GreenMark Public Relations®, Inc.

October through November 2010

As fall colors lend a spectacular hue to the city, the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park welcomes visitors from all over the world to its perennially beautiful grounds and popular programs. Here are offerings coming this fall, including hands-on workshops, lectures and a special garden walk:

Free adult hands-on workshop:
Garden Blogging for Beginners
Sunday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Fourth floor conference room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: If you’ve ever thought about branching out into blogging about your garden, discover techniques for chronicling your thoughts online. Led by Ramon Gonzales, a.k.a. “Mr. Brown Thumb.” Note: Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497).

Lurie Garden/Art Institute free family workshop:
Magical Dwellings: Art and the Lurie Garden
Sunday, Oct. 10, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: The Art Institute of Chicago Ryan Education Center, 111 S. Michigan Ave., and the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park
Program: Learn how to create charming diminutive dwellings in this special joint workshop from The Art Institute of Chicago and the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park. Children ages 6 to 12 will explore concepts of architecture and outdoor structures, drawing on inspiration from great works at The Art Institute and spectacular scenery in the Lurie Garden. Note: Children must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497).

Free adult lecture:
What is Living in Your Soil – and Why Should You Care?
Thursday, Oct.14, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: First floor Garland Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: Join Rex Bastian from the Care of Trees as he discusses fundamentals of soil biology and why living components of soil, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and others, are important to plants and trees. Pre-registration is not required.

Free seasonal garden walk:
Saturday, Oct.16, 10 a.m.
Savor autumn’s blaze of glory and learn about seasonal changes in the garden during this walk in the Lurie Garden. Discover native plants, Chicago symbolism in the garden’s design and perennials that can be easily grown in the home garden. The seasonal walk is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

Free adult lecture:
Everything Comes into this World Hungry: Soil Making and Building
Thursday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Fifth floor Millennium Park Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: In this food-for-thought session, Nance Klehm – progressive ecologist, designer, urban forager, grower and teacher – will share her insights on various methods of transforming what is typically perceived as “waste” into components for building healthy soil. Pre-registration is not required.

Free adult hands-on workshop:
Healing Herbal Lotions, Balms and Salves
Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: First floor Garland Room Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: Herbs are a treat for all the senses. Join the Lurie Garden’s Bonnie Tawse as she shares her best tips for creating and using soothing herbal lotions, balms and salves, especially as impending cold weather spurs the beginning of dry-skin season. They also make great gifts for the upcoming holidays. Note: Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497) to register.

Free family workshop:
Winter Wonders and Recycled Crafts
Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: First floor Garland Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: Children will learn about outdoor winter wonderlands and how the landscape is transformed during colder months. They also will create earth-friendly crafts (and possibly get a start on holiday gift-giving) using recycled materials. Note: Children must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497).

The Lurie Garden is located at the southeast corner of Millennium Park, near the
corner of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. Millennium Park is easily reached by CTA and adjacent public parking is available. Millennium Park is universally accessible to patrons with disabilities. For more information, visit .

Visit www.luriegarden.org for information about the Lurie Garden, including programming, four-season highlights, plant features and design elements.

Sue Markgraf and Lurie Garden’s new chief horticulturist Jennifer Davit were recently featured on WCPT Radio’s “The Mike Nowak Show”, talking about managing the garden. Mike recommends listeners visit Lurie Garden in Millennium Park this fall and introduces Jennifer and her horticultural background on air. She and Sue give an overview of Lurie Garden and its role as a sustainable destination - a “jewel” - in Chicago.

Click here to listen to the interview. (Mp3)

Mike Nowak’s weekly show covers all-things horticultural and environmental, and can be heard on Sunday mornings from 9 to 11 on 820 AM and 92.7 (north), 92.5 (west) and 99.9 FM (south).

Click here to visit The Mike Nowak Show web site.

October through November 2010

As fall colors lend a spectacular hue to the city, the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park welcomes visitors from all over the world to its perennially beautiful grounds and popular programs. Here are offerings for fall 2010, including hands-on workshops, lectures and garden walks:

Free adult hands-on workshop:

Garden Blogging for Beginners

Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Location: Fourth floor conference room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Program: If you’ve ever thought about branching out into blogging about your garden (or your vision of gardening), discover how to get started chronicling your thoughts online. Led by Ramon Gonzales, a.k.a. “Mr. Brown Thumb.” Note: Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497) or visit www.luriegarden.org to register.

