Illinois
Please see the events, club meetings, and other Illinois garden and nature related places to visit listed below.
Illinois Events:
July 26 - September 26: Chicago. Our free Summer Tropical Flower
Show will be held in the Show House from 9 am-5 pm daily, Wednesdays until 8 pm.
Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park Ave, 773-638-1766,
www.garfield-conservatory.org
July 26 - September 26: Glencoe. Take a journey throughout Scotland via the
work of more than 30 renowned landscape designers and artists in this inspiring
Garden exhibition. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
July 26 - January 2011: Lisle. Explore 15 dramatic sculptures of abstract root
forms in our outdoor galleries. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53,
630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
July 26 - 31: Lisle. Examine the different shapes, sizes and colors
that flowers grow. In "Fingerprint Flowers," kids will look all around the
children's Garden to find different flowers to paint. This self-guided
activity is for all ages. Daily, 11-4 pm (weather permitting) in the
Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
July 26 - 31: Lisle. Each day you can draw a nature scene using basic
shapes, discovering that some leaves grow into hearts, some trees look like
triangles and some blooms look like circles. This self-guided activity is
for all ages. 11-4 pm (weather permitting) in the Children's Garden,
Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
July 26 - September 30: Statewide. Register to become a Citizen Scientist from
Project BudBurst. Join us in collecting important climate change data on the
timing of leafing and flowering in your area. This national field campaign
targets native tree and flower species across the country. With your help we
will be compiling valuable environmental and climate change information around
the United States. Visit
www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/ for more information.
July 26 - December 31: Statewide. Join the community-based network of
volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map
precipitation (rain, hail and snow). Get all the details at
www.cocorahs.org
July 28 - October 3: Glencoe. Volunteers in the Fruit and Vegetable Garden share
information about each month's featured plant and encourage visitors to plant
seeds or seedlings (while supplies last) to take home to their own gardens. A
flyer with care information and a recipe is available. Wednesdays - Fridays, 11
am-3 pm, Saturdays & Sundays, 11 am-4 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook
Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
July 31, August 1: Glencoe. The Cactus & Succulent
Society of Greater Chicago Show & Sale will be held from 10 am-4:30 pm at the
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
July 31 - October 3: Glencoe. Get close to nature and discover where food comes
from with fun, free activities each weekend. Activities vary from week to
week and are subject to change. Saturdays & Sundays, 11 am-4 pm, Regenstein
Fruit & Vegetable Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook
Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
August 1: Campton Hills. Antique Tool show and Sale, $6/adults,
$2/children 12 & under, Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Rd, 5 miles west of
Geneva, IL off ILL Rte 38 on Garfield Rd (Metra commuter service possible),
630-584-8485,
www.garfieldfarm.org
August 1 - 31: Lisle. Make a beaded bracelet that represents the
water cycle. This self-guided activity is for all ages. Daily, 11
am-4 pm (weather permitting), Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois
Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
August 1 - 31: Lisle. Drop by the Children's Garden to make a rain
stick, and see the difference between rainstorms. This self-guided
activity is for all ages. Daily, 11 am-4 pm (weather permitting),
Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
August 7, 8: Glencoe. The Garden Clubs of Illinois State Show will be held from
noon-4:30 pm on 8/7 and 10 am-4:30 pm on 8/8 at the
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org,
www.gardenglories.org
August 7, 8: Lisle. Find out what's wiggling around in the water
when visitors use microscopes to discover all the magnificent creatures that
call Wonder Pond home in this self-guided activity. All ages, 11 am-4 pm
(weather permitting), Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53,
630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
August 11 - 15: Momence. Enjoy the 73rd annual Gladfest,
www.gladfest.com
August 14, 15: Glencoe. Gardeners of the North Shore Show,
noon-4:30 pm on 8/14, 10 am-4:30 pm on 8/15,
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
August 18: Lisle. Hear Amy Stewart, author of Wicked Plants,
talk about the world's wickedest plants. 7-8:30 pm, Sterling Morton
Library, $14/members, $21/non-members, pre-register 630-719-2468, Morton
Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53,
www.mortonarb.org
August 20 - 22: Glencoe. Mid-American Bonsai Show & Sale,
noon-5 pm on 8/20, 9 am-5 pm on 8/21 & 8/22, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake
Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
August 25 - 29: Peotone. Will County Fair, 710 S West St,
www.willcountyfair.org
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Illinois Club Meetings:
Homewood. The South Suburban Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month, 7 pm, at the Dolphin Lake Club House, 183rd & Governors Hwy. Call 708-220-7351 for additional information.
Lynwood. The South Suburban Cage Bird Association meets the 2nd Sunday of the month in the Calvin Reformed United Church of Christ, 2895 Glenwood-Lansing Rd, Basement Banquet Rm, at 2 pm. This club is dedicated to the protection and breeding of birds, training and exchanging ideas. Come and meet people who share your interest in pet birds. Call 219-864-0420 or 219-836-5079 for more information.
