The Chicago Botanic Garden’s 10th annual All Aboard gala celebration Dec. 4 was a holiday-themed wonderland, hosted by the Woman’s Board of the Chicago Horticultural Society. The event supported the garden’s Regenstein Learning Campus, which will be the site for educational programs, including Science First, for Chicago Public Schools students.
During a reception, over 350 guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres overlooking the garden’s landscape, which was illuminated by 750,000 twinkling lights. In Nichols Hall, “The Wonderland Express” exhibition featured 10 model trains whizzing along on three different tracks past miniature replicas of Chicago landmarks. A horticultural display of over 5,000 plantings included poinsettias, small fir trees, amaryllis and boxwoods. Jazz guitarist Donovan Mixon performed.
In keeping with the event’s theme, “A Holiday Journey to the World’s Ancient Trees,” decor in three dining rooms honored the great trees of the world. In the largest ballroom, Bernstein Hall, the decor was inspired by baobabs, the long-living national trees of Madagascar. Rustic wooden tables were adorned with orange table linens evoking an African sunset and topped with sculptural driftwood.
In an adjoining room, Scottish decor inspired by the Fontingall Yew (an evergreen estimated to be 5,000 to 9,000 years old), featured tartan-clad tablecloths topped by Waterford crystal vases filled with Scottish pine, white hydrangeas and pheasant feathers. In the final dining room, modern decor was inspired by the giant sequoias of Northern California and included whitewashed tables with wood cutouts of sequoia trees for centerpieces.
Following dinner, a dessert reception included a gourmet hot chocolate bar, sweets that included edible chocolate “tree bark” and holiday chamber music provided by String Theory.
A unique raffle item, the opportunity to pollinate the next rare blooming corpse flower (titan arum), was won by Laura and Marc Peters.
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Co-chaired by Woman’s Board members Michelle McCarthy and Celine Lillie, the gala raised over $270,000 to benefit the garden’s educational programs, including its Science First program where, each summer, approximately 40 students from Chicago Public Schools travel to the garden for a free, four-week-long nature-based science enrichment program.
The Woman’s Board is in its final year of Growing the Future, a $1 million pledge to the garden. For the past 64 years, the board has supported projects ranging from the inception of the initial garden library, creating and running the gift shop, endowing the aquatic program and its director and supporting Windy City Harvest (community gardening programs), among others.
“The Botanic Garden has over a million visitors annually and more than 500 adult education classes. Over 117,000 people children, parents, students and their teachers participate in (education) programs annually here. It’s a beautiful place that makes people happy,” said McCarthy, a four-year member of the Woman’s Board.
Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers.
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