West

March

1
Vegetable Garden Design—Beyond the Straight and Narrow, the program for the monthly meeting of Naperville Community Gardeners. Presented by Bill Jegen, a Master Gardener with Univ. of Illinois Extension. At Knox Presbyterian Church, 1105 Catalpa Lane, Naperville. Info: www.napervillecommunitygardeners.org.

5-7
Midwest Gardening Symposium: People, Plants and the Art of the Garden at The Morton Arboretum, Lisle. Held at the Thornhill Education Center. March 5-6 from 8:30 am-4:30 pm; March 7 from 7:30 am-3 pm. Cost varies. For full details and registration, visit “Education” www.mortonarb.org/adult-programs.html or call 630-719-2468.

6
Maple Tapping Time! at The Morton Arboretum. See how a maple tree is tapped, how sap is turned into syrup and which maples make the best syrup. For children 6-8 with an adult. 1-2:30 pm. $23 per child. At Thornhill Education Center. Register 630-719-2468 or www.mortonarb.org.

8
Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar at Garfield Farm and Museum, LaFox. Located on Garfield Road just north of Illinois Route 38. Make three grafts of antique apple trees to take home for planting. 1:30 pm. $25. Reservations  www.garfieldfarm.org/ or 630-584-8485.

14
Sustainable Garden Solutions, a class at Trailside Museum, 738 Thatcher Ave. River Forest. Bring your questions, pictures, and soil samples and discuss solving your garden problems through plant selection and soil improvement. 1 pm. Info: 708-366-6530.

18
Call of the Wild, the program for the monthly meeting of the Wild Ones, Greater Dupage Chapter. Leslie Cummings will discuss the National Wildlife Foundation’s Backyard for Wildlife program in which she is a habitat steward and present a slide show of wildlife in various yards. At the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S Eagle Street, Naperville. 7 pm. Free. Open to public. No registration. Info: www.for-wild.org/chapters/dupage/

20
Landscape Clinic at Spring Bluff Nursery, 41W130 Norris Rd., Sugar Grove. Complimentary 20-minute discussion of your landscape or garden with a designer. 10 am-2 pm. Pre-registration required. Call 630-466-4278.

28
The Best Ideas from 30 Years in the Local, Organic Food Movement presented by author & landscape designer Rosalind Creasy at The Morton Arboretum. 2-4 pm. $44. Register 630-719-2468 or www.mortonarb.org. After the lecture, join Rosalind Creasy for a dinner of locally grown organic food in the Arboretum’s Ginkgo Restaurant. 5-8 pm. Dinner $50, Cash bar. Register 630-719-2468 or www.mortonarb.org.

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April

10
Landscape Clinic at Spring Bluff Nursery, 41W130 Norris Rd., Sugar Grove. Complimentary 20-minute discussion of
your landscape or garden with a designer. 10 am-2 pm. Pre-registration required. Call 630-466-4278.

10
Urban Gardening, a lecture at the Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St., Oak Park. Presented by Bill Shores of Shores Garden Consulting. Learn about urban agriculture, space efficient gardening. 10 am. Free, but reservations required. Call 708-725-2460.

17
Monthly Meeting of the Wild Ones, Greater Dupage Chapter. Spring Potluck Supper and a program presented by John and Jane Balaban, active volunteers with the North Branch Restoration Project. Bring a dish to share and a place setting (plate, cup and flatware) for each guest in your party. Families and friends welcome. Dragon and Damsel costumes are optional. At DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 4S535 Old Naperville Road, Naperville. 6-9 pm. Info: www.for-wild.org/chapters/dupage/

18
Prairie Walk at Garfield Farm and Museum, LaFox. Located on Garfield Road just north of Illinois Route 38. Tour the prairie with museum staff. 1-4 pm. $6. Reservations required. 630-584-8485 or www.garfieldfarm.org.

24
Spring Open House at Spring Bluff Nursery, 41W130 Norris Rd., Sugar Grove. Activities & Workshops. Spring Maintenance & Pruning Talk. Tool Sharpening—”Sharpen While You Shop.” Review of yard tool use. Presentation of new plants for 2010. Info: 630-466-4278.

24-25
Sustainable with Style—A Green Boutique & Expo at The Morton Arboretum, Lisle. Demos, exhibits, native plant purveyors, rainfall harvest systems, organic gardening supplies. Eco-friendly arts and crafts vendors selling unique materials created with more sustainable practices. See ecologically-informed landscape designs created by award-winning landscape architects. 9 am-5 pm. Info: www.mortonarb.org.

