Get your garden ready: Here's a list of upcoming plant sales throughout the suburbs
Gardeners can get the growing season off to a good start with upcoming plant sales featuring perennials, vegetables, native and organic plants. It is also a good way to support local nonprofit organizations.
Arlington Heights
The Arlington Heights Garden Club will host its annual plant sale from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4, in the gated area next to the Mueller House on the grounds of the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. The sale includes perennials, annuals, grasses, ground covers, herbs, native plants and more, all raised by and dug from members' gardens for sun and shade areas. Master Gardeners will be on hand to offer advice. Fremont Street will be closed. www.ahgardenclub.com/plant-sales.
Aurora
The Rosary Sports Boosters hosts its annual plant sale. Shop at Schaefer's Garden Center, 120 S. Lake St. in Montgomery, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays during May to support Rosary athletics. Schaefer's offers a wide selection of perennials, annuals, planters, hanging baskets, vegetables, floral arrangements, and gift items. A percentage of your purchase on those days will go to support Rosary athletics. Show the voucher, available at www.rosaryhs.com, or mention Rosary Athletics.
Bloomingdale
The Bloomingdale Garden Club's annual flower and plant sale returns from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, May 13, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Bloomingdale Park District maintenance building, 259 Springfield Drive, at the north end of Springfield Park.
The sale includes professionally grown annuals, hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs, cannas, grasses, tropicals, tuts, Proven Winners, and specialty annuals. Enjoy raffles, garden items for sale, and a Master Gardeners help desk. For details, visit www.bloomingdalegardenclub.org or email bloomingdalegardenclub@gmail.com.
Buffalo Grove
Buffalo Grove Garden Club will hold a plant sale from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive, Buffalo Grove. Offering a limited selection of Proven Winners annual plants in 4.5-inch pots, as well as some 10- and 12-inch hanging baskets on a cash and carry basis. www.buffalogrovegardenclub.org.
Campton Hills
Wild Ones of Greater Kane County will hold their annual native plant sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Gray Willows Farm, 5N949 Corron Road in Campton Hills. The sale feature over 100 species, including ferns, trees, and shrubs - plants that nourish the habitat needed by local birds and wildlife. Plants are individually priced from $3 to $30. Pay by cash, check, credit card or PayPal (be sure you know your password).
Call (630) 200-5665 or visit greaterkanecounty.wildones.org.
Crystal Lake
Downtown Crystal Lake's "A Garden Party and Flower Sale" fundraiser will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the corner of Williams and Brink streets. The Garden Party event will feature outdoor garden art vendors, demonstrations, talks, and drawings for prizes. Sponsored by Countryside Flowershop & Nursery. Visit downtowncl.org.
Des Plaines
Des Plaines Garden Club's annual Plant and Garden Flea Market will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 14, in the east parking of Frisbie Senior Center, 52 E. Northwest Hwy, Des Plaines; rain date is Saturday, May 21. The sale will be a socially distant trunk/farmers market style event.
Organizers are accepting donations of plants and any garden décor items; donors can drop them off between 7 and 8 a.m. Plant types include perennials, annuals, vegetable plants, tropical, hanging baskets or house plants. Sale proceeds help support community projects and gardens. The Des Plaines Garden Club is a not-for-profit group of gardeners with more than 107 club members. Visit desplainesilgardenclub.com.
Downers Grove
The Village of Downers Grove public works department and the Conservation Foundation host a Native Tree and Shrub Sale. Online orders are accepted now through noon May 26. The order pickup will be 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at the public works, 5101 Walnut Ave. Order at the-conservation-foundation.square.site/.
Elburn
The eighth annual Organic Transplant Sales at Heritage Prairie Farm in Elburn continues from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15, in the greenhouse, 2N308 Brundige Road. All of the transplants are USDA Certified Organic and include such plants as herbs, kale, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, and more. For details, call the farm office at (630) 443-5989, or visit www.HeritagePrairieFarm.com or www.facebook.com/heritageprairiefarm/.
Elk Grove Village
Elk Grove Village Garden Club's annual plant sale will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at 1405 S. Arlington Heights Road, near the library. It will include homegrown perennials, reasonably priced, as well as garden art and pots. Proceeds go to charity. For information, contact elkgrovevlggardenclub@gmail.com or call (224) 595-7242.
