structure and basic design, the Lurie Garden is a model of

sustainable horticulture.

Built over parking garages and an active commuter railroad, the Lurie

Garden is part of one of the world’s largest green roofs. Green roofs improve air quality, conserve energy, minimize stormwater runoff and

help reduce the urban heat island effect.

urban

modelenvironmental

Perennial Planting Bed & Soil – 4 feet

Cellular Polystyrene – 0 to 7 feet

Sand – 4 to 8 inches

Waterproof Membrane – about 1/8 inch

Concrete – 6 inches

Cleans the air Plants reflect heat, provide shade and help cool surrounding air through

transpiration, which happens when plants “sweat” water through pores in their

leaves. Plants act as filters, improving air quality by using excess carbon dioxide

to produce oxygen.

Saves precious water The garden is free draining, meaning water not absorbed naturally moves to the

waterproof membrane and drainage system below. With this ecological design,

the garden is watered only when necessary.

Celebrates natives The majority of the garden’s plants are native to North America and some to

Illinois. Native plants live longer, are drought and disease tolerant and help restore

plant diversity. They also create a self-sustaining, low-maintenance garden.

Provides perennial interest Leaving the garden uncut in winter gives it an appealing structure, texture and

overall form, and helps maintain soil temperatures. The garden is cut back in early

spring to make room for emerging bulbs and perennials.

Enhances biodiversity The garden provides safe shelter for migratory birds, butterflies and beneficial

insects. By maintaining its natural ecosystem and biology through environmental

best practices, plants are equipped to ward off disease, insects and viruses.

At the Lurie Garden’s base, a waterproof membrane protects the concrete

and parking garage below from leaks. A layer of free-draining sand underlies

complex structural insulation, called cellular polystyrene, and creates a level

surface without adding weight. A layer of soil defines the planting areas.

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 4 4/15/10 11:55 AM

Lurie GardenBP Bridge

Guided walk meeting point Parking Entrance

COLU

MBU

S D

RIV

E

MONROE STREET

Parking Entrance

Seam

Extr

usio

n Pl

aza

Great Lawn

Light Plate Dark Plate

Southeast Entrance

Shoulder Hedge & Frame

Through its structure and basic design, the Lurie Garden is a model of

sustainable horticulture.

Built over parking garages and an active commuter railroad, the Lurie

Garden is part of one of the world’s largest green roofs. Green roofs improve air quality, conserve energy, minimize stormwater runoff and

help reduce the urban heat island effect.

urban

modelenvironmental

Perennial Planting Bed & Soil – 4 feet

Cellular Polystyrene – 0 to 7 feet

Sand – 4 to 8 inches

Waterproof Membrane – about 1/8 inch

Concrete – 6 inches

Cleans the air Plants reflect heat, provide shade and help cool surrounding air through

transpiration, which happens when plants “sweat” water through pores in their

leaves. Plants act as filters, improving air quality by using excess carbon dioxide

to produce oxygen.

Saves precious water The garden is free draining, meaning water not absorbed naturally moves to the

waterproof membrane and drainage system below. With this ecological design,

the garden is watered only when necessary.

Celebrates natives The majority of the garden’s plants are native to North America and some to

Illinois. Native plants live longer, are drought and disease tolerant and help restore

plant diversity. They also create a self-sustaining, low-maintenance garden.

Provides perennial interest Leaving the garden uncut in winter gives it an appealing structure, texture and

overall form, and helps maintain soil temperatures. The garden is cut back in early

spring to make room for emerging bulbs and perennials.

Enhances biodiversity The garden provides safe shelter for migratory birds, butterflies and beneficial

insects. By maintaining its natural ecosystem and biology through environmental

best practices, plants are equipped to ward off disease, insects and viruses.

At the Lurie Garden’s base, a waterproof membrane protects the concrete

and parking garage below from leaks. A layer of free-draining sand underlies

complex structural insulation, called cellular polystyrene, and creates a level

surface without adding weight. A layer of soil defines the planting areas.

