Backyards for Nature Fair & Native Plant Sale Sunday in Schaumburg

Sprout the perfect garden this summer with the Schaumburg Park District's Spring Valley Nature Center.

Sponsored by the Davey Tree Expert Company, the Backyards for Nature Fair & Native Plant Sale is set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday, May 1, at the Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road. The event is co-hosted by the Schaumburg Community Garden Club and Spring Valley Nature Club.

Children's gardening activities include birdhouse building with the Prairie Woods Audubon Society and transplanting native wildflowers to take home.

Featured in the sale are a wide selection of native shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, along with unique varieties of heirloom vegetables and herbs.

"The nice thing about native plants is they're not only beautiful but they come back year after year," said Dave Brooks, manager of conservation services for the district. "They're also ecologically sustainable and will thrive as long as they're planted in the right location."

New this year are mini butterfly garden kits containing 16 specific plants such as milkweed and blazing star to help increase the monarch butterfly population.

Heirloom veggies include colorful tomatoes and peppers with robust flavors.

"A lot of these heirloom varieties can add a unique flair to the dinner table," Brooks said. "It's a chance for people to really explore some options."

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