Adult Opportunities

Treasured Trees of the Arboretum Tram Tour

Take a tram tour and enjoy an enlightening perspective on The Morton Arboretum’s most treasured trees.

Content Detail

Join the curator of The Morton Arboretum’s collections and gain insights and deep knowledge about the trees that grow here. Hear tales of the rarest, oldest, and most interesting specimens from the person who knows them best—the Arboretum’s curator. Learn some of the fascinating history of the Arboretum’s collection, how the Arboretum decides which trees and shrubs to plant, how the collection has changed over time, and how the Arboretum is planning for the future. You’ll never see the Arboretum’s trees the same way again!

This program meets in person at the Arboretum.

Instructor: Kim Shearer, curator of collections and manager of new plant development, The Morton Arboretum

Age: 16 and older

Course number: N251

Instructor

Kim Shearer, curator of collections and manager of new plant development, The Morton Arboretum

Kim Shearer is curator of collections and the manager of new plant development for The Morton Arboretum’s Daniel P. Haerther Charitable Trust New Plant Development Program. She came to the Arboretum after completing her master’s degree in horticulture with a focus in plant breeding and genetics at Oregon State University. Her experience and education has been primarily focused on the propagation, development, and evaluation of tree and shrub species from around the world. In addition to overseeing the Arboretum’s collection, she also manages the New Plant Development lab, engages audiences around the country to promote trees and shrubs through the Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program, and works closely with academics and the nursery industry in the evaluation of tree and shrub selections.

What to Know

This program meets outdoors. Check the forecast and dress for the weather. It can be chilly on the tram even on a warm evening, so bring layers.

In case of inclement weather, a rain date has been scheduled for Thursday, June 27.

Program Schedule

Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Breezeway, Visitor Center

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