Self-Guided Tour
2. The Habitat Corridors
3. The Wildlife Viewing Stations
4. The Prairie Patch
6. Women's Terrace
7. and 16. Aspegren Meadow
8. The Wetlands
9. Independence Knoll
10.International Friendship Garden
17. Bird Sanctuary
21. The Knowlls:
Pine Knoll
Maple Knoll
Legumes
Birches
Nut Trees
Oak Grove

Self-Guided Tour

Many of the plants immediately surrounding the Ecology Center and channel overlook are commonly used landscape materials. Dwarf pfitzer juniper, meadow rose, dwarf flowering quince, azalea, and yews are examples of foundations or low shrub plants at the Ladd.

Large shrubs and small trees have been used in the Ladd in groups as screening or alone as specimens. Such plants include Juneberry, wild plum, arrowwood, witch-hazel, double flowering almond, magnolia, wayfaring bush, sumac, and hawthorn.

Fruit trees make attractive ornamentals, which, with a little special attention, will also produce quality food.

A tall tree, such as the hackberry planted on the south side of the Ecology Center, provides shade to the building and reduces heat buildup during the summer. In winter, the leaves are gone and sunlight is able to get through to the building and provide some additional warmth.

The slope to the channel is an area suitable for low maintenance plantings such as crown vetch and native prairie plants. The native Illinois prairie is in flower from spring to fall. During its peak in June, as many as 70 species are in flower at one time.Many of these plants can be used to good advantage in your own garden. Some of the prairie plants on display are golden alexander, blackeyed susan, rattlesnake master, yellow coneflower, compass plant, prairie dock, big blue stem grass, rosinweed and Indiangrass. Back to top.

2. The Habitat Corridors

The Habitat Corridors are extensions of the wooded embankment vegetation and provide expanded habitat areas for wildlife. The naturalistic woodland externsions of the embankment growht pormote biodiversity and sustainability, and minimize maintenance. Back to top.

3. The Wildlife Viewing Stations

The Wildlife Viewing Stations are stops along the trails system that have been incorporated into the deck overlooks. The provide opportunities for interaction and passive viewing of wildlife and natural settings. Back to top.

4. The Prairie Patch

The Prairie Patch encourages a prairie ecosystem. Back to top.

6. Women's Terrace
The plantings in this section of the Arboretum (6 on the Map Key) are dedicated to Evanston women, living and deceased, who have made outstanding contributions to the community. Back to top.

7. and 16. Aspegren Meadow
The Aspegren Meadow was dedicated by family and friends to the memory of Richard Aspegren. This meadow creates a naturalistic landscape to provide open grassy areas. The encircling trees create patterns of light and shade which change throughout the day. Back to top.

8. The Wetlands

The Wetlands allows the visitor to learn about and experience the wonders of an aquatic habitat up close. The ecosystem provides habitat and cover for animals, reptiles and amphibians. Back to top.

9. Independence Knoll
The flagpole and plantings were established by the fourth of July Association of Evanston. Leading up to Independence Knoll, the Washington Heritage walk was dedicated in 1987 by Washington National Insurance Company, and contains a variety of trees and shrubs common to the era of the nation's first president. Back to top.

10. International Friendship Garden
Established by the Evanston Rotary Club this painting of 123 trees represents a tree for each country where there is a chapter of Rotary. Back to top.

17. Bird Sanctuary
The newly upgraded and dedicated Bird Sanctuary is part of the series of habitat corridors, for birds and wildlife. 22. Oak Savanna At the far Eastern end of the arboretum will be a transitional landscape that links open grassland to an Oak Forest, and is indigenous to Illinois.The plantings in this area were landscaped with wildlife in mind. All wildlife requires four elements in order to survive- food, water cover, and reproductive areas. Here shrubs and trees have been planted around an open area to create an "edge effect". The edge effect brings a great variety and number of wildlife to this small area. A quiet visit to the Sanctuary in spring will allow one to view a wide variety of bird-life during migration.  Back to top.

21. The Knolls

21a. Pine Knoll
Five different types of pine can be found on this pine knoll. The Scotch Pine has bluish-green foliage. The needles, grouped in twos, are slightly twisted. The red pine and the Australian pine have long straight sharp needles grouped in clusters of two. The red pine is native to the United States and has a reddish trunk. The Austrian pine has a less reddish trunk and stiffer needles than the red pine. The ponderosa pine has yellowish-green needles clustered in groups of two or three. The white pine has delicate, soft grayish-green needles clustered five to a bunch. Back to top.

21b. and 22. Oak Grove and Savanna
There are more than 200 species of oak growing throughout the world. They are commonly divided into two groups- the white oaks and the black oaks. In the white oak group, the tips of leaf lobes are rounded and smooth. The lobes of black oaks are sharply pointed and end with a small bristle. Back to top.

21c. Maple Knoll
The maple knoll contains a variety of species. The maples are the most popular shade trees for the home. The tall growing maples are sugar maple silver maple, red maple, Norway maple, and boxelder. Amur maple and Japanese maple are low growing species. All maples have double-winged seeds. Back to top.

21d. Legumes
Several trees are legumes; the family of plants known best for the pea-like flowers which develop into bean-like seed pods. The redbud tree has single, heart shaped leaves. Others such as honey locust scholar tree and yellowwood have compound leaves made up of many small leaflets. The honey locust has the least noteworthy flowers but its many fine varieties make excellent, long-lied shade trees. Back to top.

21e. Birches
White birch, paper birch river birch, alder, and hop hornbeam produce a catkin-like flower and are members of the birch family. Back to top.

21f. Nut Trees
Three species of nut trees native to Illinois are grown in the Arboretum. The walnut, butternut, and shagbark hickory are not only handsome shade trees but also produce edible nuts. The horsechesnut and buckeye are also found in the Arboretum. Their oval, brown, pity fruit is not edible. Back to top.