Oak Lawn. The Oak Lawn Garden Club normally meets the 4th Thursday of the month (with several exceptions) from 9:30 am-noon at the Oak View Community Center, 4625 W 110th St. Visit www.oaklawngardenclub.org for more information about the Club.
Peoria. The Central Illinois Herpetological Society holds public meetings on the 1st Thursday of every month at Forest Park Nature Center, 7 pm. Come share or learn about the fascinating world of amphibians and reptiles. Contact Robert Pomazal at 309-579-3296 for more information. 5809 Forest Park Dr, 309-686-3360, www.peoriaparks.org/forest-park-nature-center
Peoria. Peoria Audubon holds public meetings and presentations in the Forest Park Nature Center on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from September through May, 7 pm. Everyone is welcome. Call John Mullen at 309-686-3360 for additional information, 5809 Forest Park Dr, www.peoriaparks.org/forest-park-nature-center, www.peoriaaudubon.org
Peoria. The local chapter of the Sierra Club holds public meetings at the Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 Forest Park Dr, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from September through May at 7 p.m. These meetings usually have a guest speaker followed by discussion. The Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. For further information contact Joseph Laszlo at 309-637-4692, www.peoriaparks.org/forest-park-nature-center
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More garden and
nature related events and activities for children and adults can be found at
these places to visit in Illinois:
Arcola |
Rockome Gardens 125 N County Rd 425 E 217-268-4106 www.rockome.com |
Bloomington |
Miller Park Zoo 1020 S Morris Ave 309-434-2250 www.cityblm.org/department.asp?dep_id=3038&menuid=2801 |
Brookfield |
Brookfield Zoo 3300 Golf Rd 708-688-8000, 800-201-0784 www.brookfieldzoo.org |
Chicago |
Garfield Park Conservatory 300 N Central Park Ave 312-746-5100 www.garfield-conservatory.org |
Chicago |
John G Shedd Aquarium 1200 S Lake Shore Dr 312-939-2438 www.sheddaquarium.org/ |
Chicago |
Lincoln Park Conservatory 2391 N Stockton 312-742-7736 http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/ |
Chicago |
Lincoln Park Zoo 2001 N Clark St 312-742-2000 www.lpzoo.com |
Chicago |
Lurie Garden Millennium Park 201 E Randolph St 312-742-1168 www.luriegarden.org |
Chicago |
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum 2430 N Cannon Dr 773-755-5100 www.chias.org/ |
Cook County |
Lake Katherine Nature Center On Route 83, between Harlem and Illinois Route 7 http://pages.ripco.net/~jwn/katherine.html |
Glencoe |
Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Rd 847-835-5440 www.chicagobotanic.org |
Hanna City |
Wildlife Prairie State Park 3826 N Taylor Rd 309-676-0998 www.wildlifeprairiestatepark.org/ |
Lisle |
Morton Arboretum 4100 Illinois Rte 53 630-968-0074 www.mortonarb.org |
Lombard |
Lilacia Park Lombard Park District 150 S Park Ave 630-620-7322 www.lombardparks.com/parks/lilacia.htm |
Monticello |
Robert Allerton Park & Conference Center 515 Old Timber Rd University of Illinois 217-333-3287 www.allerton.uiuc.edu/ |
Oak Park |
Oak Park Conservatory 615 Garfield St 708-386-4700 www.oakparkparks.com/parks/pf_18.htm |
Peoria |
Forest Park Nature Center 5809 Forest Park Dr 309-686-3360 www.peoriaparks.org/forest-park-nature-center |
Peoria |
Luthy Botanical Garden 2218 N Prospect 309-686-3362 www.peoriaparks.org/general-information-about-luthy-botanical-garden |
Petersburg |
Starhill Forest Arboretum 12000 Boy Scout Trail 308-345-8122 www.starhillforest.com |
Rockford |
Anderson Japanese Gardens 318 Spring Creek Rd 815-229-9390 www.andersongardens.org/ |
Rockford |
Klehm Arboretum 2715 S Main St 815-965-8146 www.klehm.org |
Rock Island |
Quad City Botanical Center 2525 Fourth Ave 309-794-0991 www.qcgardens.com/ |
South Holland |
Sand Ridge Nature Center 15890 Paxton Ave 708-868-0606 http://fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=19&file=cnr_19d |
Springfield |
Washington Park Botanical Garden 1740 W Fayette Ave 217-753-6228 www.springfieldparks.org/facilities/botanical/ |
Streator |
Weber House and Garden 1503 N Baker St 815-672-8327 www.weberhouseandgarden.com |
Wheaton |
Cantigny Botanical Gardens 1S151 Winfield Rd 630-668-5161 www.cantigny.org |
Please contact us three weeks in advance to have your Illinois garden/nature related events posted here.
This page is updated weekly.
Revised: July 26, 2010
