Enjoy Your Visit — WALK THE GARDEN

Along the water's edge

The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the largest in the world — 385 acres abloom with more than 2.3 million plants. A fact many new visitors may not realize is that 81 of those acres are water. Each one of the 23 different display gardens that shapes the whole is located on one of nine islands. Even three distinct environments of the great Prairie, located on Marsh Island, are surrounded by water. These nine Garden islands are joined to each other through a series of bridges and walkways, some of which arch gracefully over the water, while others barely skim the surface, allowing visitors an opportunity to experience what it truly means to "walk on water." Water played a significant role in the formation of the Garden more than 40 years ago, and it continues today to add so much to the enjoyment of the plants, the landscapes, natural spaces, and views — both grand and intimate.

A cooling summer walk on paths along the water's edge is a unique way to explore the Garden, while treating yourself to views and vistas on a panoramic scale. There are 5.7 miles of shoreline, much of it carefully restored, waiting to be discovered, all landscaped with the diverse plants appropriately themed to each specific garden. A fine starting point for this walk is the Great Basin, the Garden's central lake, which is surrounded by gardens that include every variety of plant, from flowering crab apple to iris, rose, ornamental grasses, and perennials, whose images are mirrored by the reflective quality of water. This living necklace of brilliant flora includes the northern gardens of Evening Island, the Lakeside Gardens, and the individual Water Gardens, blooming in later summer with fragrant waterlilies, lotus, and other aquatic plants.

Take in this big picture at the scenic Overlook, at the corner of the English Walled Garden, where you can see a grand preview of what awaits. A clockwise circular walk will lead from the southern edge of the English Walled Garden through the terraced plants of the Lakeside Gardens (a don't-miss event in early May when hundreds of crab apples come into bloom), across the Arch Bridge to Evening Island, and then back to the Main Island via the low-lying Serpentine Bridge. At this time of year, perennials and annuals are at their peak of floral and foliar abundance, and the grasses have produced foxtail plumes or filigreed turkey-feet seed heads. As is true with all plants along this walk, the roses, irises, daylilies, bulbs, and sages are massed by the hundreds and hundreds for their color impact visible across the water. This time, too, is when the waterlilies and lotuses are at their fullest of perfection. The hundreds of trees ringing the Great Basin are still summer green — a perfect foil for the blaze of sunsets that continue to light up the sky to the west.

To move from grand drama to a more private shoreline walk, cross the hand crafted black locust bridge leading to Spider Island, the most intimate island at the Garden. Although this natural retreat appears to be pure woodland, its curving path pulls visitors from woods to water's edge and to spectacular surprise views across the lakes.

Continuing a close-up plant and water experience, stroll the boardwalks of the Aquatic Garden, adjacent to the Bulb Garden, to see waterlilies and lotuses more magnified than when viewed from a distance. Now you can clearly identify the unmistakable features of a water lotus — strong stalks rising tall out of the water, upraised wavy foliar pads, and that classic perforated seedpod — there will be no future confusion of lily or lotus. More waterlilies, water views, and a refreshing aquatic misting from the Smith Fountain, can be found close to the terraces and walkways at the foot of the grand Esplanade. The vistas from here across to the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden or to Bird Island present the northern face of the Garden, and a counterpoint to the exotic color and fragrance of the exuberant Crescent. This is a favorite site to spot the Garden's gregarious resident ducks, trumpeter swans, and great blue herons.

But…for the most personal and tranquil moments to sense both the power and peace of land meeting water, a walk through the strolling gardens of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden is in order. Three distinct islands comprise this extraordinary place, where respect for nature — both plants, stone, water, and land — are evident everywhere. The curling paths encourage all visitors to explore the perimeter of the islands (except for that third island, which must be viewed only from a distance), and thereby sense the unity of land and liquid. Japan is a country surrounded by water and this garden reminds us of that fact at all times. Water is seen and felt everywhere, in manners obvious and great — carefully pruning pines in order to clear the way for a perfect view of a nearby island; and much more personal — the soft dripping of water from bamboo fountains and basins intended to remind us of the importance of personal purification.

In addition to the grandeur of water visible in the Garden's lakes and river valley, there are also 30 pools and fountains nestled into small garden settings, quietly bubbling, splashing, and murmuring, adding their own sensory allure to the pleasures of the plant world. And you thought gardens were just about plants.