38 things we love about Illinois: No. 24

From venerable agriculture to the computer revolution, rare books to Round Barns, Homecoming parades to tunnel walks, these are a few of our favorite things about our favorite institution of higher education.

Idea Garden
From venerable agriculture to the computer revolution, rare books to Round Barns, Homecoming parades to tunnel walks, these are a few of our favorite things about our favorite institution of higher education.

24. Idea Garden

Here was an idea—plant and maintain a 15,000-square-foot garden intended to promote environmentally responsible horticulture. Since 1997, the Master Gardeners of UI Extension have maintained Idea Garden as a catalog of plant life, browsed by those who enjoy making things grow. Flanking a wooden gazebo within University Arboretum, the garden abounds with vegetables, flowers, grasses and shrubs, in addition to a rose garden, berry path and children’s garden. It’s both pastoral and convenient, with a view of the Florida Avenue mansion where U of I President Timothy Killeen resides.

Come back to uiaa.org each week for more of the 38 Things We Love about Illinois!