Frederick Law Olmsted Society Partners with Riverside’s Newest Shop, The Seed, on Olmsted 200 Initiative!
“Father of American landscape architecture”
A nation-wide initiative, Olmsted 200, is in the works to celebrate Olmsted’s design principles, which are rooted in a concern for public health and a desire to promote thoughtful access to nature.
Frederick Law Olmsted Society Partners with Riverside’s Newest Shop, The Seed, on Olmsted 200 Initiative!
The Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside is sponsoring two major initiatives, each involving community participation, to mark the celebration. The first, “Olmsted 200 Botanical Box” series provides opportunities to explore Riverside’s natural areas and to contribute seeds for commemorative botanical boxes designed by local artist, Shilin Hora of The Seed. The second will create a public nature space and living tree tribute to healing and gratitude for health. Both projects begin this spring and culminate on Olmsted’s birthday, April 26, 2022.
The living tree tribute will reflect Olmsted’s philosophy that immersion in Nature improves bodily and spiritual health. Working with the Village of Riverside, the Olmsted Society and those interested in volunteering will plant trees and shrubs in a design to promote serenity.
Partnering with Riverside’s newest shop, The Seed, the Olmsted Society will raise funds for a sizeable, museum quality Olmsted 200 Botanical Box to be gifted to the Riverside Public Library. The Olmsted 200 Botanical Box will feature locally collected seeds professionally preserved and artistically arranged by Ms. Hora on a grid of vintage threads over a historic map of Riverside. It will be framed with locally sourced architectural salvage wood by artisan Francisco González and will be accompanied by a hand-written seed identification key.
Fundraising for both initiatives will occur through the Olmsted Society’s website and through The Seed’s sale of smaller (appx. 12”x15”) commemorative Olmsted 200 Botanical Boxes.
Beyond the maps, exquisite craftsmanship, and representation of local flora, the Olmsted 200 Botanical Boxes will also embody the great spirit of community engagement in Riverside. A series of FREE Seed Collection Events will be co-sponsored by the Olmsted Society and The Seed this year, providing participants of all ages with botanical education and restorative time in Olmsted’s landscape.
Seed collection events will take place on
May 16,2021 (meet up: Scout Cabin) with guest guide Ana Garcia-Doyle, she’s a founding Member and Director of the One Earth Film Festival.
June 20,2021 (meet up: Riverside Library) with guest guide Susan Lisle, she’s a Riverside Early Childhood Education Teacher and avid gardner in Riverside.
August 15,2021 (meet up: Indian Gardens) with guest guide Val Kehoe, she’s the Energy & Environmental Stewardship Coordinator for U.of I. and she leads the Conservation@Home and Master Naturalist programs in collaboration with the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
September 19,2021 (meet up: TBD) with guest guide Scott Stewart, he’s the Executive Director of Millennium Park Foundation.
October 23, 2021 (meet up: TBD) with guest guide (TBD).
Register for the Community Seed Hunts here!! All ages welcome! Inter-generational! Registration and other information, including COVID safety precautions and meeting locations, can be found at www.olmstedsociety.org
Orders for Olmsted 200 Botanical Boxes will be taken on a rolling basis throughout the year 2021 at The Seed, located at 34 East Ave., in Riverside Illinois or