Elmhurst
The Crestview Garden Club of Elmhurst will host its 42nd annual plant sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at The Depot at the Wild Meadows Trail, 511 S. York Road. There will be more than 1,200 plant offerings and 130-plus varieties that include sun and shade perennials, natives, herbs, ground covers, hundreds of houseplants and plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Most plants average in price from $5 to $10. A portion of sales is donated to support community projects. Sale takes place rain or shine. Credit cards and checks accepted. For information, contact crestviewgardenclub@yahoo.com.
Glen Ellyn
The Horticulture program at College of DuPage will host its Spring Annual/Perennial Plant Sale at the COD Greenhouse, located west of the Technical Education Center on the college's Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd. Sale hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 13; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15. It will include uncommon annuals and perennials, herbs and vegetables, hanging baskets, mixed containers and succulents. Purchases must be made by credit or debit only. For information, contact Amy Hull at hullamy@cod.edu, (630) 942-3806; or Marty Bartz at bartzm@cod.edu, (630) 942-3807.
The Horticulture program at College of DuPage offers Associate in Applied Science degrees in horticulture; landscape contracting and management; and sustainable urban agriculture, as well as certificates in nine specialized areas, including floral shop management, green house management, power equipment and technology, sustainable landscapes and sustainable urban agriculture.
For more information, visit cod.edu/horticulture.
Grayslake
The Lake County Extension Master Gardener plant sale will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at University of Illinois Extension, 100 S. Route 45, Grayslake. Features a selection of nursery-grown plant varieties not readily available at traditional garden centers: natives, new cultivars of perennials, grasses and pollinator-friendly plants; as well as a variety of home-grown vegetables and herbs, yard art, garden tools, decorative containers, gardening books and more. Master Gardeners will be available to answer gardening questions and advice. Visit extension.illinois.edu/lm.
Lake Zurich
The Garden Club of Lake Zurich will host its annual plant sale from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 21, at the Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Hundreds of member-grown perennials and annuals, woodland plants, saplings, vegetable seedlings, natives, groundcovers, houseplants, herbs and garden decor. Master Gardeners and club members will be on hand to answer gardening questions. Cash or check; rain or shine. Visit www.gardencluboflakezurich.org.
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Garden Club's plant sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church, 1207 Riverwoods Road. It will include homegrown perennials, yard art, potted arrangements and a bake sale. The fundraiser helps the club to support community organizations. For information, contact kays4514@yahoo.com or call (847) 308-4514.
Long Grove
Long Grove-Kildeer Garden Club's annual plant sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at Reed-Turner Nature Center, 3849 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. It will feature perennial plants grown in the gardens of club members. Look for varieties of heirloom tomato and milkweed plants. The Reed-Turner botanic artists will sell their botanical artwork, including originals, prints and cards. Garden decor and gently used gardening books also will be available. For information, email Kathy at kathymichas33@gmail.com.
Mount Prospect
The Garden Club of Mount Prospect will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Mount Prospect Historical Society Museum Campus, 101 S. Maple St., Mount Prospect. Come early to find member-grown perennials, vegetables, house plants, tubers, seeds, flower pots, vases and various garden items. For information, gcmp.weebly.com.
Naperville
Naperville Community Gardeners will hold a plant sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, in the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots parking lot, 811 S. West St. in Naperville. Choose from perennials and annuals, natives and house plants. Browse helpful displays of gardening supplies and resources. Chat with Master Gardeners about your own gardening projects. For information, contact napervillecommunitygardeners.club
Northbrook
The Northbrook Garden Club Plant Sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 13, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Village Green Community Center, 1810 Walters Ave., across from St. Norbert Church. Credit card, cash and check are accepted. With an emphasis on native plants and sustainable gardening, this year's sale will include hundreds of native and perennial plants from members' gardens and a large variety of native plants from local nursery supplier Rebecca's Natives Ltd. Members of the Sustainable Gardening Committee, as well as Go Green Northbrook and Conservation at Home, will offer advice and information. northbrookgardenclub.org.
Oak Brook
The DuPage Forest Preserve District's Native Plant Sale runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 13, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. Forest Preserve District plant experts will be on hand to give plant and planting advice. For a list of native flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs that may be available, see dupageforest.org/native-plant-sale, All plants at the sale are not treated with insecticides containing neonictinoids, which are harmful to bees and other pollinators. Cash, check or credit card will be accepted. Buyers should bring boxes or containers to transport plants home and plastic to line their trunks. dupageforest.org/news/news-releases/native-plant-sale-2022.
