Native Garden Expansion at McHenry Hospital Supports Sustainability & Healing
The native gardens offer calming, therapeutic spaces for patients, visitors, and staff.
MCHENRY, IL — October 3, 2025 — Today, staff and volunteers at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital planted 200 native plants representing 23 species, marking a major expansion of the Native Garden Initiative led by Northwestern Medicine’s local Sustainability Council. With support from 15 volunteers, the hospital built on previous efforts to create spaces that meet patients’ medical needs while also enhancing their overall well-being—offering care that goes beyond traditional healthcare.
“Healing happens in more ways than one—through medicine, through connection, and through nature,” said Rebecca Standish, Sustainability Council co-lead and accreditation, clinical compliance, and policy manger at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital. “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 newly added native plant species were carefully selected to support local pollinators and promote biodiversity. They complement a small garden already installed at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, offering a glimpse of the restorative spaces that will continue to grow in the seasons ahead.
The project also builds on the success of a similar garden at Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, completed on April 30, 2025. That garden began with over 900 native plants and now thrives with more than 1,400 Illinois-native flowers and grasses. It transformed previously underused landscape into a vibrant ecosystem that supports both wellness and sustainability.
Beyond their health benefits and aesthetic appeal, these gardens represent a meaningful step toward environmental responsibility—reducing carbon emissions from mowing and addressing the broader impact of healthcare on the environment. According to the American Medical Association, the U.S. healthcare system contributes approximately 8.5% of the nation’s carbon emissions.
The Native Garden Initiatives at McHenry and Woodstock hospitals reflect Northwestern Medicine’s commitment to sustainability, wellness, and community engagement. Plans are already underway to continue expanding gardens in future seasons.
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Aneta Crisp Specialist, Media Relations Northwestern Medicine Health Network Central DuPage Hospital, Lake Forest Hospital, Palos Hospital, Delnor Hospital, Kishwaukee Hospital, Valley West Hospital, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, McHenry Hospital, Huntley Hospital, Woodstock Hospital |