Lurie Garden/Art Institute free family workshop:

Dwellings: Art and the Lurie Garden

Saturday, Oct. 10, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Location: The Art Institute of Chicago Ryan Education Center, 111 S. Michigan Ave., and the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park

Program: Learn how to create charming diminutive dwellings in this special joint workshop from The Art Institute of Chicago and the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park. Children ages 6 to 12 will explore concepts of architecture and outdoor structures, drawing on inspiration from great works at The Art Institute and spectacular scenery in the Lurie Garden. Note: Children must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. The workshop is free, although participants and family members/caregivers who are not members of The Art Institute of Chicago must purchase a ticket to the museum to attend. To register online, visit www.artic.edu/aic/education or call 312-857-7161.

Free adult lecture:

What is Living in Your Soil – and Why Should You Care?

Thursday, Oct.14, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Location: First Floor Garland Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Program: Join Rex Bastian from the Care of Trees as he discusses fundamentals of soil biology and why living components of soil, including bacteria, fungi, protozoans and others, are important to plants and trees. Pre-registration not required.

Free adult lecture:

Everything Comes into this World Hungry: Soil Making and Building

Thursday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Location: Fifth floor Millennium Park Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.Program: In this food-for-thought session, Nance Klehm – progressive ecologist, designer, urban forager, grower and teacher – will share her insights on various methods of transforming what is typically perceived as “waste” to heal or build soil. Pre-registration not required.

Free adult hands-on workshop:

Herbal Lotions, Balms and Salves

Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Location: Fourth floor conference room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Program: Herbs are a treat for all the senses. Join the Lurie Garden’s Bonnie Tawse as she shares her best tips for creating and using soothing herbal lotions, balms and salves, especially as impending cold weather spurs the beginning of dry-skin season. They also make great gifts for the upcoming holiday season. Note: Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497) or visit www.luriegarden.org to register.

Free family workshop:

Winter Wonders and Recycled Crafts

Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Location: Fourth floor conference room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Program: Children will learn about outdoor winter wonderlands and how the landscape is transformed during colder months. They also will create earth-friendly crafts (and possibly get a start on holiday gift-giving) using recycled materials. Note: Children must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497) or visit www.luriegarden.org to register.

The Lurie Garden is located at the southeast corner of Millennium Park, near the corner of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. Millennium Park is easily reached by CTA and adjacent public parking is available. Millennium Park is universally accessible to patrons with disabilities.

For more information, visit www.millenniumpark.org.

Visit www.luriegarden.org for more information about the Lurie Garden, including programming, four-season highlights, plant features and design elements.

Respected Journalist, Philanthropist and Rancher Shares Vision for Greening ChicagoHe has been in the trenches of America’s biggest news stories and feels at home on the cattle-grazing grasslands of Kansas. Now, legendary newsman Bill Kurtis is working with Chicago Gateway Green to increase the tree canopy and create blankets of gardens across Chicago.

Kurtis is serving as spokesperson for Chicago Gateway Green, a non-profit organization dedicated to greening and beautifying the city by planting trees and gardens along its expressways, gateways, and neighborhoods. The organization marks its 25th anniversary in 2011 and is working towards a goal of planting 15,000 trees throughout Chicago by 2015.

In addition to ensuring the legacy of trees and gardens throughout Chicago by participating various fundraising initiatives and special events, Kurtis will support tree plantings with volunteers and key partners, ranging from United Airlines to the Chicago Blackhawks. Other upcoming events include the annual Green Tie Ball, held in the fall, and Gaming for Green, on Aug. 5. Through these and other efforts, Chicago Gateway Green is helping meet the goals of Mayor Daley’s Chicago Climate Action Plan, aimed at doubling Chicago’s tree canopy by 2040 and creating a greener, healthier and more vibrant city.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bill on board,” says Gerald J. Roper, chairman, Chicago Gateway Green. “To have this fantastic role model of integrity and sustainability kindly agree to serve as the face of Chicago Gateway Green will truly make a difference as we work together to make Chicago an even more beautiful place to live and visit.”

