Home & garden calendar April 1-6
Send events for this calendar to homes@dailyherald.com with “calendar listing” in the subject line. Deadline is two weeks prior to the event.
April 1
Naperville Community Gardeners — Tree Care: 6 p.m. Monday, April 1, at Knox Presbyterian Church, 1105 Catalpa Lane, Naperville. Arborists M.D. Skeet and Frank Kapple of Bartlett Tree Experts will offer advice on how you can care for trees and keep them flourishing for years to come. They will also discuss the upcoming threats to trees looming in 2024: The spotted lanternfly and the 17-year cicada brood hatch. There is a business meeting at 6 p.m., social time at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. Programs are free for first time visitors. For information, napervillecommunitygardeners.com.
North Aurora Garden Club: 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, at Messenger Public Library, 113 Oak St., North Aurora. The North Aurora Garden Club meets the first Monday of the month, except when holiday closings or events create a conflict. The club is always looking for new members; feel free to attend as a guest. For information, contact Gail at (630) 618-6467.
Bringing Native Plants & Life into Your Garden: 7-8 p.m. Monday, April 1, at Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane, in the Pollak Room. Environmental restoration specialist Dave Eubanks will explain how to support pollinators by choosing, sourcing and maintaining the best native plants and trees for your area. In partnership with the Northbrook Garden Club. To register, visit northbrook.info or call (847) 272-6224.
April 2
Garden Club of Lake Zurich — Volo Bog: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday April 2, at Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. The club’s free program will introduce attendees to all the unique aspects of the Volo Bog. Located near Ingleside, the Volo Bog is the only quaking bog in Illinois and has the distinction of being one of the most southern, open water bogs in North America. It is significant in that it exhibits all stages of bog succession — lake to marsh to fen to bog. Learn more about this Illinois nature preserve and the variety of plants, insects and small mammals that inhabit the area. Guests welcome; refreshments served. For information, gardencluboflakezurich.org.
Westmont Gardening Club: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at Westmont Public Library, 428 N. Cass Ave, Westmont. Connect with other gardeners — beginners and experts alike — and explore all aspects of gardening. For information, westmont.librarycalendar.com/events/month.
April 3
My Kids Don’t Want My Stuff — Spring Cleaning Edition: 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Sycamore Public Library, 103 E State St., Sycamore. There’s no better time than the spring to do a deep clean. In this updated version of Carolyn Law’s standing-room-only program, you will learn how to demystify the often-daunting task of handling household possessions, antiques, and collectibles for estate planning and downsizing purposes. Law will address the emotional, psychological, and physical stresses involved in this process as well as the practical matters of sorting, evaluating, preserving, and distributing personal property, collections and family heirlooms in the 21st century. Register at sycamorelibrary.org.
April 4
South Barrington Garden Club: 9 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month, South Barrington Tennis Club, 3 Tennis Club Lane, South Barrington. Meetings generally consist of speakers, hands-on projects and bus trips to points of interest in the area followed by a lunch at a local restaurant. On April 4, “Strategies for Optimizing Brain Health” will be presented by Veronica Porter. For information, sbgclub.org.
Prospect Heights Garden Club: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 4, at Gary Marava Recreation Center, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights. Bring a brown bag lunch and there will be a speaker and raffles. Also May 25 will be the plant sale in the shopping center at Rand Road and Thomas from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plants from garden club homes. For information, call Ann Johnson at (847) 253-1223.
Hoffman Estates Garden Club — Design for Mature Landscapes/Natives: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. “Design for the Mature Landscape and Incorporating Natives” presented by Ed Max, owner of Max’s Greener Places. Learn how to refresh your existing garden or add a new one while adding native plants to benefit the environment and pollinators. Max is a professional landscape designer, naturalist, and certified arborist. Presentation begins after a short business meeting. Nonmembers are welcome. Visit hoffmanestatesgardenclub.club.
Spring Vegetable Growing: Virtually from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 4, through the Chicago Botanic Garden. Start by learning about site selection and appropriate growing conditions, soil testing, cool-season crop selection and indoor seed starting. Vegetable spacing, average planting times, and solid gardening techniques will be highlighted, as will succession planting and weed control. This class will be taught online via Zoom. $32-$40. For information, www.chicagobotanic.org.
Getting Started with Pollinator Container Gardens: 7-8 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at Lake Villa Public Library, 140 N. Munn Road. Lindenhurst. Learn about the importance of pollinators in our ecosystem. Gain practical tips for creating native plant container gardens that attract and support pollinators like bees, butterflies & hummingbirds. Presented by Joe Gannon, conservation and restoration volunteer. Attendees will be entered in a raffle for a gift card to the Lake County Forest Preserves Native Plant Sale. To register, visit lvdl.libnet.info/event/9886016.
Home Buying 101: 7-8 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. Rich Harty of the Harty Realty Group and Alex Margulis of CrossCountry Mortgage present the ABCs of the home buying and mortgage process from start to close. Registration required. For information, (847) 907-3600 or palatinelibrary.org.
