Chapter Events

Note: This program will be presented both in-person and via livestream.  A link to join the livestream will be available here closer to the presentation date.

After twenty years, The Meadows at Lurie Garden had changed beyond recognition — the once-diverse planting had been overtaken by a few dominant species, and invasive weeds were gaining ground. It became clear that to restore the spirit of the garden, we had to begin again. In this talk, I’ll share the story of that renewal — from the moment we decided to start fresh, through the challenges of excavation and rebuilding the soil, to working alongside Piet Oudolf as he envisioned a new design for the space. Along the way, I’ll reflect on what this process taught us about resilience in the landscape — how even beloved gardens need renewal, how healthy soil and plant diversity form the true foundation of beauty, and how collaboration and patience are as essential to gardening as sunlight and rain.

Presenter Bio:

Kristian Brooks is the Horticulturist for Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park, where she helps steward one of the most influential contemporary perennial plantings in the world. She works closely with designer Piet Oudolf and the Lurie Garden team to maintain and reimagine complex plant communities that balance artistry with ecology. Her work focuses on the long-term care and renewal of perennial landscapes that serve as inspiration for visitors from all over the world. Kristian has previously held positions with Chicago Botanic Garden and her family’s farm and nursery, Farmer’s Garden Greenhouse in Michigan. She feels most at home surrounded by plants and is proud to continue a generations-long legacy of caring for them.