Photo: Students from Fiske School and others on a CAS field trip with Blacks in Green in Washington Park
In 2021 and 2022, a group of local park neighbors and birders met to plan a Hummingbird Garden in Chicago's Washington Park. The Chicago Park District chose a low spot at the southeast corner of the lagoon and developed this plant list based on site conditions and suggestions from the group:
Cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis
Wild columbine Aquilegia Canadensis
Foxglove beardtongue Penstemon Digitalis
Obedient plant Physostegia Virginiana
Jewelweed Impatiens Capensis
White turtlehead Chelone Glabra
The project has reached its phase I fundraising goal of $6000 including $3,000 matching donation. The Chicago Park District is contributing additional funds and labor to the project. Funds will be turned over to the Chicago Park District for purchase of plant material and fencing. Planting is in May and June 2022 by the Washington Park Stewards led by Jackie Smith and Liz Huyck, and the Chicago Park District.
Fundraising for Phase 2 continues. An artwork for the site will be developed through a community-led process.
We will see the flowers and hummingbirds this summer and so much more as the garden matures. This is the first Hummingbird Garden in the Chicago Park District - we hope it will be a success and more will follow.
Thanks to all our donors who have made this project possible!
Project planning group:
Park stewards: Jackie Smith, Liz Huyck
Local birders and park neighbors: Peter Cassel, Venyar Davis, Ellen Douglas, Jacob Drucker, Lila Fried, Wendy Williams
Fiske School: Sean Murphy, Colleen McVeigh
Chicago Audubon Society: Judy Pollock
Chicago Park District: Matthew Freer, Lucy Gomez-Feliciano, Chloe Wild