Kurtis is especially familiar with the importance of thinking globally and acting locally, Roper says, through his own Tallgrass Beef Company (www.tallgrassbeef.com), service to countless green causes and events, and his Emmy Award-winning work as a one of the country’s most respected journalists.

“It’s great to have the support of a man who is as deeply rooted in Chicago and who shares Chicago Gateway Green’s long-held vision of the vital beauty and greenness of trees and gardens all over our city. We are especially excited to have his support to reach our goal of 15,000 trees by 2015,” says Claire Woolley, recently named executive director of Chicago Gateway Green.

For more information, contact Chicago Gateway Green at 312-540-9930 or visit www.gatewaygreen.org.

One of the first episodes on PBS’ series “Design,” this focuses on Chicago as “the green machine.” Chicago has been noted as one of the greenest cities in America and after watching this video, you should have no doubt as to why it achieved such a recognition.

I mean, green rooftops, how awesome is that?! 

Follow this link, to see Design: The Green Machine on Hulu.

On Sept. 18, 2009, Chicago Tribune announced a major achievement for the city of Chicago (home of GreenMark Public Relations) as the greenest city in America by LEED standards. Mayor Richard Daley has long advocated for Chicago to be the greenest city in the country and he’s well on his way after achieving this major milestone. the U.S. Green Building Council reports that 88 projects in Chicago have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, giving it more certified green buildings that any other city in country, with Portland, Ore. coming in second with 73 buildings.

LEED points are awarded for a variety of features including energy-saving building systems, water conservation and nearness to public transportation. Some of Chicago’s LEED buildings are the McCormick Place West Building and the new FBI Building.

Daley plans on keeping this ranking, too. Every new public building in Chicago is required to achieve LEED certification. Also, public and private projects getting city assistance must have a green roof or pursue similar green building certification.

GreenMark PR stands up and cheers at this announcement. We’re proud to be based in the number one city and are committed to making it an even greener place to work and play. We would also like to congratulate the other cities that made the list for their green efforts. It’s remarkable to see such high numbers for these cities. Let’s see all of these numbers grow! Check out a green building project very near and dear to us: The Green Exchange. Scroll over to our menu and check out their page on our Web site.

Curious about what other cities made the list? See the top ten along with more details at Chicago Tribune’s Web site, here.

See this great video, “An Introduction to Green Exchange” created by Conscious Living TV.

Green Exchange Project Video from Conscious Living TV on Vimeo.

See more videos by Conscious Living TV on their Vimeo site, here.

If you’re from Chicago and find yourself strolling through West Manhattan, New York, you may feel a little deja-vu. That’s because the High Line recently opened, giving NYC a little Windy City breeze. The High Line was originally designed in the 1930s to elevate freight trains off of the streets, similar to Chicago’s ‘L’ system. It has since undergone a major green overhaul and Section 1 is now a beautiful park. When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen. The High Line has more Chicago influence than just the mass-transit connection, the planting designer was the same artist that designed The Lurie Garden: Piet Oudolf.

In fall 2008, High Line’s landscape team consulted with Oudolf on how to bring the garden to life, beginning by planting perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees. Oudolf chose species for their hardiness, sustainability, and textural and color variation, with a focus on native species. Many of the species that originally grew on the High Line’s rail bed are incorporated into the park landscape. The 210 species in Section 1 bloom from late January to mid-November.

The Lurie Garden and the rest of Chicago’s Millennium Park is the largest green roof in the world, as it covers a structural deck supported by two reinforced concrete cast-in-place garages and steel structures that span the space above Illinois Central Railroad tracks. Ironically, the Industrial Revolution that brought about these railroad tracks as well as prosperity and wealth are now being re-tooled by an even larger and more important revolution: the green revolution.

Critics say building green roofs and parks over structures like these are akin to putting Band-Aids on old wounds. Well, maybe with enough Band-Aids the Earth can start to heal. In the mean-time, “walk it off” with a stroll through either garden; or get some desktop exercise and check out the beautiful pictures on the High Line Web site.

Photo Credits:
A panorama taken on the newly opened High Line Park in Chelsea, Manhattan by Gbarill
View of the west shoulder hedge and armature of the Lurie Garden by Alex Cheek