GMPR9868_LGBroch2010_Prnt.indd 4 4/15/10 11:55 AM

The Lurie Family: The Lurie Garden endowment was a gift from Ann

Lurie, in memory of her husband, Bob. Her gift is used to care for and

maintain the garden. It reflects the family’s commitment to Chicago, as

well as a desire to provide a tranquil and serene place for Millennium Park

visitors. During his lifetime, Mr. Lurie distinguished himself as a devoted

husband, father and preeminent real estate investor and entrepreneur.

Following his untimely death in 1990, Mrs. Lurie dedicated herself to their

six children and to quietly fulfilling their joint philanthropic vision. Noted

worldwide for her philanthropy, Mrs. Lurie’s gifts to Chicago have enhanced

the city’s medical, social services and cultural landscapes.

lurie garden

facts

About Millennium Park: The Lurie Garden

is managed by Millennium Park, Inc. Millen-

nium Park is the result of a unique partnership

between the City of Chicago and the philan-

thropic community. With its unprecedented

combination of architecture, sculpture and

landscape design, the 24.5-acre park features

the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists, landscape architects

and designers including Frank Gehry, Anish Kapoor and Jaume Plensa. Since

its opening in July 2004, Millennium Park has hosted millions of visitors.

Millennium Park is located at the northwest corner of Grant Park, between

Monroe and Randolph Streets along Michigan Avenue. For information about

all of the programming throughout the year, visit www.millenniumpark.org.

Plants of the Light Plate

Light Plate Dark Plate

For more detailed information about all of our plants, visit www.luriegarden.org

The Light Plate refers to Chicago’s modern and artistic control of nature.

Consisting of perennial plants that thrive in full sun, the Light Plate is warm,

dry and bright. Bold patterns emerge and recede through four seasons. Given

this careful orchestration of color progression and bloom time, the Light Plate

serves as a calendar, marking the time of year and shifts in seasons.

Strong, nostalgic, mysterious and cool, the Dark Plate references the site’s

historic landscape – once a wild shoreline and river delta. Plants thrive in the

shade of flowering trees. Lush, subtly-toned vegetation immerses the visitor in

a setting of unbridled growth, exuberant textures and soft, filtered light.

12

6

9

3

11

5

8

2

10

4

7

1

12

6

9

3

11

5

8

2

10

4

7

1

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME BLOOM TIME

1. Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ Giant Hyssop Summer/Fall

2. Allium ‘Summer Beauty’ Ornamental Onion Spring/Summer

3. Amsonia hubrichtii Arkansas Blue Star Spring/Summer/Fall

4. Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’ Hybrid Wild Indigo Spring/Summer

5. Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta Calamint Summer/Fall

6. Camassia leichtlinii ‘Blue Danube’ Quamash Spring

7. Echinacea tennesseensis Tennessee Coneflower Summer/Fall

8. Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master Summer/Fall

9. Geranium soboliferum Cranesbill Summer/Fall

10. Salvia x sylvestris ‘Wesuwe’ Meadow Sage Spring/Summer

11. Sesleria autumnalis Autumn Moor Grass Summer/Fall

12. Sporobolis heterolepis Prairie Dropseed Summer/Fall

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME BLOOM TIME

1. Allium christophii Star of Persia Spring

2. Anemone hupehensis ‘Praecox’ Japanese Anemone Summer/Fall

3. Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii ‘Purpurlanze’ Purple Lance Astilbe Summer/Fall

4. Calamagrostis x acutifolia ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass Summer/Fall

5. Geranium sanguineum ‘Max Frei’ Cranesbill Summer/Fall

6. Gillennia trifoliata Bowman’s Root Spring/Summer

7. Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ Coral Bells Summer/Fall

8. Molinia litoralis ‘Transparent’ Moor Grass Summer/Fall

9. Narcissus ‘Actaea’ Daffodil Spring

10. Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’ Beard Tongue Summmer

11. Persicaria polymorpha White Dragon Knotweed Summer/Fall

12. Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ Rough Goldenrod Summer/Fall

Plants of the Dark Plate

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Millennium Park’s Lurie Garden is a celebration of

Chicago and its landscape and was designed by

Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Robert Israel and

renowned Dutch planting designer Piet Oudolf.

One of the first examples of Oudolf’s now-signature

“New Wave Planting Style,” the garden is relaxed,

natural and less controlled than traditional designs.

