Plant sale experts offer tips for your garden

The Morton Arboretum will celebrate its signature holiday with the return of its annual Arbor Day Plant Sale, open to the public Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1, at 4100 Route 53, Lisle.

Public shopping hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Featuring more than 350 types of trees and plants, the sale is one of the largest in the Chicago region and draws hundreds seeking plants specially chosen by the arboretum's expert staff for Chicago-area gardens. Shoppers can select from an assortment of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, ferns, vegetables and herbs.

Those who need help determining what will work best in their garden can seek the help of Plant Geniuses, a team of arboretum employees, volunteers and master gardeners.

Shoppers are encouraged to bring in plans or ideas of what trees, shrubs, vegetables and flowers they would like to see in the yard or garden, and/or sun and shade locations, so the arboretum's Plant Geniuses can better assist.

The Arbor Day Plant Sale is part of a weeklong celebration to honor Arbor Day, which is recognized in Illinois on the last Friday in April.

Arbor Day was founded in 1872 by Julius Sterling Morton, the father of arboretum founder Joy Morton, to encourage the planting and protection of trees.

Every plant purchased will support the arboretum's work as the champion of trees, which includes its leading scientific research, conservation, education and outreach about trees in the region, as well as the care of its 1,700-acre grounds.

For details, visit mortonarb.org/plantsale.