Events

Perennial Partner Recognition Week

Arboretum members with 10 or more consecutive years of membership are invited to the annual Perennial Partner Recognition Week from Sunday, June 9, through Friday, June 14, 2024.

Content Detail

Mark your calendar for the 2024 Perennial Partner Recognition Week, Sunday, June 9, through Friday, June 14, 2024, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you have supported the Arboretum as a member for 10 or more consecutive years, you are recognized as a Perennial Partner. Thank you for being among the Arboretum’s most dedicated supporters!

The Arboretum celebrates its Perennial Partners annually with a special week of exclusive benefits and programs.

Member Benefits

During the week, Perennial Partners are invited to visit the Arboretum for a range of exclusive benefits. Each day of the event, Perennial Partners can enjoy:

  • Special programming and free Acorn Express Tram tours for Perennial Partners
  • Free coffee, tea, or iced tea
  • Automatic entry in a drawing for Arboretum prizes each day you visit
  • Ginkgo Restaurant and Café discounts of 10% off for Morton-level members and 15% off for Friend and higher level members daily during Perennial Partners Week (when you show your Perennial Partner Punch Card)
  • An additional 10% discount (in addition to your member discount) at The Arboretum Store on any one day of your choosing during the week
  • Two free glasses of wine or beer per household, redeemable starting at noon at the Arbor Evenings beverage tent on Wednesday, June 12

Schedule of Events

Sunday, June 9

Big Rock Open House
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join Arboretum docents for this drop-in program at the Big Rock Visitor Station to learn more about this East Side historical site.

East Side Tram Tours
1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.; 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.
Discover the beauty of the Arboretum’s East Side on this 30-minute tour that departs from the Tribute Walkway.

Monday, June 10

West Side Tram Tours
9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., noon, and 1:00 p.m.
Discover the beauty of the Arboretum’s West Side on this 30-minute tour that departs from the Tribute Walkway.

Firefly Pavilion Tours
1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the Arboretum’s new three-season event space and learn about the pavilion’s construction, functionality, and sustainable design.

Tuesday, June 11

West Side Tram Tours
9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and noon
Discover the beauty of the Arboretum’s West Side on this 30-minute tour that departs from the Tribute Walkway.

Herbarium Tours
11:00 a.m., noon, 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m.
Learn more about the Arboretum’s Herbarium on this guided tour. The Herbarium houses more than 200,000 specimens and is a major resource to researchers in botany, genetics, conservation ecology, restoration, and other disciplines.

Wednesday, June 12

East Side Tram Tours
9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., noon, and 1:00 p.m.
Discover the beauty of the Arboretum’s East Side on this 30-minute tour that departs from the Tribute Walkway.

Arbor Evenings Concert Performance by Hillbilly Rockstars
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy live music, food, and drinks on Frost Hill. Special event ticket purchase required.

Thursday, June 13

Plant Clinic Native Plant Identification
10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m.
Walk Meadow Lake with one of the Arboretum’s plant clinic experts and learn the basics of plant identification.

East Side Tram Tours
2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.
Discover the beauty of the Arboretum’s East Side on this 30-minute tour that departs from the Tribute Walkway.

Friday, June 14

West Side Tram Tours
9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., noon, and 1:00 p.m.
Discover the beauty of the Arboretum’s West Side on this 30-minute tour that departs from the Tribute Walkway.

Story Time at the Sterling Morton Library
Learn about the Arboretum’s Denton collection of butterflies and moths.
Children’s session, 11:00 a.m.
Adult sessions, noon and 1:00 p.m.

Please note: All events are subject to change and cancellation. Activity registration is available in the Visitor Center starting at 8:00 a.m. on the day of the event. Registration is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Digital Content

This Perennial Partner Recognition Week, learn more about the Arboretum with digital content that can be viewed anytime.

Tree Care Tips Video Showcase

Learn how to select and care for your trees with expert video advice from The Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic.

View Tree Care Tip Videos >

Arboretum Experimental Prairie Plots Video

Historically, Illinois was predominantly covered by tallgrass prairie, earning it the nickname “The Prairie State.” However, less than 0.01% of Illinois’ original 21 million acres of tallgrass prairie remains.

In this video, Spencer Campbell, the Arboretum’s Plant Clinic manager, speaks with Emma Leavens, Tree Conservation Biology program manager, about the research being done at the Arboretum’s experimental prairie plots. Experimental prairie plots help advance understanding of the most effective methods for managing prairie plant communities as we work to conserve both the plants themselves and the wildlife that depend on them.

View Arboretum Experimental Prairie Plots Video >

Schulenberg Prairie Oral History Project Interviews

This series of interviews conducted by Cindy Crosby in 2023 includes eight oral histories from individuals connected to the prairie’s past and present.

View Schulenberg Prairie Oral History Project >

Daily Prize Drawing

Check in at the Perennial Partner table in the Visitor Center to be automatically entered to win the daily prize. Winners will be notified the following day by phone or email. Please note that all drawing prizes have no cash value and are subject to change.

Drawing prizes for each day are listed below.

Sunday, June 9

Two tickets to Mocktails and More on Saturday, June 22
Stay hydrated this summer with the best nonalcoholic beers, mocktails, and botanical libations around at a new alcohol-free tasting event at The Morton Arboretum.

Monday, June 10

Two tickets to Farm-to-Table Dinner on Thursday, July 11
Spend a summer evening dining alfresco at The Morton Arboretum! The Farm-to-Table Dinner menu highlights flavorful greens and herbs, freshly harvested fruits and vegetables, and locally made products. Each course is expertly paired with wines from Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Ill.

Tuesday, June 11

Four tickets to Arbor Evenings, Wednesdays through August 21
Unwind with great music, family, and friends at Arbor Evenings this summer.

Wednesday, June 12

Four Walking Plays tickets, select weekends, July through October
Experience a live outdoor play performed amid beautiful trees and scenic landscapes.

House on Pooh Corner: July and August
The Grimmest of Tales: September and October

Thursday, June 13

Four AnyDay Illumination Tickets, November 16, 2024, through January 4, 2025
Explore 50 acres of the Arboretum’s majestic trees during this one-of-a-kind spectacle of color, light, and sound.

Friday, June 14

Complimentary Arboretum Membership Renewal
Offer is valid for up to a Morton 6 level membership.

Planned Giving

Help ensure a future where trees and people thrive together. We invite you to become a cherished member of the 1922 Legacy Society by including the Arboretum in your will, trust, or other estate plans. Your legacy gift ensures the Arboretum’s mission and programs will continue for generations to come.

To learn more about making a gift in your will or estate plans, or to let us know about your estate gift intentions, contact Jessica Anderson, major and planned giving officer, janderson@mortonarb.org or 630-725-2146.

Donate

Your support is vital to the Arboretum, where the power of trees makes a positive impact on people’s lives.

Make a gift