Chicago Botanic Garden

Explore the Garden

McDonald Woods

A virtual tour of McDonald Woods before restoration.

In this unrestored area, the oak woodland has few plant and animal species. It needs people to help it recover its health and biodiversity, to preserve the different communities that exist in a healthy ecosystem.

As you move around this 360-degree panorama, notice the bare earth and the similarity of plant life that indicates species loss. See how dark the woodland has become because of the dense growth of a rapidly spreading non-native species. Oak woodlands need sunlight for diverse plant and animal communities to thrive.

Through scientific techniques, native habitats such as McDonald Woods can be returned to healthy functioning. Now see a restoration of McDonald Woods.

Click and drag your cursor across the picture to get the feel of moving around the garden. You can zoom in by using the shift key or zoom out with the control key.

Find out what's in bloom now.

Download a guide for the McDonald Woods. (PDF 352K)