Palatine Garden Club — ‘Starting Plants From Seed’: 7- 8 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in Meeting Room 2, on the main floor of the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. Horticulturist Glen Grosch will present, “Starting Plants From Seed.” Come learn the ins and outs of starting a variety of plants from seed in this entertaining and informative program. He will discuss plant selection, containers, planting mixes, heat and light requirements and much more. Seed-starting is a great way to save money as well as grow a variety of plants, including vegetables, herbs, annuals and perennials. The session is free and open to the public. For information, call Barb, (847) 287-9044.
April 6
Palatine Winter Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to noon on the first and third Saturdays of the month through April, at the Palatine Train Station parking lot. The Palatine Winter Farmers Market includes vendors: Garlic Underground, Hasselmann Farms, Honey Lake Bee Company, Joe + Dough, Katich Breads, Laconic Foods, Maggie’s Munchies Dog Treats, River Valley Ranch Mushrooms, Sharpening by Dave, Skokie Provisions, The Soft Wave Fish Co., Sweet Valhalla, Tamales Express, Treat Yourself Bakery and Zachi Chocolates. All shoppers are welcome to drive-through or walk-up, bring your bike or dog. For information on vendors and how to place orders, visit palatine.il.us/663/Farmers-Market.
Plant Sales
Kane DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District Native Trees, Shrubs and Plant Sale: Order deadline is April 12 for trees and shrubs and May 17 for plants. Ordering is open for native trees, shrubs and plants. The digital catalog is available on the organization’s website, it can be printed if you choose. Download the order form, complete your selections and follow the instructions to submit the order and payment. The Northern Illinois Worm Farm will be on hand at pick up days with fresh, local worm casting and worm castings tea for sale. For information, kanedupageswcd.org/kd.
Citizens for Conservation’s Native Plant, Shrub and Tree Sale: Order deadline is April 15. Online ordering for Citizens for Conservation’s 28th annual Native Plant, Shrub and Tree Sale is available at citizensforconservation.org. CFC’s sale offers more than 200 varieties of native plants, including perennials, ferns, sedges, grasses, shrubs and trees. This year’s sale will also feature two special garden packages, featuring plants that support pollinators. Orders are filled on a first-come, first-filled basis, so order early, and preorders are encouraged if you have a specific plant in mind. There is a preorder minimum charge; details are on the sale website. The in-person sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4-5 at CFC’s Hill ’N Dale Preserve in Barrington Hills. Online order pickup will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 3 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the sale site. CFC members will also be able to shop the sale on May 3, and members get a 10% discount all days. For information, contact (847) 382-7283.
The Schaumburg Community Garden Club Native Plant Sale: Deadline to order is April 19. The Schaumburg Community Garden Club is currently taking preorders only for its annual Native Plant Sale, featuring native wildflowers, grasses, perennials, trees and shrubs. Order at https://schaumburggardenclub.org. Orders can be picked up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday May 18-19, at Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm. Information regarding pickup location will be shared at the time of your online order. The pre-order deadline is April 19. For information, schaumburggardenclub.org.
Sag Moraine Native Plant Community Native Plant Sale: Orders taken through May 1. Place your order now for native plant packages with a variety of design options. Plants are in one-pint containers and provided by Midwest Groundcovers as part of the Natural Garden Natives line, a selection of pesticide-free, local ecotype native plants. Orders can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Parkway, Parking Lot D3, Palos Hills. Thousands of individual native plants will also be for sale on June 1 from Stellar Natives, along with advice on landscaping with native plants. For information, sagmoraine.org.
Bloomingdale Garden Club Flower and Plant Sale: Noon to 6 p.m. Friday, May 10; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until sold out, Saturday, May 11, at the Bloomingdale Park District Maintenance Building, 259 Springfield Drive, (on the north end of Springfield Park, ¼ mile south of Route 20/Lake Street), in Bloomingdale. Sale includes professionally grown annuals in flats, 4.5- and 6-inch pots, hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs, cannas, grasses, tropicals, tuts, Proven Winners and specialty annuals as well as perennials from members’ gardens. There will be raffles and garden items for sale. A Master Gardener Help Desk will also be available to answer all your gardening questions. Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted. Proceeds support area charities and garden club monthly programs. For information, bloomingdalegardenclub.org.
Gardners of Central Lake County Plant Sale: 8:30-11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Crawford House, 817 Lake St., Libertyville. Sale, which will be held rain or shine, includes annuals, bedding plants, herbs, houseplants, natives, perennials, vegetables. Plants are grown by seeds, bulbs, bare root and cuttings. Cash or check accepted. For information, gardenersofcentrallakecounty.org or email juliancindy@hotmail.com.
University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the University of Illinois Extension grounds, 100 S. Highway 45, Grayslake. University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will hold its annual plant sale featuring a beautiful selection of nursery grown varieties not readily available at traditional garden centers — natives, new cultivars of perennials, grasses and pollinator-friendly plants. Many varieties of homegrown tomatoes, along with other vegetables and herbs, will be available. In addition, shop the “Garden Treasures” for new and gently used items to enhance your landscape. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions, help with plant selection and offer gardening advice. All proceeds support projects and programming for volunteers, youth and adults in Lake County. For information, call (847) 223-8627 or visit extension.illinois.edu/events/2024-05-18-lake-county-2024-plant-sale.