MONTICELLO — As the son of a theology professor, it seems appropriate that musician Pierre Lacocque describes his first exposure to blues as “a religious experience.” It came five decades ago when the then-16-year-old Belgian immigrant snuck into a Big Walter Horton concert at the University of Chicago. “I had never heard the blues before,” said Lacocque, whose Mississippi Heat will headline the Reds, Whites & the Blues Concert at Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello on … [Read more...] about The Blues Deacons, Mississippi Heat next in concert series
Consider a special garden during Pollinator Week
In conjunction with Pollinator Week June 20-26, we wanted to point out the pollinator pocket at the Allerton McCraw Family Visitor Center (between the Greenhouse Café and the Visitor Center), which was installed and is maintained by the Piatt County Master Gardeners. “Pollinator-friendly areas are extremely important, especially in the Midwest where so much land is used for agriculture, and the resulting broad use of pesticides and herbicides has led to a dramatic reduction in pollinator … [Read more...] about Consider a special garden during Pollinator Week
Seven figure endowment will maintain, improve Allerton
A Sangamon County resident, U of I grad, and Allerton Park and Retreat Center enthusiast has pledged approximately $1.1 million of his estate to the park, which will be used for future upkeep for both the 1900-era mansion and the park’s 1,500 acres of natural areas, as well as ongoing upkeep of its gorilla statue. Park officials have announced the gift from David Taylor, a civil engineer who said he has enjoyed the melding of art and nature at Allerton for decades. “There are very few … [Read more...] about Seven figure endowment will maintain, improve Allerton
Peony Garden, path dedicated
MONTICELLO — A crowd gathered in the Allerton Park and Retreat Center Peony Garden on Thursday, May 26 to dedicate the iconic, much-visited area of the park that explodes in color each spring with 50-plus varieties of peonies. Although the gardens date back some 80 to 90 years, it was more recent developments that prompted the celebration. One was an accessible pathway installed in the garden last fall, allowing for easier access. The second was a hearty thank you to Deborah and Michael … [Read more...] about Peony Garden, path dedicated
Award-winning photographer Bea Nettles to speak
MONTICELLO — Award-winning photographer Bea Nettles distinctly remembers spending time at Allerton Park while doing graduate work at the University of Illinois in the 1970s. As a matter of fact, she credits the Monticello-area park with shaping her work as the budding artist used the former estate of Robert Allerton as a canvas for her photography. Nettles, now a professor emerita at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will share thoughts on her distinguished photography career … [Read more...] about Award-winning photographer Bea Nettles to speak
Last Minute, Green Diamond Express set for LOVE FOR ALLerton
MONTICELLO — Pleasing the crowd is an overriding desire of Last Minute, the Central Illinois-based rock and roll band that will open the Allerton Park & Retreat Center Concert Series Presented by the Ayers Family at 6 p.m. Friday, June 3. To the point you may end up dancing with some of the band’s lead singers as the group plays classic rock tunes. “We try to keep the crowd going. We’ll jump out with the crowd and dance with people,” said Jadie Sanchez, a singer in the seven-piece … [Read more...] about Last Minute, Green Diamond Express set for LOVE FOR ALLerton
Peony Progress 2022!!
Middle school garden club helps plant Annual Garden
MONTICELLO — What was once an experimental garden for Robert Allerton is now a training ground for young gardeners, as well as a pollinator-friendly area at Allerton Park. On May 4, a total of 22 students and three adults from the Monticello Middle School Garden Club spent about 1½ hours planting almost 2,000 flowers in the garden, located near the bulb and peony gardens. “It gets the kids outside, away from technology, and helps them enjoy nature,” said Monticello Middle School teacher … [Read more...] about Middle school garden club helps plant Annual Garden