Staff and volunteers at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital have planted 200 native plants, covering 23 species, as part of the hospital's Native Garden Initiative. This effort is led by the hospital’s local Sustainability Council and aims to enhance both patient care and environmental sustainability.
Rebecca Standish, Sustainability Council co-lead and accreditation, clinical compliance, and policy manager at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, said, “Healing happens in more ways than one—through medicine, through connection, and through nature. These gardens are more than just plants in the ground. It’s a living, breathing space where people can take a deep breath and feel a little more whole.”
The selection of plant species was made with local pollinators and biodiversity in mind. The new garden expands on an existing small garden at the hospital.
This initiative follows a similar project completed earlier this year at Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital. That garden began with over 900 native plants and has since grown to include more than 1,400 Illinois-native flowers and grasses. It has transformed previously underused land into an ecosystem that supports both wellness for patients and environmental sustainability.
The gardens also help reduce carbon emissions associated with traditional landscaping practices such as mowing. According to data from the American Medical Association, the U.S. healthcare system is responsible for about 8.5% of national carbon emissions.
Northwestern Medicine plans to continue expanding these gardens as part of its commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and improving patient well-being.
More information about Northwestern Medicine can be found at https://news.nm.org/.
