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.
September
7
Gardens on Location: Prairie. Tour the Prairie Garden with Jane Rogers, Cantigny’s senior horticulturist. Meet at the Visitors’ Center at 9:30 am. Free.
8
Flower Arranger’s Delight: Demo & Tips. Beth Whittington, Cantigny floral designer, will focus this session on “funky design tools” such as colorful wire, underwater lights, space age polymers and fancy nettings to make quick and easy floral designs at home. Noon. Meet at the Idea Garden. Free.
12
Photo Walk in the Gardens. Grab your camera and go for a walk with one of Cantigny’s volunteer photographers. Walk will leave from the Visitors Center at 2 pm. Free, but registration requested. Visit website or call 630-260-8162.
15
Garden Tips & Tastes in the Idea Garden. Bring a bag lunch and come for garden tips, a garden taste and some spirited chatter about the hobby we love. Noon. Free.
25
Monarch Butterfly Tagging. This tagging event assists the Monarch Watch organization in tracking these fascinating and beautiful insects on their journey. 1 pm. Idea Garden. Free.
25
Green Fair. Over 100 vendors at this event which will focus on the benefits of green for safe, healthy communities and a strong local economy. Plants for sale. 10 am-4 pm. Free event. Fee for parking. Info: www.cantigny.org.
October
5
Gardens on Location: Fall Color by Hayride. This tour will focus on the fall color in Cantigny’s vast gardens and golf course via hay wagon. Todd Henderson and Chris Roberts, Cantigny’s forester and arborist, respectively, will narrate and answer questions. 10 am. Meet at Visitors Center. Free.
16
An Afternoon with Gourdelia. Gourdelia is the Guru of Gourdology, the Calabash Queen of the garden and the biggest Gourdhead of all. She is Carolyn Finzer, a storyteller who spins divine legends and lore about the oldest cultivated plant on earth. She is also an artist, teacher, master gardener and conservationist. 2 pm. Outdoor Education Center. Free.
20 & 23
Hard-Shelled Gourd Craft. A workshop for those who want to explore a unique form of three dimensional art-crafting with gourds. Jenny Lund, Cantigny production manager, will show how gourds are used for carving, wood burning, painting and basketry. Learn how to fashion gourds for functional uses as well. Meet at Cantigny Greenhouse at 9 am. Limit 10 (ages 16 and up). Register at www.cantigny.org or at 630-260-8162. Cost is $85 and includes lunch.
Back to Top
Heinz Brothers Greenhouse
www.heinzbrothers.com
2010 E. Main Street, St. Charles. 630-377-6288.
September
5-6
Fall Planter Demonstrations. Learn about cold-tolerant plants, planting techniques, care & fertilizing. Sunday 11-11:30 am. Monday 10-10:30 am. Free but call for reservation.
5, 6, 11, 18
More Than Just Mums: Fall Container Planting. Make a container to take home. Sept. 5 from 3-4pm. Sept. 6 from 11 am-noon. Sept. 11 from 10-11 am. Sept. 18 from 2-3 pm. Program fee $15 includes soil, fertilizer and instruction. Additional cost
for containers varies with size.
18
Plant Spring Blooming Bulbs. Learn about the bulb, how to plant, care, pest solutions, design and beginners’ tips. 10-11 am. $10.
25, 26, 28
Scarecrow Making Class for all ages. Clothes, straw and additional materials supplied by Heinz Brothers. Times vary depending on date.
October
2, 3, 4, 7, 12
Scarecrow Making Class for all ages. Times vary depending on date.
10, 23
Make a Pumpkin Centerpiece with a pumpkin, an ivy plant and fall decorations. Oct. 10 from 11 am-noon. Oct. 23 from
10-11 am. $16.
17
Decorate a Pumpkin, No Carving Needed! Decorate a pumpkin with artificial flowers, small gourds, pine cones, leaves and small chili peppers. 2-2:30 pm. $15.
23, 24
Carve Your Halloween Pumpkin. Choose a medium-sized pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Cutting tools, scrapers and markers provided. Oct. 23 between 10 am and 4 pm. Oct. 24 between 11 am and 3 pm. $15.
Classes for Kids–September
11
Kids Fall Planter (ages 4 and up). Plant a pot to take home. A plastic pot, fall flowers, soil and fertilizer will be provided. 2-2:30 pm. $15.
October
2
Carnivorous Plants. Learn about insect-eating plants. Each child will receive a carnivorous plant to take home. 3-4 pm. $10.
9
Make Your Own Mummy Planter. Create a mummy planter with a plant growing out of its head. All materials provided. 11-11:30 am. $10.
9, 10, 14, 16
Pumpkin Painting. Paint a pumpkin to take home. Times vary depending on date.
10
Make a Snake Planter. Paint a pot and make individual squiggly snakes to insert into a snake plant. 3-3:30 pm. $10.
16
Make a Spider Planter. An actual spider plant will be planted into the pot, then the eight furry legs and eyes will be added to make your spider planter come to life. 11-11:30 am. $10.
16
Create a Green Hairy Creature (ages 4 and up). Make your own green hairy creature and watch its hair grow. 3-3:30 pm. $5.
Back to Top
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.
September
4
Learning Garden Stroll. A garden coach or the garden’s designer will lead you through the garden and point out what plants look fabulous and provide tips on plant combinations, care and design. Both locations. Coffee and doughnuts will be served. 10 am.
11
Old House Anniversary and Sale at Aurora. Celebrating 150 years and 10 years at The Growing Place. Seminars all day.
• Bulbs—Buried Treasures. 10 am.
• Herbal Tea Party & Fall Decorations. 11:30 am.
• Hear Cathy Maloney, author of two books on the Chicago area’s garden history and senior editor for Chicagoland Gardening magazine. 1 pm.
• Bees & Honey. Includes beehive tour for adults. 2:30 pm.
25
Healthy Roots Make Happy Trees, a seminar at the Aurora location. 10 am.
October
2
Learning Garden Stroll at both locations. 10 am.
2
Make a Stepping Stone, a class for kids and adults at the Aurora location. 10 am-2 pm. $12.
9
Leaf Crafts for Kids and Adults at the Aurora location. 10 am-2 pm.
16
Enjoying Autumn Gardens, a day of classes at the Aurora location.
• Containers—Plants to Grow Indoors This Winter. 10 am.
• Landscaping—Putting the Garden to Bed. 11:30 am.
• Edibles—Fresh Off The Grill: Roasting the Harvest. 1 pm.
• Fall Fun at the Farm for Kids.10 am-2 pm.
• Perennial Gardener’s Forum. Share your garden’s successes and surprises with other gardeners at the Farm for Kids.10 am-2 pm.
• Design Advice Special. $30 (refundable with a $150 purchase). Sign up in advance.
23
Plant a Bulb Container for Forcing. For kids and adults 10 am-2 pm.
Back to Top
Wasco Nursery
www.wasconursery.com
41W781 Route 64, St. Charles, 630-584-4424.
September
23
Have a Glass in the Garden, a wine and cheese evening for Women’s Night Out. 5-7 pm. Bring your girlfriends for a fun evening at the garden center. $20.
25
Eye in the Garden, a plant photography workshop with Mary Ellen Malinowski of The Infrared Light Gallery.10 am-noon. $20.
October
16
Fall Open House. Vendor displays, specials, hayrides in the nursery fields. 9 am-4 pm.
Back to Top
