March 8 - 14: Chicago. The Chicago Flower & Garden Show will
again return to Navy Pier. With the lush themed-gardens, hands-on
demonstrations, workshops, and seminars, there's something for everyone,
whatever your level of gardening experience. Visit
www.chicagoflower.com
for all the details.
March 8 - May 9: Chicago. Come view the Spring
Flower Show to enjoy gorgeous flowers long before they are blooming
naturally outside. Free, just drop by! 9 am-5 pm daily,
Wednesdays until 8 pm, Show House,
312-746-5100, Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park
Ave,
www.garfield-conservatory.org
March 8 - April 4: Glencoe. Forty-four
original botanical artworks of threatened and endangered plants from the
United States and around the world will be on exhibit in the Regenstein
Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
March 8 - 31: Lisle. Rocks are an important element of some
really beautiful and peaceful gardens. Try your hand at this Zen form
of gardening. March weekdays (weather permitting), 1-4 pm, Children's
Garden,
Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.orgMarch
8 - 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.
March 11: Oak Lawn. Join the Oak Lawn Garden Club
on their bus trip to the Chicago Flower and Garden Show. The bus will
leave Oak View Center, 4625 W 110th St, at 9 am and return at 4 pm.
$25/bus trip and admission to the show. Call June Curtis at
708-499-0578 or Mariann Prendergrast at 708-784-0744,
www.oaklawngardenclub.org
March 13: Glencoe.
Discover amazing plants of the rainforest in our greenhouses.
Find out how people use parts of rainforest trees to make chewing gum and
rubber. Create your own bouncing ball and flavorful gum to take home.
For children ages 4 to 10 accompanied by adults, $17/child/member,
$20/child/non-member, 9:30-11 am or 1-2:30 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000
Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
March 13 & 14: Glencoe. Gesneriads including
African violets, lipstick plants, and more will be on display and for sale.
These plants make excellent house plants and enliven any indoor space.
Experts will be on hand to answer questions during this Northern Illinois
Gesneriad Society Show & Sale. 10 am-4:30 pm,
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
March 13: Joliet. Sponsored by the Joliet Park
District and Joliet Area Garden Club, this 5th annual Garden Day Event will
include three speakers: Roy Kleim of Kleim's Spring Sparrow, Nancy
Clifton of the Chicago Botanic Garden, and Shirley Remes, Better Homes and
Gardens Field Editor. 9 am-2 pm, $35 (includes lunch), pre-register by
calling 815-741-7278 X5 asking for Kevin Eberhard, held at Barber &
Oberwartmann Horticulture Center, 227 N Cougar Rd.
March 13 - 31: Lisle. Come discover different
types of rocks, find out what they are used for, and make a rock creation of
your own to take home. Weekends in March (weather permitting), 11 am-4
pm, Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
March 14: Glencoe. The Wisconsin-Illinois Lily
Society presents a lecture, "Put Glam in Your Garden with Lilies."
Winnetka resident Woodruff Imberman, president of the Wisconsin-Illinois
Lily Society, will teach simple propagation techniques for growing lilies,
and describe the wide variety of lilies that flourish in the Chicago area.
Attendees will learn how to design a garden with lilies so that some are in
bloom all summer long. 2 pm, preceded by the Society's Spring Bulb
Sale which starts at 1 pm,
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
March 20, 27: Glencoe.
Many of our favorite kinds of ice cream are flavored with plants—chocolate
comes from a tree and vanilla comes from an orchid. Examine these
plants, make a batch of vanilla ice cream, and pot a mint plant to flavor
ice cream. For children ages 4 to 10 accompanied by adults, $17/child/member,
$20/child/non-member, 9:30-11 am or 1-2:30 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000
Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
March 20, 21: Glencoe. The Illinois Orchid
Society presents their Spring Show & Sale in which individual orchids in 128
classes will vie for ribbons. Forty displays of orchids will be
arranged, and repotting services will be available. Vendors will sell
orchid plants and related products. Visitors can attend free lectures
in the Alsdorf Auditorium. 10 am-5 pm (special photographer's hour at
9 am),
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
March 21: Glencoe. The Midwest Fruit Explorers
presents a hands-on grafting workshop with step-by-step instructions.