Park Ridge
• The Maine East Ecology Club and Green Team are partnering with Go Green Park Ridge to host a native plant sale from 4-6 p.m. Friday, May 13, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 14, at Maine East, 2601 Dempster St., Park Ridge, near the bus shelter on the east side of the school. There will be almost 50 species of native flowers, grasses and sedges for sale. Students and staff are using the proceeds to install educational signs in two nature preserves at the school, as well as two more benches for the seating area in the savanna. For details, mehsplantsale.weebly.com.
• The Park Ridge Garden Club's 92nd annual plant sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Cumberland Park, 101 S. Cumberland Ave. in Park Ridge. An assortment of plants, including annuals, perennials, natives, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets, member grown plants and 8.5-inch potted geraniums will be available. Cash and credit card will be accepted. Sale will take place rain or shine. Parking is one block east of the park at Prairie and Garden streets. www.parkridgegardenclub.org.
Rolling Meadows
The Rolling Meadows Garden Club will host a Plant and Craft Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at 3000 Central Road, Rolling Meadows. For information, www.rollingmeadowsgardenclub.org.
Schaumburg
In conjunction with Hoffman Estates Garden Club, Schaumburg Library is hosting a plant swap from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the central library, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all experience levels can chat, trade plants, learn gardening tips from others and more. The library will also have a gardening craft appropriate for all ages, while supplies last. Swap participants are asked to bring plant(s) and/or seeds they wish to share with others in a pot or bag. Label plants or seeds with any information about the plant (name, sun/shade, size, etc.). To register or learn more, visit SchaumburgLibrary.org/events or call (847) 985-4000.
St. Charles
• The Inciardi Tomato Transplant Sale with the Kane County Master Gardeners will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 14, at the Kane County Extension office, 535 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Master Gardeners grew these heirloom tomato transplants and will be selling them for $4 each; cash or check only. The Inciardi tomato is a paste tomato first brought to America from Sicily by Henry Inciardi and his family. After it nearly went extinct, the tomato was brought back by a handful of local gardeners, notably Vicki Nowicki, founder of the Downers Grove Seed Library. Proceeds will benefit the local Master Gardener volunteer program and projects. For information, call the Extension office at (630) 584-6166 or email fellerer@illinois.edu.
• St. Charles Park District will hold its annual Native Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, 3795 Campton Hills Road, St. Charles. Choose from a wide selection of plants that are native to our region. Naturalists will be on hand to help you choose. For sale information and available plants, visit www.stcnature.org/native-plant-sale/. Follow www.facebook.com/hickoryknollsdiscoverycenter.
West Chicago
West Chicago Garden Club will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, during Blooming Fest. It takes place at Main and Galena streets in downtown West Chicago. It will feature a large tent with more than 2,000 perennials and a large selection of peppers and tomatoes. Club members will answer questions and offer advice. The club welcomes new members and visitors at its monthly meetings. For details on the sale and the club, visit www.WestChicagoGardenClub.org. Follow www.facebook.com/westchicagogardenclub and instagram.com/WestChicagoGardenClub.
West Dundee
Backyard Garden Club of Dundee will hold its annual plant sale from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at Grafelman Park on Main Street in West Dundee. Items for sale are perennials, vegetable plants, grasses, herbs, and other items. This year, "Garden Junque" will be for sale. Sale proceeds benefit Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 students who will be pursuing further education in horticulture, agriculture and related fields. For information, contact Cindy Bielski at cindybielski3@gmail.com.
Wheaton
The Wheaton Garden Club will hold a flower and plant sale from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at 504 Hamilton Drive, in the High Knob subdivision in Wheaton. The sale will feature professionally grown annuals, many of which are Proven Winners. Summer favorites available for purchase include a variety of begonias, coleus and petunias, as well as some hard-to-find specialty plants. Proceeds support community organizations and scholarships for College of DuPage horticulture, environmental studies or botany and biology students. Organizations supported include the Cosley Zoo Foundation, Illinois Prairie Path, and the Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Pay by cash or check only. For details on the sale or club, email info@wheatongardenclub.org or visit wheatongardenclub.org.
Woodstock
The Bull Valley Garden Club hosts its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until sellout, at the Ambroziak Law Office, 640 McHenry Ave., Woodstock. It features a large variety of perennial plants dug from members' gardens, as well as plants supplied from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens in Hebron. Proceeds benefit scholarships and civic projects.