Home & garden calendar Feb. 5-10

Send events for this calendar to homes@dailyherald.com with “calendar listing” in the subject line. Deadline is two weeks prior to the event.

Feb. 5

Growing Greens Indoors: Virtually at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, through the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. Explore the foundational tools needed to grow greens indoors. Discuss materials needed (and alternatives) as well as ideal crop varieties, the benefits and drawbacks of direct sowing versus transplanting, and optimal conditions for successfully growing greens indoors. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before class starts. $24-$30. For information and to register, chicagobotanic.org.

Naperville Community Gardeners: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, at Knox Presbyterian Church, 1105 Catalpa Lane, Naperville. “The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary and Love Charm Shop” will be presented by author, educator and Master Gardener Cindy Crosby. Throughout Illinois’ history, people have used the prairie as a grocery store, pharmacy, art supply shop and even a place to find love potions. Discover the intriguing stories behind these rugged tallgrass plants and some of their beauty and utility in the garden today. A brief business meeting is held from 6:30-6:45 p.m., followed by social time. The program begins at 7 p.m. The program is open to the public and free for first time visitors to the club. For information, napervillecommunitygardeners.com.

North Aurora Garden Club: Meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, at Messenger Public Library, 113 Oak St., North Aurora. The club is always looking for new members; feel free to attend as a guest. For information, contact Gail at (630) 618-6467.

Feb. 6

Northbrook Garden Club - Birds: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at United Methodist Church, 1190 Western Ave., Northbrook. Tim Joyce, from Wild Birds Unlimited, shares his knowledge of local birds and their different habits regarding feeding, nesting, migrating and more. Joyce will offer tips on backyard bird feeding and give solutions to common problems such as squirrels, blackbirds and the mess below bird feeders. The public is welcome to attend. Register at NBKgardenclub@gmail.com. For information, northbrookgardenclub.org.

Westmont Gardening Club: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Westmont Public Library, 428 N. Cass Ave., Westmont. Connect with other gardeners — beginners and experts alike — and explore all aspects of gardening. The Feb. 6 meeting will be held in the second floor Kwasek Meeting Room. For information, westmont.librarycalendar.com/event/westmont-gardening-club-21757.

Introduction to Design Principles: Virtually at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, through the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe. This workshop introduces and reviews the landscape design process of site analysis, conceptual design and evaluations, based on principles of balance, symmetry, proportion, scale and unity. Through plant combinations and landscape features, you will learn about color, texture, line, form and methods of creating garden spaces. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before class starts. $32-$40. Register at chicagobotanic.org.

Lake Zurich Garden Club - Historical Re-enactment: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Presentation is “Rachel Carson — “Silent Spring,” a live historical re-enactment. Set in 1963, actress and historian Leslie Goddard will portray Rachel Carson, a biologist and author, famous for warning the world of the potentially dire environmental impact of chemical pesticides. Guests welcome; refreshments served. For information, gardencluboflakezurich.org.

Feb. 7

Plan Your Native Plant Garden: Virtually at noon Wednesday, Feb. 7, through the The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. Planning to start a new native plant garden this spring? Join The Land Conservancy’s Sarah Michehl, who will cover topics such as site preparation, favorite easy plant choices for sun and shade, the pollinator connection and vital maintenance tips to make any garden a success. Free; must register by noon on Feb. 5. For information, (815) 337-9502 or conservemc.org.

Pruning Principles: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. This pruning class is offered both online and on-site. Using the correct technique for pruning is key to maintaining healthy plants. Learn the principles of pruning, including proper tool use, techniques for pruning trees and shrubs and the best time to prune both evergreen and deciduous plants. Also explore a variety of good tools for pruning. All registrations must be submitted online two days before class starts. $32-$40. To register, visit chicagobotanic.org.

Feb. 8

Elk Grove Village Garden Club — Winter Sowing: 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at Elk Grove Township, 600 Landmeier Road, Elk Grove Village. “Winter Sowing,” a demo/activity, will be presented by Kymberli Mulford. Recently, winter sowing has been “reinvented” in a growing movement of gardeners who use empty milk jugs to sow seeds outside in the snow banks. This method, done properly, results in seedlings that are harder and more productive than seedlings started on heat mats with grow lights or even small plants purchased from local nurseries. Bring an empty, one-gallon milk jug with a lid, and be ready to work. Guests welcome. For information, (847) 558-3600.

Bonsai Soil Science and Fertilizing: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at Chicago Botanic Garden. The health of your trees starts below the pot line. Maximizing growth and maintaining tree health is key to creating quality bonsai. Take an in-depth look at a multitude of soil components, organic versus chemical fertilizers, mycorrhiza, and root health. Chris Baker, curator of bonsai, Chicago Botanic Garden presents. $32-$40. To register, chicagobotanic.org.

Park Ridge Garden Club: 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month from September through June, at The Centennial Activity Center, 100 S. Western, Park Ridge. Enter using the door to the south of the main entrance. For information, parkridgegardenclub.org/index.html.

Feb. 9

February Farmhouse Pop-Up: Noon to 4 p.m. Friday Feb. 9; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10., at The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. Check out what’s new and pretty for 2024. Explore the charming rooms of the historic 1860s farmhouse for the latest in garden-themed décor and accents. Pour yourself a complimentary tea at the Tea Bar and find your springtime inspiration with an extensive selections of indoor and outdoor décor, houseplants and more. Get a little crafty with a weekly activity, free while supplies last. For information, thegrowingplace.com.

Feb. 10

Tabletop Terrariums: 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at The Growing Place, 2000 Montgomery Road, Aurora. Make your own easy-care terrarium perfect for your table or counter. In this hands-on workshop instructors will guide you from start to finish. Learn how to use positioning, scale, color and texture to create a succulent arrangement. The class includes all materials. No experience required. For ages 14 and older. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Class fee is $50. (630) 820-8088 or thegrowingplace.com.

Ongoing

Organic Seedlings Sale: Orders taken through Feb. 28. The First Congregational United Church of Christ’s tenth annual Organic Seedlings Sale is underway. Pre-orders for certified organic vegetable, herb and annual flower seedlings will be taken through Feb. 28. Seedlings can be ordered by going to the church website at /elmhurstucc.org/store. Seedlings will be available for pick up at the church’s Green Garden Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 11, at the church, 235 S. Kenilworth in Elmhurst.

Scholarships

Geneva Garden Club Scholarship: The Geneva Garden Club is offering scholarships to qualified students, who intend to pursue an education in horticulture, landscaping, environmental sustainability or a closely related field. An allotment of up to $10,000 will be divided among the chosen scholarship winners. The number of scholarships awarded will depend upon the number and quality of the applications received. A qualified applicant must be a resident of Geneva (60134) who is a graduating high school senior or current college student, intending to pursue education in one of the above mentioned fields. Those pursuing a Master Gardener Certificate can also apply for a scholarship to cover the cost of course work. Deadline to apply is Friday, March 8. For information, genevagardenclub.com.

Garden Club of Inverness Scholarship: The Garden Club of Inverness is offering one or more scholarships of at least $1,000 each to a graduating senior(s) or current college student(s), who is majoring in an environmentally-related field such as horticulture, landscape design, agriculture, botany, forestry, conservation, natural resource management or environmental science. Students or their parents must reside in High School District 211 or the area served by Barrington High School. The deadline for application is March 8. For information and the application, visit gardenclubofinverness.com/scholarship.