The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the loveliest botanic gardens I have ever had the chance to see. Although its name would make one think that it is in Chicago and that it is owned by the city of Chicago, neither is the case. The land on which the Botanic Garden is located is land that belongs to the Cook County Forest Preserve. Chicago happens to be in Cook County. The gardens are located in Glencoe Illinois. The woodier areas of the garden and the areas that have been allowed to remain in their native state are visible from the Eden's Expressway.

I am not sure what the total acreage of this property is, but it is very large. Within the gates of the garden, one can find everything from a formal walled English Garden to water gardens, a vegetable and herb garden (and the food is contributed to needy people,) and a Japanese tea garden. There are many other gardens as well, but there are also several islands. One of those islands is particularly special to me. The name of that island is Spider Island.

The land where Spider Island is now located was nothing but an empty space. It is common for people who wish to create a memorial for a loved one to give money to the Botanic Garden to have that done. Spider Island wasn't so different except that the people who gave the money for the creation of Spider Island were involved in its creation every step of the way. The landscape architect who designed this island garden is Michael Van Valkenberg; a Boston based landscape architect whose educational roots took him to Chicago and the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois. He now teaches at Harvard in their school of Architecture. The other two people who were involved in this design through every step along the way were the donors. The two donors were my uncle and my mother. This island was built as a memorial to my late aunt. She worked at the Morton Arboretum, but she was a naturalist at heart. She loved all things having to do with the outdoors and could name nearly every variety of bird. When it came time to name the island, my cousin's children came up with the idea to call it Spider Island. My aunt had an incredible love for unusual insects - so much so, that she kept a tarantula in her refrigerator in a small box...Of course it wasn't alive. But she sometimes used it as a joke or to scare people....all she had to do was take the box out of the refrigerator and mention she had something REALLY special to show them. I can hardly imagine the look on peoples' faces when she opened the box. She did have an incredible sense of humor though.

Winter view of bridge that crosses main part of Chicago Botanic Garden to Spider Island

Before you get to the island, you must cross a bridge. There is a plaque near a bench that faces the bridge that hovers over the small lake that separates the mainland part of the gardens from the islands. The plaque is a dedication to my aunt, and explains that my mother and my uncle gave the Botanic Garden this island in her memory. At the entry of the path leading to the bridge, there's a beautiful bald cypress tree. The shoreline is decked out with all sorts of water loving plants....they fit into the landscape so well that one wouldn't necessarily realize that there presence there was planned.View of Spider Island showing bridge that connects it to the main part of the garden: Picture furnished by Michael Van Valkenburg and used with his permission.

To enter the island, one must cross a beautiful bridge that is made from rough hewn black locust wood, and it spans 110 feet winding its way to the island. The bridge that forms a sort of boardwalk meets the island at an angle....it's sort of organic form is very natural, and the intent must clearly have been to give visitors the idea that this wasn't planned even though it was.

Spider Island #1 supplied by and used with the permission of Michael Van Valkenburgh: Picture of Spider Island at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Picture was furnished by Michael Van Valkenburgh and used with his permission.

Once a visitor reaches the island, they will immediately see the naturalistic plantings all along the water. As they walk along a winding path, they will pass black alder and birch trees....the entire time they are walking along this path, they will have the sense that they are in a secluded wooded area. Depending on the time of year that one visits the garden, there may be a host of native Midwestern wildflowers in bloom. They blend in with the setting very well....adding color, texture and whimsy to the surroundings.View of Spider Island at sundown: Because mawnature insisted that this article be illustrated with photos, and because she took the time to seek out the architect who designed Spider Island, he willingly supplied all of these pictures and gave permission for us to use them!

At the end of the path, there is a lovely sitting area. Huge boulders were cut from Wisconsin granite to create the seating areas...they too blend into the environment as if nothing was planned but all just naturally meant to be there. Sitting in that secluded sitting area, one can look out on the lake that surrounds the island....and on to other areas of the botanic garden. It's nice to sit and listen to the birds, and to soak up the surrounding beauty. It's hard to imagine that a short distance away, there is a major expressway that connects the northern suburbs to Chicago. It's even more difficult to believe that in the midst of this urban environment and a city whose population including the surrounding suburbs easily exceeds 8 million people.

Anyone wishing to see it should go to Chicago Botanic Garden

You can read information about the island by going to

Spider Island