The Lurie Garden creates an idealized version of

nature, which supports biodiversity and an integrated

planting system.

Thoughtfully grouped perennials and bulbs form a

tapestry of stunning combinations through varied

seasons. Each plant’s appearance is considered,

including growth habit, leaf shape, flowers, seed

heads and winter silhouette. The garden’s planted

2.5 acres contain more than 35,000 perennials, 5,200

woody plants and 120,000 spring flowering bulbs.

design by

nature

Piet Oudolf, Lurie Garden’s planting designer.

A Deeper LookThe Lurie Garden is a patchwork of intersecting elements rich in Chicago

symbolism. Light and Dark Plates evoke the city’s past and future. The

meadow is loosely structured, and its subtle intermingling of trees and

plants symbolize the area’s dwindling prairies. The captivating Salvia

River flows across the Light Plate, creating an evolving, seasonal pattern.

Seam: Chicago’s past (Dark Plate) and

future (Light Plate) meet on either side

of the Seam – an angled wooden board-

walk suspended over water. The Seam

recalls Chicago’s marshy origins, when

raised wooden boardwalks offered pas-

sage over muddy streets and sidewalks. Its angle recalls historic retaining

walls, which once set boundaries between land and lake.

Made from Ipê – strong dense wood harvested from naturally sustainable

South American forests – the boardwalk floats over stepped pools. A 5-foot

wide, exposed surface of water floats along the Dark Plate’s vertical stone

wall. A wide step runs along the entire length of the boardwalk on the Light

Plate, providing an inviting ledge for seating and toe-dipping in summer.

Shoulder Hedge: The Lurie Garden

is protected by the muscular form of its

Shoulder Hedge, recalling Carl Sand-

burg’s famous poem in which he refers to

Chicago as the “City of the Big Shoulders.”

The hedge encloses the garden on its

north and west sides, and protects the plants within. A tall metal framework

defines its shape and contains several plant materials that together form a

monumental hedge.

• Bike parking available in the McDonald’s Cycle Center, a state-of-the-art facility located in the northeast corner of Millennium Park – visit www.chicagobikestation.com

• Northwest Exelon Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St. • Maps, tour information, free public programs

• Convenient parking located in the Millennium Park Garage, Grant Park North, Grant Park South and East Monroe Garages - 312.616.0600

• Visit www.luriegarden.org

• Visit www.millenniumpark.org

• Metra Electric and South Shore Line trains at the Randolph Street Station or www.rtachicago.org

• CTA Red Line – Lake or Monroe Street exit • CTA Brown/Green/Orange and Purple Lines –

Madison/Wabash Street exit or www.transitchicago.com• Pedway enclosed walkway entrance located at

Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street

• Ask at the Millennium Park Welcome Center or visit www.luriegarden.org

• Group private, guided walks and field trips are available. Email Lurie.Garden@cityofchicago.org

• Audio tours of Millennium Park are available at www.millenniumpark.org

• Wheelchairs free at the Millennium Park Welcome Center, sponsored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Public transportation

Bicycle parking

Millennium Park Welcome Center

Parking garages

Lurie Garden information

Millennium Park information

Lurie Garden tours

Wheelchairs

Transportation / Information / Tours

For more detailed information, visit www.luriegarden.org

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City of Chicago Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Department of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg, Commissioner

312.742.1168 www.luriegarden.org

The Lurie Garden is owned by the City of Chicago, sustained by a generous endowment from Ann Lurie and managed by Millennium Park, Inc.

www.millenniumpark.org

© 2010 Millennium Park

5/10 10M

The Lurie Garden in Millennium Park is an urban oasis emerging from a

harmonious blend of symbolism, landscape design and ecological sensitivity.

Its design pays homage to Chicago’s transformation from flat marshland to

innovative green city, or “Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden).

Visitors find respite and inspiration in four seasons. In early spring, sun-hungry

bulbs and perennials stretch through soil and begin anew. Summer and fall

are celebrated with the flutter of butterflies and birds. Winter’s seed heads

and ornamental grasses capture snow and ice, creating graceful art forms.

The Lurie Garden is living art – a palette of texture and color blending Chicago’s

unique culture, ecology, history and people.

four season

splendor

FPO : Recycle Logo/Mark

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