Gardeners Unite

West Chicago, Illinois: January 21, 2016 - One of the many active service clubs in West Chicago gears up for another exciting, educational and social new year: the West Chicago Garden Club.

Taking the reins as the new volunteer Program Coordinator, avid gardener and community champion Billie Childress is putting together a compelling schedule of presentations for the coming year which she hopes will benefit existing members and attract new ones.

Childress, who is also heavily involved in the Club's upcoming plant sale fundraiser, scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2016 during Blooming Fest in downtown West Chicago and who is one of the volunteers that keep up the gardens at the Kruse House Museum, is enjoying the rewarding job of lining up expert speakers, and finds she is continuing to learn in the process.

The first meeting of 2016 is scheduled for Thursday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. at Faith Community Church, 910 Main Street. January is "Bring a Friend" month and following a brief social period at 6:45 p.m. and business meeting at 7:00 p.m., a presentation on "Trees" will be offered by University of Illinois Extension educator for DuPage/Kane/Kendall, Richard Hentschel. His field of expertise is Woody Ornamentals and he will include selection of trees, associated problems and winter pruning in the discussion.

"So, I've already learned that being Program Coordinator is a stimulating job", said Childress. "Our first 2016 program on trees rustled up some new facts for me". Among those she listed, "songbirds and butterflies need trees and shrubs native to northeastern Illinois because of intricate food chain requirements. Two trees that have very high ecological value are oaks and black cherry trees". A list of these trees will be provided in a handout at the January meeting.

The welcoming Club invites those interested to attend the meeting on January 28, 2016, and "check us out". For more information about the history, mission or special events offered by the West Chicago Garden Club, visit its website at www.westchicagogardenclub.org.