Oasis in concrete jungle

This City of Chicago Department of Environment handout shows a rooftop garden in Chicago, Illinois. Nestled atop Chicago's neoclassical city hall lies a secret garden hidden to all but those peering out of the widows of neighboring office towers. Dozens more dot the rooftops of shops, restaurants, businesses and other city buildings in a patchwork of green aimed at cooling the concrete jungle. Some four million square feet of rooftop gardens have been planted in the seven years since the first plants were placed atop city hall as part of a broader effort to reduce the city's carbon footprint. Inspired by similar programs in Europe, Chicago now has one of the most extensive rooftop garden programs in the world.Photo: AFP