Full disclosure - I’ve been experimenting with the different tools Substack offers and seeking out what kinds of posts are most exciting and engaging to readers. Today I thought I’d try out something new!
A postcard sent in June of 1947 to my grandfather’s brother - Robert.
I’d love to get to know my readers better, and one of the things I’m most curious about is the connection you all have to the Morton Arboretum. I obviously have a strong link to the Arboretum through my family and from growing up nearby. Maybe you also lived in the Chicagoland area and went often as a kid or with your kids? Perhaps you celebrated something special on the grounds or go to a seasonal event once a year but are curious to learn more about it?
Comment below and let me know - what’s your connection to the Arboretum?
Thank you for your interest despite not being familiar with the Arboretum! I can only hope its beauty and wonder, and the depth of my grandfather's care for it, come through effectively in my newsletter.
My connection to the Arboretum started around 1980 after my mom moved up to Lombard, IL. What began as occasional visits evolved into a deeper personal and professional relationship. I graduated college with a degree in horticulture and business, and I settled in DuPage County.
In the early 1980's (during the prairie chapter of my life - that I am still reading!) I volunteered on the west side prairie and in due course got to encounter Floyd Swink, Craig Johnson, Gerry Wilhelm and Ray Schulenberg (who the prairie was named for not long afterwards).
Not long afterwards I took the position of horticulturist at Lombard Park District primarily to care for their lilac collection. The details of taking care of such a collection was new to me, and I again relied on the Arboretum to assist me in getting things pointed in a good direction. In those years it was Tom Green, Ed Hedborn and Walter Eickhorst who gave me solid advice on the nuts and bolts of getting a plant collection (records, etc) updated and moving forward.
As the years have gone on the Arboretum has been a continuous resource for my learning. I began my business in 1997, and much of that work revolves around urban forestry and project management around the region. On top of that I have been teaching for the past nine years. The resources that the Arboretum can provide to my horticulture students are valuable, and hardly a week goes by that I am not sharing this unique institution with them.
Of course, my family and I visit there whenever we can, mainly to hike around the woods and the prairies. I don't know that I could begin to highlight all the delight that those wanderings have brought us. I am lucky that the Arboretum has been there for me personally and professionally. I'm looking forward to much more to come!
Wow, awesome to read about the deep connection you have to the Arboretum, thank you so much for sharing! How cool that you got to hone your craft with the help of so many incredible minds in horticulture. (I've been stumbling across references to Walter Eickhorst a lot lately, he and my grandfather were very close and my grandparents chose him to be my dad's godfather!)
The knowledge held within the Arboretum and by its staff is endless and, frankly, irreplaceable! Those of us who live in the area are lucky to have such an incredible resource at our fingertips.
Walter would stop by maybe once or twice a year to check in on me and the lilacs! I really appreciated his generosity of sharing his time and talent. The plants themselves at that time needed a good deal of rejuvenation as well as new plants to fill in some gaps.
That was a unique time in my career. I was also able to connect with folks up at the botanic gardens in Hamilton, Ontario where at that time there were some top flight lilac people.
Looking back it was fun to be a small part of that tradition.....One that I encourage my students to pursue as well!
Took a Boy Scout hike in the late 1960’s and received a patch and ribboned medal. Still have the patch. Remember description of variety of crab apple trees but disappointed there were no apples. Years and years later learned and still learning the Arboretum was much more that a foot path for Scouts. Enjoy the newsletter.
I think many of us in the area forged a connection through scouts, school trips, and the like. Just goes to show that the Arboretum's commitment to education pays off!
It was a place my family spent a lot of Independence days, along with just heading out there for hikes. It's nice to remember seeing my siblings and cousins a little bit older there every year.
It's been so nice being close to it in recent years, getting to learn a lot about it and build great memories. Going to all of the different yearly events are the kinds of traditions I love having, and of course I'll always remember it as the place you said "Yes!"
I have no real connection to the Arboretum. I am interested to see how you handle your subject matter, which I know will be fascinating.
Thank you for your interest despite not being familiar with the Arboretum! I can only hope its beauty and wonder, and the depth of my grandfather's care for it, come through effectively in my newsletter.
Hi Sarah,
My connection to the Arboretum started around 1980 after my mom moved up to Lombard, IL. What began as occasional visits evolved into a deeper personal and professional relationship. I graduated college with a degree in horticulture and business, and I settled in DuPage County.
In the early 1980's (during the prairie chapter of my life - that I am still reading!) I volunteered on the west side prairie and in due course got to encounter Floyd Swink, Craig Johnson, Gerry Wilhelm and Ray Schulenberg (who the prairie was named for not long afterwards).
Not long afterwards I took the position of horticulturist at Lombard Park District primarily to care for their lilac collection. The details of taking care of such a collection was new to me, and I again relied on the Arboretum to assist me in getting things pointed in a good direction. In those years it was Tom Green, Ed Hedborn and Walter Eickhorst who gave me solid advice on the nuts and bolts of getting a plant collection (records, etc) updated and moving forward.
As the years have gone on the Arboretum has been a continuous resource for my learning. I began my business in 1997, and much of that work revolves around urban forestry and project management around the region. On top of that I have been teaching for the past nine years. The resources that the Arboretum can provide to my horticulture students are valuable, and hardly a week goes by that I am not sharing this unique institution with them.
Of course, my family and I visit there whenever we can, mainly to hike around the woods and the prairies. I don't know that I could begin to highlight all the delight that those wanderings have brought us. I am lucky that the Arboretum has been there for me personally and professionally. I'm looking forward to much more to come!
Dave Coulter
Wow, awesome to read about the deep connection you have to the Arboretum, thank you so much for sharing! How cool that you got to hone your craft with the help of so many incredible minds in horticulture. (I've been stumbling across references to Walter Eickhorst a lot lately, he and my grandfather were very close and my grandparents chose him to be my dad's godfather!)
The knowledge held within the Arboretum and by its staff is endless and, frankly, irreplaceable! Those of us who live in the area are lucky to have such an incredible resource at our fingertips.
Walter would stop by maybe once or twice a year to check in on me and the lilacs! I really appreciated his generosity of sharing his time and talent. The plants themselves at that time needed a good deal of rejuvenation as well as new plants to fill in some gaps.
That was a unique time in my career. I was also able to connect with folks up at the botanic gardens in Hamilton, Ontario where at that time there were some top flight lilac people.
Looking back it was fun to be a small part of that tradition.....One that I encourage my students to pursue as well!
Took a Boy Scout hike in the late 1960’s and received a patch and ribboned medal. Still have the patch. Remember description of variety of crab apple trees but disappointed there were no apples. Years and years later learned and still learning the Arboretum was much more that a foot path for Scouts. Enjoy the newsletter.
Thank you, I'm so glad you're enjoying it!
I think many of us in the area forged a connection through scouts, school trips, and the like. Just goes to show that the Arboretum's commitment to education pays off!
I have no connection, but love getting one through your writing! I do love trees, though...
I'm so glad you're finding a connection through the newsletter and I hope it's also helping you grow your love of trees!
It was a place my family spent a lot of Independence days, along with just heading out there for hikes. It's nice to remember seeing my siblings and cousins a little bit older there every year.
It's been so nice being close to it in recent years, getting to learn a lot about it and build great memories. Going to all of the different yearly events are the kinds of traditions I love having, and of course I'll always remember it as the place you said "Yes!"
It's definitely memorable to think back on how the Arboretum has changed over the years while us and our families have changed alongside it ❤️