Colleen Milks and her 5-year-old daughter, Grace in the arid greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. Parking rates were increased this month for non-Cook County residents. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Growing attendance at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Instructor Kelly Rusk explains seeds to Andy Joseph, 6, of Arlington Heights, and Cecilia Anderson during a drop-in kids' activity in the fruit and vegetable garden classroom Feb. 17, 2013 at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Med

Flowers blossom inside a greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Grace Milks, 5, of Northbrook, makes a caterpillar out of grapes during a drop-in kids' activity in the fruit and vegetable garden classroom at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Elizabeth Harris and her 5-year-old daughter, Olivia, of Wilmette, make a caterpillar out of grapes during a drop-in kids' activity in the fruit and vegetable garden classroom at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Caroline Gross, 7, of Northbrook, makes a butterfly out of a colored coffee filter during a drop-in kids' activity in the fruit and vegetable garden classroom at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Olivia Harris, 5, of Wilmette, wanders the arid greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Andy Joseph, 6, of Arlington Heights, and Cecilia Anderson plant a marigold during a drop-in kids' activity in the fruit and vegetable garden classroom at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Isabelle Bennie, 6, waters her marigold while her sister, Hannah, 4, both of Deerfield, who packs down the dirt during a drop-in kids' activity in the fruit and vegetable garden classroom at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Medi

The Chicago Botanic Garden’s attendance has blossomed over the last four years, and may be poised to pass the 1 million per year mark soon. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Isabelle Bennie, 6, of Deerfield, explores the arid greenhouseat the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media