Chicago’s Botanic Rooftop Garden

The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center in Chicago has a rooftop garden a combining food, beauty, education, research, and conservation in what they call a “living laboratory.” There are two areas to the garden: one with local plants and the other with plants known for growing well in rooftop settings. The roof is 16,000 square feet in area with 40,000 total plants (of 200 species) being monitored in order to determine how well they perform in various areas such as cooling for the building, water absorption, etc. This rooftop garden is an innovative form of sustainable development, showing what is possible when we think outside the box and bring plants into cities. In fact, green roofs are amazingly beneficial for cities, providing beauty, retaining stormwater, enhancing air quality, bringing communities together, creating jobs, and, of course, providing delicious fresh produce (Green Roofs for Healthy Cities).
Want to learn more about Chicago’s Green Roof Garden? Check out their website here.