25
Earth Day Celebration at Trailside Museum, 738 Thatcher Ave., River Forest. A day of guided bird walks, spring wildflower walks, a preserve clean-up, bird of prey demos, live fish ID, worm composting demos, environmental information, children’s activities and more. Free. Info and times of specific events at 708-366-6530.

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Cantigny Park
www.cantigny.org
1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. 630-668-5161 and www.cantigny.org. Parking $5. For a complete list of classes and activities see the website.

March
2
Greenhouse on Location: Spring Bedding Plants & More. Tour the greenhouse with Cantigny Grower Bob Carr. See a wide array of spring bedding plants and the beginning stages of the summer plant series. “On Location” tours like this one are offered the first Tuesday of the month, March through October. Meet at the greenhouse. Access the greenhouse via Cantigny’s Shaffner Road entrance. 9:30 am. Free.

31
Blossoms for Easter Centerpiece Workshop. Create a fresh floral centerpiece for your Easter dinner table. With expert instruction, design a long and low arrangement of spring daisy mums, tulips, candles, decorative eggs and other embellishments. All materials provided, but please bring a wire cutter and pruner. Meet at the greenhouse. Access the greenhouse via Cantigny’s Shaffner Road entrance. 6:30 pm. $45. Registration required. Call 630-260-8162 or visit Cantigny.org.

April
6
Gardens on Location: Flowering Trees, Shrubs & Wildflowers. Meet at the Visitors Center for this tour with Cantigny Forester Todd Henderson. 9:30 am. Free.

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Heinz Brothers Greenhouse
www.heinzbrothers.com
2010 E. Main Street, St. Charles. 630-377-6288.

March
6
Houseplants for Your Home. Lighting, watering techniques and selection will be discussed. 10-11 am. Free.

20
Bonsai for Beginners. Try this class first. Training wire, bonsai soil mix and pruners will be supplied. 10-11 am. $10 plus cost of bonsai starter plant and pot.

27
Start Your Garden from Seeds. 10-11 am. $10.

27
Improving Your Home Landscaping. Class will include basic design principles, soil conditions, proper plant placement, pruning techniques, and new plants. 1-2 pm. $10.

April
3, 10 or 11
Spring Container Planting Party. Plant cold-tolerant plants in a container to take home. Soil, fertilizer, plant material and container included in cost. April 3 from 10-11 am. April 10 from 11-noon. April 11 from 2-3 pm. $15 plus materials. 10-inch container $25, 12- container $35, & 14-inch container $45.

10 or 11
Spring Container Demonstrations. Watch Heinz staff create containers of cold-tolerant plants. Potting soil, fertilizing, plant selection and arrangements will be discussed. Sat: 10-10:30 am. Sun 11-11:30 am. Free, but please RSVP.

10
Start Your Garden from Seeds! Learn the best way to start seeds in and out of the garden. 1-1:30 pm. $5.

11
Start your Vegetable Garden Now with Cold-Tolerant Veggies. Learn about different types of vegetables you can grow when the weather is still cool. Also: frost protection, planting and care. Noon-1 pm. $5.

17
Garden Solutions: Pesky Pests. Learn how to rid your garden of pests from deer and rabbits to Japanese beetles and grubs. 10-10:30 am. Free.

24
Garden Solutions: Organic Gardening. Learn about composting, safe pest solutions, soil amendments and more.1-1:30 pm. Free.

Kids Activities - March
6
Create Your Own Green Hairy Creature, for kids ages 4 and up. 2-2:30 pm. $5.

Kids Activities - April
3
Kids Plant Your Own Spring Flowers, a class for kids ages 5 and up. Includes planter, soil, fertilizer and spring-blooming plants. 2-3 pm. $15.

10
Kids Seed Starting Class. For ages 5 and up. Learn how to plant seeds and care for different and fun plants. Each child will take home a mini greenhouse with a mixture of vegetables, flowers and cactus seeds to grow on at home 2-3 pm. $8.

17
Recycling Project: Make your own Mini Garden in a Pop Bottle. A class for kids ages 4 and up. Kids will make their own mini-greenhouse and learn to care for it. 2-2:30 pm. $5.

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The Growing Place
www.thegrowingplace.com
Located in Naperville on Plank Rd. 3 blocks west of Naper Blvd. (630-355-4000) and in Aurora on Montgomery Rd. 2 blocks north of Ogden (630-820-8088). Info: Call Carol 630-355-4000 to register for all events. Pre-registration required for any of the ‘Payment due’ workshops.

