When the Thornhill Education Center opened in 1942, it replaced most of Joy Morton’s mansion. Only the original library wing from 1923 remains. With its English oak paneling, ornate bookcases and intimate alcove, this room looks much as it did when it served as Morton’s private library.

Today, the room is used for a wide variety of events and activities at The Morton Arboretum – from holiday teas to staff meetings to weddings and special receptions.

Tell us the name of this special room. That’s easy! And then tell us how many stained glass medallions are in the windows of the room. You can do it! You need both answers correct to win.

Deadline for the contest entry is Friday, December 4, at noon. The next question will post on Friday, December 11, 2009.

And what can you win? One of our Arboretum signature logo blankets and a 62-inch logo umbrella. That’s a $100 value!

A winner will be selected at random on December 7  from all correct entries submitted. We will notify the winner via his or her email immediately following the drawing. The winner has one week from date of notification to claim his or her prize. After that, we will select another entry and winner from amongst the remaining correct entries.

Good luck!

Plein Air Painting

Amy Wright, the Arboretum’s current visiting artist, has worked for more than 20 years as a freelance muralist and natural science  illustrator, working in oil, acrylic, watercolor and colored pencil. She specializes in combining animal and habitats in large scale realistic murals for science centers, museums, zoos and aquariums. Her most recent works may be see at the Boston Museum of Science, Buttonwood Park Zoo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New England Aquarium.

Lucky art students joined Amy the weekend of August 14-16 painting outdoors using the magnificent trees, gardens and sweeping vists of The Morton Arboretum. Classes were held at locations that are ideal for morning and afternoon light over the course of three days. Subject matter included lighted woodland paths, clower garden walkways, naturalized vistas and painted studies of large trees. Supported by instruction and demonatration, student explored value, color temperature, composition and nine ways to successfully show depth in a painting. Students were able to work in the medium of their choice.

If you have an interest in this kind of unique and very special opportunity, let us know! Contact our Education Department at The Thornhill Education Center. Learn more about our adult education and Botanical Art Programs.

Jacqueline Solfronk, PhD