The best varieties for the Midwest will be available, including apple, pear,
and Asian pear trees. After purchasing root stock (approximately $4),
visitors can follow the demonstration and leave with one or more trees ready
to plant in the ground. 2-4 pm,
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
March 22: Oak Lawn. The time is now to begin a
butterfly habitat in your garden. Learn the best butterfly attracting
plants and how to plan your garden to provide food, cover and host plants
for caterpillars. #4408, 7-8:30 pm, $5/resident, $8/non-resident, Oak View
Center, 4625 W 110th St, 708-857-2200,
www.olparks.com
March 23 - August 31: Statewide. By watching and recording the
bees at sunflowers in your garden, you can help us understand the challenges
that bees are facing. No knowledge of bees required. Get all the
details at
www.greatsunflower.org
March 26: Chicago. Our Fleurotica runway
adventure features artistic floral interpretations in clothing and
accessories - all made from flowers, plants and leaves - to raise money for
programs and activities run by the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance.
6:30-10 pm, throughout the Conservatory, $100/reception, $175/reception &
runway show, for more information, please contact Christine Martin at 773-638-1766 X33 or
cmartin@garfieldpark.org,
300 N Central Park Ave,
www.garfield-conservatory.org
March 27 & 28: Glencoe. Dr. Ikka Nakashima
features her students and the art of Ikenobo Ikebana with its ancient
discipline on Japanese floral design. Each design tells a story.
10 am-4:30 pm,
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
March 27: Lisle. Meet local author Tim Magner
signing copies of his children's book Earl the Earthworm. See
live worms in action and learn about vermicomposting. 10 am-2 pm, The
Arboretum Store, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
March 27 & 28: Lisle. Rock on into spring with
the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois. Club members will
showcase unique rocks and gems. You'll even take home a rock creation
of your own. Noon-3 pm, Children's Garden, Morton Arboretum, 4100
Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
March 28: Lisle. Meet Rosalind Creasy, author and
landscape designer, as she shares her global perspective on conservation,
lifestyles, sustainable landscaping and, of course, great food from the
garden. After the lecture, stay to join her for a dinner of locally
grown organic food in the Ginkgo Restaurant. 2-4 pm, Thornhill
Education Center, $35/member, $44/non-member, Morton Arboretum, 4100
Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
April 1 - 30: Lisle. Each weekday in April
(weather permitting) you can weave your way through a paper tree maze and
uncover the mysterious world of roots. 1-4 pm, Children's Garden,
Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
April 3, 10:
Glencoe. Explore tiny critters like bees, crickets, and butterflies.
Find out about the ways bugs help the plants in a garden. Create a
scientific tool to help you study insects at home, experience how bugs see
the world, and plant some flowers that butterflies love. For children ages 4 to 10 accompanied by adults, $17/child/member,
$20/child/non-member, 9:30-11 am or 1-2:30 pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000
Lake Cook Rd, 847-835-8363,
www.chicagobotanic.org
April 3 - 25: Lisle. Each weekend in April
you can visit the Children's Garden to discover some interesting facts about
trees. Then plant a tree seed to take home to grow. This
self-guided activity is available from 11 am-4 pm, weather permitting. Children's Garden,
Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, 630-719-2468,
www.mortonarb.org
April 5, 26: Oak Lawn. Learn the basics of what
is required for a beautiful landscape. This lecture is 2 separate
sessions (fee covers both sessions), #4409, 7-8:30 pm, $10/resident,
$15/non-resident, Oak View Center, 4625 W 110th St, 708-857-2200,
www.olparks.com
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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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