The Art of Plants

Plant Family Guides of the Chicago Region
(Illustrations by Kathleen Garness)

“What’s that plant? What’s that bird?” Most of us who live in the city don’t think we see much biodiversity here, so we seldom even consider the question. But nature is closer than you think. And asking the question might lead to other questions, good ones, such as “why?” Did you know that there are over 2500 different kinds of plants in the Chicago region? And that doesn’t count the ones growing in folks’ gardens, just the ones in the forest preserves! Rich biodiversity is the keystone of life on Earth, so appreciating, understanding and nurturing that biodiversity is everyone’s responsibility.

A few years ago I decided I wanted to learn more so I took a field botany class with Barbara Birmingham, steward at Theodore Stone Forest Preserve, right next to the Hodgkins mall. One Sunday afternoon a month we went out and learned about the 400+ species of plants – and their associated bug and butterfly companions. We learned about plant families and communities – plants have their BFFs, too! – took notes, made new friends and had a great picnic afterwards. A retired science teacher, Barb was quick to develop professional-quality handouts, including some she had adapted from classes she took at Morton Arboretum. The outings were interesting so I went back for a second year. Then I started making notes and drawings in the empty spaces, as we learned more. Since I had completed the scientific illustration program at Morton Arboretum, a more detailed version of the handouts started to emerge, and I shared those with Barbara. Then I expanded beyond her original seven plant families, adding seven more. I asked other scientists and stewards for input – because, well, I’m an artist, not a botanist. The response was fabulous. We envision this as a help to folks who want to learn about our native flora but who don’t have a science background. Check out the pages at http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/plantguides/guideimages.asp?ID=541!

Contributor: Kathleen Marie Garness