March
20
Let Spring Begin! Planting Ahead, a day of classes at the Aurora location. Free, unless noted. 10 am: Containers: Make a Hypertufa Trough. Call to register. $35. 11:30 am: Landscaping: Pruning and Preparing for Spring. 1 pm: Edibles: Creating a Square-Foot Veggie Garden for Any Space. 1 pm: Kids: Plant a Miniature Maze. 2:30 pm: Perennials: What to Do in the Waking Garden.

April
3
Learning Garden Stroll at both locations. A garden coach or garden designer will lead you through the gardens to examine plants that look fabulous. Strolls will continue on the first Saturday of each month at 10 am. Coffee and doughnuts will be served.

17-18
Spring Fest (at the Aurora location). Seminars and kids’ activities all day. Design Advice Special $30 (but free with $150 purchase). Sign up in advance. 9 am: garden stroll or greenhouse tour (also offered throughout the day). 10 am: Containers: Plant Your Own. Designers will help. (Saturday only). 11:30: Proven Winners Plants with Sandy Wentworth. 11:30: Landscaping: Small Ornamental Trees for the Home Garden. Noon: Sustainable Gardening: New Developments in Growing Place Choices. 1 pm: Edibles: Growing Fruits, Berries and Vegetables. 1 pm: Kids: Plant a Sack of Potatoes ($5). 2 pm: Kids and Adults: Help Plant the Veggie Patch. 2:30 pm: Perennials and Annuals: Exciting New Plants for 2010.

Throught Spring
Instructive sessions on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Classes are free but workshops will have fees to cover the cost of materials. Also that day: Kids’ Digging Days, a variety of activities to encourage kids to love nature and gardening. Aurora location.

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Platt Hill Nursery
www.platthillnursery.com
222 W. Lake Street, Bloomingdale. 630-529-9394 and 2400 Randall Road, Carpentersville. 847-428-6767.

April
3
Easter Egg Hunt. 11 am and 1 pm. Open to children of all ages. Age levels 1-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9 & up. Free pictures with the Easter Bunny.

10-11
Spring Preview. April 10 from 9 am-6 pm. April 11 from 10am-5pm.

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The Natural Garden
www.thenaturalgardeninc.com
38W443 Highway 64, St. Charles, 630-584-0150.

March
31
Copper Toadstool Craft. Learn to make one of the quivering toadstools that are often scattered throughout The Natural Garden. 10-11:30 am. $20 plus cost of materials. Registration deadline: Mar 26.

April
17
Critter Control. Explore tips and products that will help deter wildlife from turning your backyard into their own personal banquet hall. 10-11 am. Free but please register by April 14.

24
Native Seed—Everything You Ever Wanted to Know. Learn the benefits of using local ecotype seed and how to best make use of available seed mixtures. Tips on weed management. 10-11 am. Free but please register by Apr. 21.

24
Natural Landscaping and No Mow Lawns. Bill Bedrossian, landscape architect and owner of Bedrock Earthscapes will present his unique perspective on installing and maintaining natural landscapes. Learn techniques to reduce the cost of maintenance, manage water, and lessen our imprint on the environment. Noon-1 pm. Free but please register by Apr. 21.

24
Native Plants for the Home Landscape. Learn some “under the radar” native plants that make fine ornamentals and how to best use them in our landscapes and gardens. 2-3 pm. Free but please register by Apr 21.

April 25 and May 5
Spring Woodland Walk. Stroll The Natural Garden’s woodlands with Bev Wakolbinger. Learn a variety of plants that can transform a challenging shady area into a lush and dynamic space and still keep that special woodland ambience. 1-2 pm. Free but please register by Apr 21 and May 1.

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Wasco Nursery
www.wasconursery.com
41W781 Route 64, St. Charles, 630-584-4424.

March
6, 13, 20, 27
A Landscape Journey, a series of weekly landscape design seminars. Presented by Wasco designer Meagan Provencher. Topics: choosing best plants for your stage in life, less is more, the 4-season garden and “I love my neighbors but I don’t want to see their...” 10-11 am. $5 per seminar or $15 for the series. Proceeds go to local charities.

April
24
Spring into Spring, an open house. Vendors. Demonstrations. Free container workshops with Sue Amatangelo at 10 am and 2 pm. (Cost of container depends on plant material and container chosen.) Continuous slide show of new plants for 2010. Drawings. 8 am-5 pm.

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